Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

London, UK (The Guardian) December 26th 2015. New Star Wars film on track to beat marks set by Spectre, Jurassic World and Avatar as release of franchise latest continues to roll out across world.

First came the set-up; now it’s the payoff. After a tidal wave of hype, promotion and anticipation, Star Wars: The Force Awakens has finally gone on general release. It debuted in the UK, most of Europe and parts of Asia and South America on Wednesday and Thursday, while Friday sees the first public screenings in the US. And all the indications are that even the most optimistic predictions of its box office performance will turn out to be justified.

In the UK, where cinemas began showing the film at 00:01 on Thursday morning, The Force Awakens took £9.6m in its first 24 hours, well ahead of the recent James Bond film Spectre, which managed £6.3m on its opening day in October. It would appear to be on course to beat Spectre’s opening weekend record of £41.3m, even though Spectre was released on a Monday, giving it three more full days to achieve the figure. And there seems little doubt it will eclipse the three year-old total of £102.9m of the previous Bond film, Skyfall, which is the current British box office all time champion.

In the US, which will undoubtedly form The Force Awakens’ most lucrative territory, the rollout is only just getting underway, but its commercial strength is underlined by the fact it has broken online agency Fandango’s record for advance ticket sales. Fandango have not released any figures, but analysts estimate the film has taken over $100m in total presales in the US. The raft of previews scheduled for Thursday, the day before the official release, brought in some $57m, beating the previous Thursday best held by Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, and therefore looks likely to pass the domestic opening weekend record of $208.8m set by Jurassic World in June.

 The benchmark, however, is the all-time box office record, currently the $2.8bn piled up by Avatar on its release almost exactly six years ago in 2009. Avatar set a US domestic record of $760.5m, and augmented it with some $2bn internationally; Star Wars, however, will be able to call on a considerably more powerful Chinese box office, which is could supply double the $204m Avatar earned there.

© 2016 ALL RIGTHS RESERVED

MSH WorldWide By Marcelo Santiago Hernández™. 

#SNCyT 22va Semana Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología 2015.

Ciudad de México a 10 de Noviembre de 2015 (CONACYT), La Semana Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología #SNCyT forma parte de las actividades de comunicación de la ciencia y la tecnología que de manera institucional se realizan en todo el país. Se trata de un evento anual donde, durante una semana, convergen en un espacio común diversos actores con variadas formas de transmitir el conocimiento. Su propósito es despertar el interés por las disciplinas científicas y tecnológicas entre el público infantil y juvenil. Propicia un acercamiento entre científicos, divulgadores, investigadores, empresarios, tecnólogos y autoridades participantes en un escenario de cordialidad y respeto a las nuevas generaciones.

La Semana Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología surgió en 1994 de la Alianza Norteamericana para el Entendimiento Público de la Ciencia y la Tecnología. En ella intervienen la Fundación Nacional de Ciencia de Estados Unidos (NSF), el Ministerio de Industria de Canadá y el Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (Conacyt) de México. En 1995, la Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (Conicyt) de Chile se sumó a este esfuerzo de cooperación. 

La Semana Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (SNCyT) es un foro por medio del cual millones de niños y jóvenes mexicanos conocen las múltiples posibilidades que ofrecen las áreas de la ciencia en los campos de la actividad productiva, la investigación científica y la docencia. Su misión es promover la ciencia y proyectarla como pilar fundamental del desarrollo económico, cultural y social de nuestro país. Comparten este propósito las instituciones educativas, asocia- ciones científicas, secretarías de estado, empresas, centros de investigación, museos de ciencia y gobiernos estatales. Se concreta en eventos creativos y propositivos de científicos, maestros, divulgadores y empresarios me- diante ciclos de conferencias, talleres, exposiciones, demostraciones, visitas guiadas, concursos y ferias científicas, entre otros. 

La SNCyT es parte de las actividades de comunicación de la ciencia y la tecnología que de manera institucional se realizan en todo el país. El propósito: despertar el interés de estas disciplinas entre el público infantil y juvenil. Con el lema, "Para crecer hay que saber," se propicia un acercamiento entre científicos, divulgadores, investigadores, empresarios, tecnólogos y autoridades participantes en un escenario de cordialidad y respeto a las nuevas generaciones.

© 2015 ALL RIGTHS RESERVED

MSH WorldWide By Marcelo Santiago Hernández™.

 

XXXIV Feria Internacional del Libro del Instituto Politécnico Nacional 2015.

Mexico, DF a 26 de Octubre de 2015 (Redaccion). La XXXIV Feria Internacional del Libro del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), el secretario general de esa casa de estudios, Julio Gregorio Mendoza Álvarez, dijo que aunque en muchos casos es cierto el dicho de que los libros son caros, en realidad "cuando se quiere leer, los obstáculos son superables". 

En el Centro Cultural "Jaime Torres Bodet" de la Unidad Profesional Adolfo López Mateos, expuso que este esfuerzo intenta contribuir a que todos puedan adquirir obras editoriales a un costo accesible. Así, están por ejemplo en remate más de 13 mil libros del Fondo Editorial del IPN. "La lectura es, sin duda, una de las mejores prácticas humanas. Leer obras científicas, históricas, filosóficas, técnica y literarias, entre otras muchas, independientemente de la actividad que realicemos o del campo del conocimiento en el que participemos, nos fortalece, nos forma, nos ayuda a expandir la imaginación", destacó. La feria, en la que participan centenas de sellos editoriales y 19 instituciones públicas y universidades, tiene como invitado a Chile. 

En su oportunidad, Juan Luis Bianchi López, consejero cultural de la embajada de Chile en México, dejó claro que el libro es un instrumento fundamental de la cultura. "Los ciudadanos de nuestros países exigen distintas oportunidades, entre las cuales poder acceder a la educación y a la cultura. Eso significa necesariamente poder llegar a la lectura”, abundó. "Sin lectura, no hay educación de calidad posible. Y es que sigue siendo uno de los instrumentos ordenadores del pensamiento abstracto, la formación y la identidad cultural de los ciudadanos", indicó. En esta ocasión, la feria, que se llevará a cabo a partir de este miércoles y hasta el 1 de noviembre, se suma a la conmemoración nacional por el bicentenrio luctuoso del generalísimo José María Morelos y Pavón, un hombre que ofrendó su vida para hacer de México un país independiente y justo. Además, Chile engalana la ocasión con una muestra editorial, exposiciones fotográficas y una exhibición de su cine contemporáneo. Se dedica también al músico Silvestre Revueltas, en el 75 aniversario de su fallecimiento; al literato mexicano Rafael Solana; al 60 aniversario de la publicación de Pedro Páramo, de Juan Rulfo, y al legado de Germán Valdés "Tin Tan" a 100 años de su nacimiento. La feria cuenta además con una muy variada oferta artística y cultural, que incluye talleres, música, cine, danza y teatro. 

 

Estará abierta un área infantil en la que se darán talleres de creatividad y aprendizaje científico y se tendrá ocasión de apreciar algunas de las innovaciones científicas y tecnológicas de destacados miembros de la comunidad politécnica. La Feria Internacional del Libro del IPN recorre desde hace tres décadas diversas entidades federativas llevando libros, arte y cultura en beneficio de miles de mexicanos.

© 2015 ALL RIGTHS RESERVED

MSH WorldWide By Marcelo Santiago Hernández™.

 

First Democratic Presidential Debate.

  
Washington (Cable News Network: CNN) October 14, 2015. The field of Democratic presidential hopefuls faced off in their first debate, hosted by CNN and Facebook, on Tuesday night.

For more than two hours, the candidates tried to make their best impressions before a national audience discovering many of them for the first time.

WINNER

Hillary Clinton

Hillary Clinton proved without a doubt Tuesday night why she is the Democratic Party's presidential front-runner.

Clinton remained unflappable throughout the debate, showcasing her political experience and her command of the issues -- all the while deftly handling criticism of her flip-flops and displaying a humor that put a more human face to her oft-criticized candidacy.

From the outset, Clinton was pressed to defend her changing stances on various issues -- from the Pacific Rim trade deal to same-sex marriage -- and came out from the tough questioning with a strong one-liner that very much fits the frame of her campaign: "I'm a progressive. But I'm a progressive who likes to get things done."

UNCLEAR

Bernie Sanders

Bernie Sanders didn't shock anyone: he played to his base and thrived off the momentum that his insurgent campaign has enjoyed.

But his attempts at expanding his base of support -- by including criminal justice reform in his opening statement and unequivocally stating "Black lives matter" later on -- checked boxes but likely didn't inspire voters in the African-American community.

And he didn't do anything to convince voters he can overcome the electability hurdles a self-declared "democratic socialist" is sure to face in the general election.

"He spoke to his supporters. He spoke to the base of the Democratic Party. I'm not sure he showed why he's electable," CNN chief political analyst Gloria Borger said.

LOSERS 

Joe Biden

The vice president is still mulling whether to jump into the presidential contest, but Clinton's dominant showing Tuesday night makes the case for a Biden candidacy that much more difficult.

Clinton's performance at the first primary debate is sure to soothe many anxious Democratic donors and supporters who have been wringing their hands over the start-and-stop pace of the opening months of Clinton's 2016 campaign -- notably the wobbly response to the controversies that have rocked its debut.

Biden could have joined the first debate and the result might have been different. But he didn't. And now Biden has to grapple with the reality of the outcome.

Martin O'Malley

Martin O'Malley needed a breakout moment and he came up empty.

At face value, O'Malley didn't have a bad night. He cogently and concisely laid out his talking points and even took on both Clinton and Sanders at different points during the debate. He hit all the right notes on several of his responses and touted his results-driven record.

And if he wasn't mired at just 1% in the polls, that might have been enough.

But O'Malley left the debate stage Tuesday night without a standout moment or zinger that people will be talking about Wednesday.

O'Malley's strongest moment came when he challenged Sanders on gun control and made an fervent call for stricter gun laws -- showing that he was prepared to fight to wrestle the mantle of the progressive wing away from Sanders, whose candidacy has wrecked O'Malley's plans to present himself as the progressive alternative to a more moderate Clinton.

Jim Webb

It started off as a rough night for former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb whose first impression to the overwhelming majority of Americans came as he stumbled in his opening statement as he listed the names of his five daughters.

And as the debate wore on, Webb seemed more pressed squabbling with debate moderator Anderson Cooper over the amount of time allotted to the different candidates than in making an impression that would win over voters.

At one point, when asked about giving undocumented immigrants access to Obamacare benefits, Webb appeared to formulate his position on the spot after pausing for a few seconds. 

Lincoln Chafee

The former senator, governor and mayor simply didn't make a lasting impression.

He tried to stake out the moral high ground from the get-go -- pointing to his "high ethical standards" and the fact that he's never had any "scandals."

But he failed to turn his thinly veiled jab at Clinton and her email woes into any kind of more direct contrast or confrontation.

© 2015 ALL RIGTHS RESERVED

MSH WorldWide By Marcelo Santiago Hernández™.

Second Republican Presidential Debate.

Washington DC (Cable News Network: CNN) September 17, 2015. The day after a marathon three-hour meeting of 11 top tier candidates, here's our take on the winners and losers of CNN's Republican debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.

 

THE WINNERS

Carly Fiorina

Fiorina insisted in the lead-up to the GOP debate that she belonged on the debate stage with the top-tier White House hopefuls. For the second debate in a row, Fiorina was once again the breakout star of the night, taking on Republican front-runner Donald Trump with finesse and capturing the crowd with polished, zinging answers and an impassioned charge against abortion.


Fiorina earned perhaps the biggest applause of the night as she skewered Planned Parenthood. "This is about the character of our nation and if we will not stand up and force President Obama to veto this bill, shame on us," Fiorina said to raucous applause in what was her biggest moment of the night, one that will appeal to the socially conservative base of the party.


Fiorina dodged an early opportunity to hit Trump but didn't make that mistake again when she was asked to address the businessman's recent comments about her appearance to Rolling Stone, in which he suggested her face would make her unelectable. "I think women all over this country heard very clearly what Mr. Trump said," she said, once again to overwhelming applause.

Marco Rubio

Rubio proved Wednesday night why so many GOP elites have long considered him a top contender for the Republican nomination: He can weave his strong handle of policy with a compelling personal narrative. Rubio took on Trump differently than Fiorina or Bush, dispatching the front-runner without attacking him directly, instead steering the debate toward his strengths.


When Trump pointed out Rubio's voting absences in the Senate, Rubio refused to retort with an attack of his own. "You're right, I have missed some votes, and I'll tell you why, Mr. Trump. Because in my years in the Senate, I've figured out very quickly that the political establishment in Washington, D.C. in both political parties is completely out of touch with the lives of our people," Rubio said.

Jeb Bush


Bush stood out with several key moments during the debate that reassured his supporters after recently dipping in the polls and grappling with how to handle Trump's staying power in the race.


Bush appeared to come out of the shell of the tortoise he has so heartily embraced as his symbol to give voters a taste of the passion he has struggled to showcase.


"You know what? As it relates to my brother, there's one thing I know for sure. He kept us safe," Bush told Trump to one of his strongest applause moments of the night. "You remember the fire fighter with his arms around it? He sent a clear signal that the United States would be strong and fight Islamic terrorism, and he did keep us safe."


And he also successfully tackled Trump over the billionaire's suggestion that Bush's Mexican-American wife was the reason for his support for comprehensive immigration reform.


"To subject my wife into the middle of a raucous political conversation was completely inappropriate, and I hope you apologize for that, Donald," Bush said. "Why don't you apologize to her right now." Trump declined.

Chris Christie


While Bush and Fiorina milked their standout moments from their tiffs with Trump, the New Jersey governor snagged his by using a key moment to make his opponents look narcissistic and portrayed himself the adult in the room.


"While I'm as entertained as anyone by this personal back-and-forth about the history of Donald and Carly's career, for the 55-year-old construction worker out in that audience tonight who doesn't have a job, who can't fund his child's education, I've got to tell you the truth. They could care less about your careers, they care about theirs," Christie said. "Let's start talking about that on this stage and stop playing -- and stop playing the games."


UNCLEAR

Donald Trump


Trump faced a barrage of attacks from a field of contenders clearly more prepared, and eager, to take on the brash billionaire. Those who pulled punches in the last debate -- like Scott Walker and Jeb Bush -- didn't hesitate to tackle Trump, eager to regain their faltering standings in the polls.


The result was mixed as Trump had both memorable highlights and cringe-worthy lowlights. But as the front-runner trying to hold on to the lead as retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson's numbers grow, it's difficult to see how Trump wasn't at least partially wounded by Thursday's performance.


Trump stumbled in responding to Fiorina's deft answer to his comments about her face, awkwardly calling her "beautiful" after suggesting her looks would keep Americans from voting for her. Former Bush aide and CNN political commentator Ana Navarro spoke highly of the move. "I thought it was brilliant, because he surprised us all with his answer," she said on CNN. "He shut it down."


John Kasich


There wasn't much daylight between the Ohio governor's first and second debate performances.


But Kasich's second performance lacked the umpf that defined his first appearance on the debate stage when he barely squeaked into the top-tier and impressed political observers just weeks after launching his candidacy.


LOSERS

Rand Paul


Paul continued to throw things at the wall on Wednesday -- still nothing appeared to stick. The libertarian-leaning senator from Kentucky once again went for Trump's jugular. When he was asked whether he would trust Trump with the nuclear codes, Paul gave a firm answer: absolutely not.


But with each attack, Paul failed to do what candidates must do to break out in a debate: Pivot to his own strengths. Instead he simply pointed out Trump's weaknesses.


Paul's strongest moments came when he defended his libertarian point of view on foreign military interventions and drug and criminal justice reform. But while those audiences likely played well to his libertarian base of support, Paul appeared the odd one out as he discussed foreign policy amid a field of foreign policy hawks.


Scott Walker


Walker came out swinging at the start of the debate, clearly eager to take on the front-runner after dipping in the polls in recent weeks off a strategy that largely avoided confronting Trump.


"We don't need an apprentice in the White House. We have one there right now," Walker said of Trump in what was clearly a prepared zinger -- one that drew an approving nod from Bush.


Walker then took on Trump's attacks about his tenure as governor and then defended his opposition to the minimum wage, but soon faded from the stage. He delivered his responses with more zeal in a performance that topped his first debate night, but didn't come away from the night with any breakout moments that may prove necessary as Walker looks to regain his footing in the race.


Ben Carson


The second Republican debate was all Carson's for the taking: the retired neurosurgeon's appearance comes off a recent surge that has rocketed him to the No. 2 spot in the race.


But instead, Carson played it safe, clinging to his calm and measured demeanor, avoiding the food fights unfolding alongside him and injecting his trademark good humor into his responses.


Mike Huckabee & Ted Cruz


While both delivered solid responses to the questions they received, neither former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee nor Texas Sen. Ted Cruz seized opportunities to stand out on the crowded 11-candidate stage.


They didn't want to take on Trump and both revealed an unwillingness to engage their fellow candidates on key policy issues.

© 2015 ALL RIGTHS RESERVED

MSH WorldWide By Marcelo Santiago Hernández™.

2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Vancouver, Canada a 06 de Julio de 2015 (NBC Sports / Telumundo). Con tres goles de su capitana Carli Lloyd, la selección de Estados Unidos goleó 5-2 a su par de Japón y conquistó la Copa Mundial de fútbol femenino Canadá-2015, en la final jugada la tarde de este domingo en el estadio BC Place de Vancouver.

En su cuarta final jugada en siete Mundiales, Estados Unidos se coronó por tercera vez en su historia y primera desde 1999.

La mediocampista Lloyd fue la gran figura del partido al anotar en los minutos 3, 5 y 16, el último uno de los mejores goles del torneo. Lauren Holiday aumentó la cuenta a los 15 y Tobin Heat cerró la goleada en el 54.

Japón, campeón del Mundial-2011, descontó en el minuto 27 por intermedio de su goleadora Yuki Ogimi, y autogol de la defensora norteña Julie Johnston en el 53.

Estados Unidos había ganado las Copas Mundiales de 1991 y 1999 y se convierte en el primer país en conquistar tres títulos ecuménicos del fútbol femenino, al ganar ahora una revancha del pasado Mundial, cuando perdieron contra Japón en tanda de penales.

Lloyd, de 32 años de edad, se llevó el Botín de Oro a la mejor goleadora del Mundial, con seis dianas, y el Balón de Oro a la Mejor Jugadora, mientras la también estadunidense Hope Sole mereció el premio Guante de Oro a la mejor portera del torneo.

El partido se definió en los 16 minutos iniciales cuando Lloyd, de 32 años, aprovechó que el once japonés estaba mal parado para marcar su tripleta, lo que la convirtió en la primera mujer en conseguir un hattrick en una Copa del Mundo.

En su partido número 202 con el seleccionado de las barras y las estrellas, Lloyd abrió el marcador pegándole de zurda un centro bajo desde un tiro de esquina cobrado por Morgan Brian, en el minuto 3.

Apenas dos minutos después, la capitana estadunidense repitió la faena rematando frente al área un tiro libre de Julie Johnston desde el lado izquierdo del área.

En el minuto 15, la volante de contención Lauren Holiday aprovechó un mal despeje de la defensa nipona para anidar fuerte disparo desde el centro, a unos 10 pasos del área grande.

La fiesta yankee continuó un minuto después, cuando Lloyd completó su tripleta con un gol de antología que marcó el 4-0, firmando la goleada inevitable ante un Japón desconcertado y desorganizado.

Lloyd aprovechó que la portera nipona estaba muy adelantada para sorprenderla con un disparo largo desde unos pasos más allá de la primera mitad del terreno, incrustando la pelota a las espaldas de la arquera Ayumi Kaihori.

Japón se fue con todo adelante buscando descontar a la desesperada, y con ocho elementos frente a la puerta, Yukio Ogimi soltó un metrallazo entre un bosque de piernas para batir la cabaña de Hope Solo y descontar para el 4-1 en el minuto 27.

A los seis minutos del complementario, las niponas acortaron distancia 4-2 cuando la defensora Julie Johnston anotó en propia puerta al intentar un mal despeje de cabeza.

Apenas las japonesas acababan de terminar su festejo cuando apareció la volante Tobin Heath como una tromba por el medio del área, para rematar un centro y anotar su primer gol con el seleccionado de las barras y las estrellas, completando el histórico 5-2.

El partido marcó la despedida de la legendaria jugadora estadounidense Abby Wambach, que ingresó a finales de la segunda mitad en medio de una ovación del público.

En los últimos encuentros Wambach, una leyenda del futbol femenino a sus 35 años, había sido suplente, pero se retira con el trofeo de campeón y luego de haber marcado 183 goles en 248 partidos con la casaca de las franjas y las estrellas.

© 2015 ALL RIGTHS RESERVED

MSH WorldWide By Marcelo Santiago Hernández™.

Backstreet Boys en México.

Ciudad de México a 06 de Julio de 2015. (Redacción). La boy band estadounidense regresa a México después de 14 años con sus cinco integrantes originales, así que todas aquellas treintañeras –hasta cuarentonas– a recordar sus años mozos con las cuatro fechas que darán en el DF con su gira In a World Like This. 

Han vendido más de 100 millones de discos alrededor del mundo, convirtiéndose en la banda pop más exitosa de la historia. Su álbum Millennium (1999) incluso superó al Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967), de The Beatles, con 40 millones de copias.

Su primera visita a nuestro país los convirtió en el grupo con más fechas consecutivas en el Foro Sol. Tres conciertos y más de 150 mil fanáticos volviéndose locos por el tour Black & Blue.

“Everybody” y “I Want It That Way”, dos de los temas más exitosos de los BSB, fueron escritos por el compositor Max Martin quien también fabricó hits como “Hot N Cold”, de Katy Perry, “It’s My Life”, de Bon Jovi, y “Baby One More Time”, de Britney Spears.

Del puñado de boy bands que surgió en los 90, los BSB son los únicos que aún hacen giras y graban discos. Ahora sólo quedan recuerdos de proyectos como N Sync, Five, C-Note, Westlife, A-1, BBMak o Boyzone.

Paralelo a su actual gira, promocionan su primer documental Show ‘em What You’re Made Of (Muéstrales de qué estás hecho), en el que Howie, Brian, Kevin, AJ y Nick sacan sus trapitos al sol y revelan los malos momentos a los que se han enfrentado durante 20 años de carrera.

© 2015 ALL RIGTHS RESERVED

MSH WorldWide By Marcelo Santiago Hernández™.