Schwarzenegger Nominates 1st Filipina-American Chief Justice

This news is such a welcome surprise! I admire Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for believing in Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye's credentials and qualifications. This is definitely another moment to be proud of, when another Filipino is making waves abroad.

"Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye has a distinguished history of public service and understands that the role of a justice is not to create law but to independently and fairly interpret and administer the law," the governor has said.

If confirmed by a three-member commission and voters in November, the nomination consequently would put Cantil-Sakauye the 1st Filipina-American Chief Justice of the state, as well as replace Chief Justice Ron George.

More details of the news could be read here.

Zenni Optical In The News

Zenni Optical, the famous store that offers prescription eyeglasses for only $8!, has once again made a noise in the media scene. They are recently mentioned in one of the giant news providers in the land - - the New York Times.

Zenni has already claimed their place in providing the best eyeglasses at affordable costs, like this one.


Whoa! Zenni Optical in the New York Times?! Definitely! Check out the article 'Seeing Straight Without Breaking Bank' and see for yourself.

Pinay Chef Stays At The White House

Now here is something Obama has done impressive, and that is retaining the Fil-American chef at the White House. Such a delectable representation indeed!

Here's the news (from Perryscope.org):

Some prominent foodies have been clamoring for change in the White House kitchen. But President-elect Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, have decided that Cristeta Comerford, the executive chef at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, will stay put, a transition official said on Thursday.

Ms. Comerford, the first woman to hold the executive chef post, has been in the job since 2005. And some gourmands have argued that that is long enough. Ruth Reichl, the editor of Gourmet magazine, sent a letter to Mr. Obama, along with restaurateurs Alice Waters and Danny Meyer, offering to help him select someone new for the job. Ms. Reichl said the White House could use a chef who cooks local and organic foods and picks some of it from the presidential garden.
But a transition official said that First Lady Laura Bush spoke very highly of Ms. Comerford and that the Obamas, who have two young daughters, also liked the fact that Ms. Comerford is a mother herself. Mrs. Bush’s office has praised Ms. Comerford in the past for creating “original dishes with American flavor.” “They had heard a great deal about her from Mrs. Bush,’’ said the transition official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “The Bushs just loved her. There’s no need for making a change.’’

Ms. Comerford is a naturalized citizen who came to the United States from the Philippines when she was 23. She has a bachelor’s degree in food technology from the University of the Philippines and has studied classic French cooking and worked in Austria. She also worked as chef at two Washington hotels. She joined the White House as an assistant chef in 1995.

Her predecessor, Walter Scheib III, who was hired by Hillary Clinton when she was first lady, was fired by Mrs. Bush in 2005. He said at the time that he had been unable “to satisfy the first lady’s stylistic requirements.’’

He did a wonderful decision. Keep it up!

Weight Loss Competiton For Fat Pets

This news tickled my funny bone, but I really find it cute.

Eight of the fattest pets in Great Britain joined on a 100-day diet and fitness regime for their conquest to the Pet Fit Club Championship. The contestants, composed of seven dogs and a cat, were all more than 30% overweight and have a combined total weight of 421 pounds. They were carefully picked by the organizers of the contest, the veterinary charity PDSA. They will undergo diet and fitness programs, in order to achieve their ideal weights, which means they have to lose at least 163 pounds total. Ohh, the cat on the right surely is such a stuffed toy, but really needs to shed some pounds, tsk...tsk...tsk.

The winner will be determined by identifying who lost the biggest percentage of weight.

Well, good luck to these pets, just as I am saying good luck to myself on my weight loss endeavors.

photo from PDSA