I was just watching Brittany Murphy in the movie “Ramen Girl” a few weeks back and now the news that she died at a young age of 32 is a complete shocker.  Murphy was the chubby girl in “Clueless” and the love opposite of Eminem in his first full movie “8 Mile.”  I loved her in “Just Married” with Ashton Kutcher and “Uptown Girls” with Dakota Fanning.  She also gave voice to character “Gloria” in the 2006 animated feature, “Happy Feet.”

I haven’t seen her in movies in recent times except when I caught “Ramen Girl” on Star Movies.  It was reported that she died in Los Angeles over the weekend with no determined cause of death.  Los Angeles County coroner’s official however said that it appears to be of natural causes.

Murphy apparently collapsed in the bathroom, and somebody placed a 911 call.  The Los Angeles Fire Department was first to respond at 8 am at her house in Hollywood Hills.  Murphy was pronounced dead at 10:04 a.m. at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, but it appears that she might have died instantaneously.  She was married to British screenwriter Simon Monjack.  Murphy’s husband, wearing pajama bottoms and no shoes, appeared “dazed” as firefighters tried to save her.

Authorities are currently looking into her medical history.  An autopsy will be conducted for Monday or Tuesday.  Winter said Murphy’s family was cooperating with the coroner’s investigation. Funeral arrangements have not been announced.

She dated Ashton Kutcher, who costarred with Murphy in 2003’s romantic comedy “Just Married.”

Kutcher sent a message on Twitter Sunday morning about Murphy’s death: “2day the world lost a little piece of sunshine,” Kutcher wrote. “My deepest condolences go out 2 Brittany’s family, her husband, & her amazing mother Sharon.”

–

Change begins with me.

This should be a battle cry of each and every one of us.

What change do you want to see you in your personal life –right now?

What change do you want to see in your community and country by 2015?

What sort of programmes or ideas of campaigns would you support?

Answer all three questions and join SEAChange!  SEAChange is a movement that connects Southeast Asian Youths to projects, organization, businesses and leaders who can help them with the change they want to see!

Image lifted from: http://meowbykate.blogspot.com/2009/10/yes-2009.html

This November, SEAChange is holding the Youth Engagement Summit 2009 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.  The Youth Engagement Summit (YES2009) is a platform to create a cadre of engaged, active youth leaders dedicated to making positive changes happen in their communities and in the world.  Change is key for any improvement.  I want to learn more how to make positive changes in me and within the community.  I’m also very excited to meet global icons like Twitter co founder- Biz Stone, Facebook director of market and development – Randi Zuckerberg, Live8 Founder Sir Bob Geldof and chess wizard- Garry Kasparov.

They are sponsoring 500 seats to YES2009 and 163 seats are already taken.  Sign up NOW and get a chance to be a Philippines representative to the Summit.

YES, we can!

Thanks to Kate for the heads up!

Kate’s Link

SEAChange Link

–

Aug. 28 and Sept. 25 games will change schedule.  ALL of the 2nd round games will be played at the Arena, San Juan.

a.             FRI, Aug. 28  4pm

Arellano vs Letran – currently they are tied @ 4th                             

b.             FRI, Sept. 4    4pm

Arellano vs JRU - currently JRU is @ 3rd                                          

c.             Wed, Sept. 9    4pm

Arellano vs San Beda - SBC is in 2nd place                                        

d.             Fri, Sept. 11            4pm

JRU vs Letran                                                                                                   

e.             Wed., Sept. 16  4pm

San Beda vs JRU – last year’s Finalists                                                

f.              Mon., Sept. 21  4pm        

Arellano  vs SSC-R - Stags unbeaten in 10 games so far

g.             Fri., Sept. 25  4pm

Letran vs SSC-R

h.             Mon., Sept. 28  4pm

JRU vs SSC-R

i.              Wed., Sept. 30  4pm

Letran vs San Beda!!!

j.              Wed., Oct. 7      4pm

(Last day of Elims)

SSC-R vs San Beda – 1st vs 2nd

–

Surreal Surprise with Bob Blumer

July 17, 2009

Rockwell Tent

Bob Blumer is brilliant in many ways beyond cooking.  His brilliance shows in his creativity and humor.

He signed off his photo with Bubba with “best dishes” playing on the pun of “best wishes.”  That “D” in “dishes” was supposed to be “W.”

Cute.

What could he have penned that set me off like this…

Just between you and me… 

(Reveal)

I think that “L” was supposed to be “C.”  He missed the curve.

He definitely wasn’t served Alphabet soup growing up.  Or Alphabet crackers.

Laughter is brightest where food is best.

Events This Weekend Album

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World Café Asia Season 2 Opens with Manila Episode

–

It was only last Sunday when the Araneta Coliseum was filled to the brim with ADMU and DLSU fanatics.  The Ateneo de Manila University won that game against De La Salle University 76-72 in overtime.  This coming Sunday, watch out for another tight bball battle as the two school favorites face each other again in the second round of the 72^nd University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament.

While Ateneans usually wear blue and La Sallians green, both schools wore yellow as a sign of national unity during its first meet to also honor the late former president Corazon Aquino.

Image Source: uaapsports.com

Before the second face-off, the Eagles will face in Thursday court the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors, while the Archers also has another game to hurdle in Adamson University Soaring Falcons.

2ND ROUND SCHEDULE

AUG. 13, 2009    THURSDAY, ARANETA

2PM        -        DLSU         VS        AdU

4PM        -        ADMU        VS        UE

AUG. 15, 2009        SATURDAY, ARANETA

2PM        -        NU         VS        UP

4PM        -        UST        VS        FEU

SUNDAY, AUGUST 16, 2009, ARANETA COLISEUM

12 NOON        ADAMSON         VS        UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST

4:45 PM                ATENEO        VS         DE LA SALLE         

Catch the UAAP action in full HD only available in SKY Cable.

In other basketball news, RP5 lost to Iran by 10 points earlier today, 88-78.  Crossing my fingers for a win tomorrow versus Kuwait!

UAAP Website

SKY Cable

SKY Cable Hotline (632) 631-0000

–

Tour de France had more than a battle with the road.

Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contador are at each other’s throat again.

Image Source: cyclingfans.net

Contador secured his second Tour win last week in Paris. But a word war ensued again between the two celebrated cyclists after a fragile truce during the Tour de France.

The seven time champion Armstrong criticized Contador early this year saying that the latter was inexperienced. He also took a shot at Contador’s habit of shooting an imaginary pistol during victory celebrations. Contador revealed that he had no admiration for the American as a person and tensions between the two had a negative effect on the Astana team.

Image Source: AP

Contador and Armstrong entered this year’s Tour jousting for position as the Astana team leader—an unusual situation in cycling, where team’s normally have a clear No. 1 rider who is supported by the rest of the squad. Armstrong briefly held a slight edge over Contador in the first week but the latter proved too strong in the mountains and was able to pull away for a decisive edge in the Alps. Armstrong is launching his own U.S.-based team for next year, while Contador might look for a team that will clearly support him.

Surreal Gourmet’s Bob Blumer visited Manila and whipped up a dinner for me.

It was a raining Friday last January 17 and most offices have allowed their employees to go home early (by 1PM, some companies have canceled work due to heavy rains and probable flash flood.  While the rest of Manila was eager to pack their stuff, I, on the other hand, was standing comfortable and dry in our boardroom in front of a panel presenting our project).  Although there was worry about the heavy rain causing flashflood and crazy Manila traffic on a weekend, many couldn’t pass up the chance to meet Bob Blumer.

The show must go on. 

In his show, Glutton for Punishment (now going on its third season), Bob goes to different cities and challenges himself to extreme gastronome adventures against the locals.  Among his attainments are living on nothing but Guinness for one whole week in Dublin, chile-pepper eating contest in Mexico, and many other daunting feats.  As they say, no guts, no glutton!

The Rockwell Tent was the venue for the Discovery Travel and Living event and Giata Fores was at the forefront of the catering service.  Joey Mead hosted the event and couldn’t go tongue fencing with the very funny Bob Blumer.  It seems like she was out of her element but despite the ho-hum hosting skills of Joey, Bob Blumer endeared himself to the enthusiastic crowd especially when he tried our local unfermented egg, “balut.”

On the Table

(Apologies for the poor photos)

Flower Pot Salad

The salad was served on a rectangular tin can representing a flowerpot.  Even if I have tasted flowers on salads (the first experience at Kinabuhayan Café) before, this salad didn’t enthuse much.  It tasted overly flowery making the greens taste a bit on the bitter side.

Beef Cheek Cupcake

Shredded beef balled into a cupcake with a raspberry or beet mashed potato as its “icing”.  It was served unpredictably cold that probably caused parts of the beef to be chewy.  They used the local vegetable “sigarilyas” as a siding that added quite the crunch and texture to the whole dish.  The side dish was more enjoyable than the cold beef.

Existential Eggs

This was the highlight of the meal for me.  The third course arrived looking like Cleopatra, lonely but gallant on top of a wanton carriage.  The fried noodle was weaved together to look like a nest while the slightly cracked egg rest on it.  It was regal in both presentation and taste.  A mélange of flavors rest on your tongue with the creamy goodness of this semi-sweet delicate dessert.  This is the dessert I’d definitely want to be punished repeatedly just to get another serving.

The food, though not as exotic as it sounds and I hoped for, was still worth trying.  All three piqued the gourmet senses despite some elements that were lacking.  The beef was probably affected by the cold weather while it was resting.  The existential egg was worth sitting through the entire course.

There’s always an extreme danger lurking in Bob’s epicurean adventures.  Catch Bob as he takes on exciting culinary challenges in the new season of Glutton for Punishment, only on Discovery Travel and Living.

For more info on how to subscribe to the channel, please call Sky Cable Customer Service Hotline at 631-0000 or visit the Sky Cable website.

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–

The first win of the UP Fighting Maroons (68) only meant the first loss for the Ateneo Blue Eagles (58) at the UAAP Season 72^nd elimination round last Sunday, July 26.  After three straight losses, UP finally mustered a win and at the hands of a formidable foe this season.  Ateneo is on top of the standings with three wins in a row.

Former Ginebra player and current UST coach was also very proud of his boys when the oldest school in Manila gathered the first win against UE since 2006.  The UST Tigers pulled off a victory against the University of the East Warriors, 92-88, to inch up in the standings and claim the number #2 spot with 3-1 records, same as FEU Tamaraws.

Catch UAAP Season 72 LIVE on Studio 23! 

Catch UAAP Season 72 on HIGH-DEFINITION (HD) on SKY Cable HD!  Call SKY Cable at 631-0000 for more details.

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