NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PREMIERES FIRST-EVER FULLY SCRIPTED SERIES GENIUS

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FOX and National Geographic bring history to life with the launch of an original, fully scripted mini-series event exploring the ‘man behind the mind’ – Albert Einstein.

Genius premieres in the Philippines on Wednesday, April 26 at 8 p.m. on National Geographic

Although his scientific achievements still inspire awe, few know the full story of the 20th century’s most brilliant icon Albert Einstein. National Geographic’s new 10-part series GENIUS – the channel’s first fully scripted series – explores Einstein’s extraordinary professional achievements along with his passionate and complex personal relationships. The mini-series arrives in the Philippines, premiering on National Geographic on Wednesday, April 26, in the Philippines at 8 p.m. 

With GENIUS, National Geographic is taking a revolutionary step to becoming an original content creator, ready for battle on the scripted TV landscape. GENIUS follows Einstein’s journey from an imaginative thinker of humble origins, to fleeing the Nazis during World War II, to attaining global celebrity status for his scientific endeavors. National Geographic’s first-ever fully scripted series reveals the untold story of the man behind the mind, delving into Einstein’s happiness and heartbreak as he struggles to be a husband, a father, and a man of principle. Entertaining as well as educational, GENIUS will help viewers learn more about how Einstein unlocked the mysteries of the cosmos in a significant historical era spanning two World Wars.

A start-studded cast and behind-the-camera team join GENIUS. The fully scripted series stars world-famous Oscar-winner Geoffrey Rush (The King’s Speech, Pirates of the Caribbean) as Einstein, while prestigious English actress Emily Watson (War Horse, The Theory of Everything) plays Einstein’s second wife. The GENIUS executive production team includes the multi Oscar-winning team of Ron Howard and Brian Grazer; and Howard also makes his scripted television directorial debut with the first episode of GENIUS. Other GENIUS stars include familiar faces from Game of Thrones, Grey’s Anatomy, Mad Men and more.

The series begins in Einstein’s teenage years, when he argues with his father and drops out of school in Germany to go to University in Switzerland. Einstein encounters romance, political drama and unexpected personal struggles, but he manages to make a name for himself as a rising scientific mind. As relief at the end of World War I turns to fear at Europe’s rising tide of anti-Semitism, Einstein seeks sanctuary in the United States. Here, he struggles to balance his identity as a lifelong pacifist and a remarkably talented scientist who is the only one in the world potentially capable of stopping the rise of Hitler. 

Lucien Harrington, SVP of Marketing & Communications for FOX Networks Group in Asia, says, “GENIUS is an evolution of National Geographic programing. Already the global leader in premium science, adventure and exploration programing, National Geographic is now firmly establishing itself as an original content creator bringing the best in education and entertainment to audiences in Asia and around the globe. We are delivering on the National Geographic renewed vision to take people one step to the edge of impossible and then, further. GENIUS is not only a global mini-series entertainment event – it is also a brand new way for National Geographic audiences to explore the past and learn the truth behind the legend of famous historical figures like Albert Einstein.” 

The “Everyday Genius” Contest

“I have no special talents, I am only passionately curious.” – Albert Einstein

Are geniuses born or made? Was Einstein destined from birth to become a brilliant scientist, or was his genius all down to hard work? To commemorate the launch of GENIUS, National Geographic is challenging viewers across Asia to harness the power of their minds and accelerate their genius. 

Join the “Everyday Genius” contest by submitting your brilliant ideas – the ones that could solve an everyday problem, and the ones that could change the world – for your chance to win exclusive access to the National Geographic Explorers Festival in Washington D.C across June 15-18, 2017. This exciting annual event brings together the world's most fascinating and innovative scientists, conservationists, explorers, and storytellers together in one place to share their latest discoveries and ideas.

Find inspiration for your entry in the long history of innovation in Asia; from silk cloth, to the umbrella, to the magnetic compass, to gunpowder and more. 

Visit http://www.everydaygenius.asia www.everydaygenius.asia for more information and to submit your ideas from now till May 7, 2017. 

Vote on who you think should be named Asia’s “Everyday Genius” from May 12, 2017.

GENIUS is a National Geographic original scripted series produced by Fox 21 Television Studios, Imagine Television and OddLot Entertainment. National Geographic is also partnering with the SNOW app, where users can use the face filter to look like Einstein. 

In the Philippines, the series will premiere at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 26.

Treat your kids to a #PrimeSummer experience with easy-to-prepare refreshments!

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It's summer and there's nothing better to beat the heat with these cool refreshments! Liven up your outdoor entertaining or just refresh your thirsty family and treat your kids to a #PrimeSummer experience with these simple and easy-to-prepare refreshments!

Summer has always been the perfect season for the ultimate family bonding experience, especially since the kids are on vacation. While you may plan and do a lot of summer activities, there are some activities at home, which can let you have a #PrimeSummer experience.

One of the activities that your kids will surely enjoy is to let them help you in preparing some fun and exciting summer refreshments. It allows them to learn new stuff while satisfying your family's craving for cool drinks and snacks, as a way to beat the summer heat.

Here are two must-try goodies that you can make using #MegaPrime Whole Kernel Corn and Cream Style Corn. 

Mega Prime Corn Ice Pops

If there is one thing that kids and the kids-at-heart will truly enjoy this summer, it’s the delectable corn ice-pops. These refreshments are easy to make, especially with the easy-to-open Mega Prime Cream Style Corn.

What you need to prepare: 

¼ cup water

1 pack plain gelatin

½ cup condensed milk

½ cup coconut cream

1 can 425g cream style corn

5 easy steps to follow: 

In a pot, pour ¼ cup of water and one pack of plain gelatin. Mix well until the gelatin granules are dissolved. 

Heat the dissolved gelatin mixture and pour in the rest of the ingredients: ½ cup condensed milk, ½ cup coconut cream and 1 can 425g Mega Prime Cream Style Corn. Make sure that you and your kids wear pot gloves or use pot holders for safety purposes. 

Mix well and let it simmer. 

Remove pot from the stove and let it cool. 

Pour mixture into ice pops maker and chill overnight. 

Mega Prime Sweet Corn Smoothies

Summer and smoothies are a match made in heaven. These smooth blends not only quench our thirst, they are also comfort food for some people. So, if you want to treat your family with an easy-to-prepare and satisfying homemade smoothy, with an exciting twist of corn kernels, here’s how to prepare this: 

What you need to prepare: 

1 can Mega Prime Cream Style Corn

1 can Mega Prime Whole Kernel Corn

½ cup fresh milk

¼ cup plain yogurt

2 tbsps. sugar

2 tbsps. honey

3 cups crushed ice

Three simple steps to follow: 

In a blender, add all the ingredients and blend until smooth and creamy. 

Pour into a glass or tumbler and sprinkle Mega Prime Corn Kernel on top. 

Serve immediately. 

These exciting summer coolers are made one-step easier with Mega Prime Whole Kernel and Cream-style Corn, in 425-kg easy-open cans. It is an ideal partner for moms to create refreshing recipes and still have enough bonding time with their loved ones this vacation season, so that families can enjoy a #PrimeSummer!

Mega Prime is a complete array of high quality products that are bursting with freshness. Aside from canned corn, Mega Prime also has canned green peas and mushrooms that can turn the simplest of recipes to hearty, delicious and delectable meals for the entire family. 

To learn more about Mega Prime, visit their website at http://megaglobal.com.ph/megaprimequality/.

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MegaPrimeQuality and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megaprimequality/ 

PERSUASION’S TOUGH BUT BEAUTIFUL ART Wining the mind game of influence takes more than mere logic

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“Speech is a powerful master and achieves the most divine feats with the smallest and least evident body. It can stop fear, relieve pain, create joy, and increase pity.”

Such were the words of Greek sophist Gorgias who once taught the art of rhetoric and oration more than two thousand years ago. These words continue to ring true as our society becomes more polarized from politics to religion, and even science.

Today, it would take superb rhetorical skills to get people to consider your side of the argument. However, having a good grasp of logic and argumentation is not enough to win the crowd.

Many experts agree that underlying psychological factors play a key role in persuasion. This means that, on top of delivering your piece as factually and logically as possible, you also need to tap into the emotions and values of your listeners to gain their favor.

Psychology of persuasion

Dr. Robert Cialdini, Regents’ Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Marketing at Arizona State University, delves deeper into the psychology of persuasion in his book Influence: Science and Practice.

The book begins with the premise that people fall back to generalizations when making decisions to save time and effort in the face of information overload. Despite being given little thought, these generalizations form because they help people act in a more or less correct way.

Through numerous empirical studies, Dr. Cialdini identifies several principles behind this tendency. One of these is likability, which can be based on a person’s physical attractiveness or the compliments he or she gives. Even random similarities, such as having a similar-sounding name, can shape someone’s preference for another.

In another book co-authored by Dr. Cialdini titled Yes! 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be More Persuasive, an experiment by social researcher Randy Garner revealed that people respond better to those with names that sound similar to theirs.

The experiment involved two groups of participants. The first received a survey by mail from someone with a similar-sounding name. An example of this would be participant Robert Greer getting the survey from a ‘Bob Gregar’. The second received the same survey, but from someone with a non-similar name.

Of the first group, 56 percent completed and returned the form—almost twice as much as the second group where only 30 percent responded.

This and similar instances prove a point for Dr. Cialdini: People are more receptive to those who share characteristics with them whether in terms of looks, name, beliefs, school, hometown, and the like. Persuading them to your side, then, becomes a matter of exploiting this behavior.

A matter of justice

Dr. Cialdini’s insights may be meant for salespeople and advertisers, but playing the psychology game applies just the same in more serious situations, such as the courtroom.

Like all human beings, jurors are susceptible to influence. While the jury is sworn under oath to remain fair and impartial, it can be swayed based on the members’ shared values with the parties at court, or their disposition at the time of trial.

The way these unspoken biases are exploited is best exemplified by television show Bull. From facial expressions and hand gestures to the choice of clothes, protagonist Dr. Jason Bull (Michael Weatherly) understands that non-verbal language can be used to take advantage of unspoken preferences and values.

With his team at Trial Analysis Corporation (TAC), Dr. Bull does an extensive research on the jury involved in his client’s case and uses this knowledge to gain an edge. In the episode “The Fall,” for instance, his client managed to win the favor of an animal activist among the jurors by tricking the opponent to bring out his keychain during questioning. The keychain turned out to have a genuine rabbit foot charm—a seemingly insignificant item that would cost him the trial.

In another episode titled “E.J.,” Dr. Bull and his team won the jury by getting their client to sympathize with the opponent. By making the client come to her opponent’s defense, she appeared more likeable to the jurors.

As the season finale approaches, will TAC still have enough psychological tricks left up its sleeves to win the case and save the day? Catch Bull every Wednesday, 9:00PM, first and exclusive on RTL CBS Entertainment.

Philippine Red Cross' Million Volunteer Run 4

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Now on its fourth year, the Million Volunteer Run is this year’s biggest humanitarian run organized by the Philippine Red Cross. It aims to further grow the PRC’s already extensive network of volunteers nationwide.

Happening on 13 May 2017, Saturday, 4:00AM, at the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta, Manila, the advocacy run likewise seeks to once again draw participation from government, corporate, religious, academic, and athletic institutions to rally together behind the impartial protection of life and dignity, especially of indigent Filipinos in vulnerable situations.

A 3K and 5K fun run, proceeds of the event will fund PRC’s various humanitarian programs and lifesaving services such as its Blood Services, Disaster Management Services, Safety Services, Health Services, Social Services, Red Cross Youth and Volunteer Services.

For more details on Million Volunteer Run 4, visit mvr.redcross.org.ph, like www.facebook.com/MillionVolunteerRun, or call (02) 790.2410.

Epson Wins Prestigious Red Dot Award for Moverio BT-300 Smart Glasses

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MoverioBT-300smart glasses

Seiko Epson Corporation has won the Red Dot Award in the Product Design category (Red Dot Award: Product Design 2017)* for its Moverio BT-300 smart glasses with silicon organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays.

Created in 1955 in Germany, the Red Dot Design Award is recognized around the world as one of the most prestigious awards in the design field. A jury of experts evaluates products announced during the past two years and selects the best designs based on nine criteria, including degree of innovation, functionality, ergonomics, ecological compatibility, and durability.

The Moverio BT-300 features Epson’s own silicon OLED displays. It is compact and lightweight yet delivers amazing brightness, contrast, resolution, and image quality. Images are rendered in realistic color and without a distracting frame around the edges of the display. These features mean that Moverio images and information are displayed seamlessly in the user’s field of view for a realistic augmented reality (AR) experience.

“We always want our product designs to exceed customer expectations, but the Moverio BT-300 is more streamlined than our previous model. I think the judges recognized that the design achieves comfort and looks natural. We want to continue to make strides toward even better designs in the future,” says Hiroaki Sakai, general manager of the design department in Epson’s Visual Products Operations Division.

An awards ceremony was held in Essen, Germany on April 3.

For additional product details, visit http://global.epson.com/newsroom/2016/news_20160223.html

Note that Epson products and services vary by region. Please refer to your local Epson sales company for details of products and services available in your region: http://www.epson.com/

For more information about the Red Dot Design Awards, please visit 

http://en.red-dot.org/red-dot-design-award-home.html

* Red Dot Design Awards are organized by Design ZentrumNordrheinWestfalen, a design center.