It's the week beginning August 31st...

Coming up this week on The Hour...

Monday, August 31st

Green transportation enthusiast Shai Agassi.

"Mr. Big" himself...Chris Noth.


Vancouver native, actor Joshua Jackson.

Tuesday, September 1st


Actor Jason Mewes.


NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.
[Hey, it's a Lego Stanley Cup! The Leafs should build one of those in their off season ;-)]


Musician Darius Rucker.

Wednesday, September 2nd


The very funny Eugene Levy.


Tattoo artist Kat von D.

Former Canadian Prime Minister, The Right Honourable Joe Clark.

Thursday, September 3rd


The Killers.


Improv master Colin Mochrie.


Economic theorist Richard Florida.

Friday, September, 4th


Reading Rainbow superstar LeVar Burton.


Canadian author Margaret Atwood.


Canadian journalist and former George W. Bush speechwriter, David Frum.

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Video clip#1 - Indak-indak sa Dalan at Kadayawan 2009

Here is a video clip hubby took for me during the Indak-indak sa Kadalanan (streetdancing) during the Kadayawan Festival 2009 in Davao City




They are yelling "uswag Davao" which means -progress Davao.

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Entry #4 at Indak-indak-Kadayawan 2009

This number four contingent of the Indak-indak sa Kadalanan is very colorful!

Check it out! I love that big flower! hehe

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Entry #3 at Indak-indak-Kadayawan 2009

This lovely lady who brings the number 3 is very noticeable in the indak-indak parade. With her lovely features and of course, that killer smile is simply mesmerizing. They are the number 3 contingent of the Indak-indak parade.

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The Nominations Are In!

And what can we say? Once again The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos has represented themselves well at the 24th Gemini Award nominations announced this morning at a press conference in Toronto. So what are they nominated for?

Best Talk Series

The After Show
Garrett Wintrip, Pam de Montmorency, Alex Sopinka

The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos
Jennifer Dettman, David Freeman, George Stroumboulopoulos

Steven and Chris
p. Jennifer Dettman, Krista Look, Susan Taylor


Best Writing in an Information Program or Series

Bob McKeown
CBC News: the fifth estate
The Code

Gillian Findlay
CBC News: the fifth estate
A Death in the Family


David Freeman, Paul Bates, Diana Frances, Ken Hegan,
Nick McCabe-Lokos, Carman Melville, Scott Montgomery,
Adam Nicholls, Randy Potash, George Stroumboulopoulos
The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos
Sarah Palin

Ryan Leigh
INK: Alter Egos Exposed
"Villains"


Best Host or Interviewer in a General/Human Interest or
Talk Program or Series

George Kourounis
Angry Planet
Island Caving

Austin Stevens
Austin Stevens Adventures
In the Shadow of Armoured Giants


George Stroumboulopoulos
The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos

Les Stroud
Survivorman Third Season

Matt Wells
Where You At Baby? Huey Lewis


Best Cross Platform Project

Being Erica Interactive
Shawn Bailey, David Fortier, Jessie Gabe, Ivan Schneeberg
(Temple Street Productions)

CBC News: Ormiston Online
Susan Ormiston, Allison Brachman, Karl Delgadillo, Paul Hambelton, Jeff Wyonch
(CBC)

I Prophesy: The Future Revealed - Interactive
James Milward, Sissy Federer-Less
(Henry Less Productions)


One Million Acts of Green - Interactive
Jennifer Dettman, Julie List, Alex Liu,
Paul McGrath, George Stroumboulopoulos
(CBC-The Hour)

Pop It! - Interactive
Susan Nation, Nina Beveridge
(Hop To It Productions Inc.)

Congratulations to everyone that works on The Hour, these are well-deserved nominations among a field of very strong competition. The awards will be handed out on the following dates:

Best Writing in an Information Program or Series will be presented on October 19th.
Best Cross Platform and Best Talk Series will be presented on October 20th.
Best Host or Interviewer in a General/Human Interest or Talk Program or Series will be presented on November 14th.

The Gemini Awards telecast will take place in Calgary on November 14th. Stay tuned to the Stroumboulopouli for more information and the results!

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Hour Books: Creating a World Without Poverty

It was serendipitous that I started reading this book the week that Muhammad Yunus received the Medal of Freedom from President Obama. At the ceremony on August 13, President Obama gave the following outline of Yunus' work:

Thirty-five years ago, a young economics professor at a university in Bangladesh was struck by the disconnect between the theories he was teaching in class and the reality of the famine outside. So, determined to help, Mohammed Yunus left the classroom for a village, and discovered that just $27 would free dozens of artisans, vendors, and rickshaw pullers from debt. Offering himself as a guarantor, he withdrew a loan, paid off their debts, and founded Grameen Bank -- a bank that has disbursed over $8 billion, lifting millions of people from poverty with microloans. Mohammed Yunus was just trying to help a village, but he somehow managed to change the world.

The concept of microcredit is simple: loan a small amount of cash to start up their own business, let them make some money and then pay back the loan within a year. And it worked. But now there's another layer to add to this concept: social business.

Creating a World Without Poverty: Social Business and the Future of Capitalism takes the concept of microcredit that Yunus lined out in his first book, Banker to the Poor, and introduces a fairly simple idea: harnessing the power and opportunities offered by the free market to eradicate poverty.

When I think of poverty and trying to eradicate poverty it boggles my mind. It just seems so complicated and hard to do. But reading this book made me realise that it is possible, that we could eradicate poverty though the tools that microlending and social business offer. It just makes sense.

As with all the other Hour Books I've read, I do suggest this book, for the simple fact that it makes sense. It outlines a plan that could actually work.

Muhammad Yunus has visited The Hour twice. Once, just after he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 and then in 2o08, just after the release of Creating a World Without Poverty.

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Matigsalog Tribe at Indak-indak , Kadayawan 2009

Indak-indak sa Dalan (street dancing) is one of the highlights of the Kadayawan Festival which is celebrated on the third week of August. Last Saturday was the schedule for Indak-indak. Thanks to hubby for taking this photos for me.hehe. He braved the scorching heat of the sun, lined up with some of the professional photographers and photojournalists just to have these photos.

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Dried Fish!

I love dried fish! Whether it is fried, grilled, escabeche..hmmmm, yummy. It is very appetizing :). I especially like it dipped in spicy vinegar. Mouth watering. While looking for something to drink, I came a cross to this small store which sells fruits and other groceries along Boulevard, Davao City and she also has boxes of dried fish.

Here are photos of it.

A lot of the people who live in far flung areas in the mountains buy fried fish because it can be stored for several days. No need to refrigerate especially in places where most people don't own one. But most of the fried fish they buy are smaller ones because it is cheaper. Prices of big dried fish can reach as much as Php150.00 - 300.00/kilo. Kinda expensive, compared to the small ones that cost only around Php70.00-100.00. If you want to buy it in bulk, go to Monteverde St.,. where there are a lot of dried fish wholesalers .

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What's on repeat... August 24th- August 29th

Monday, August 24th

Former President of the United States Jimmy Carter
Spiritual Teacher Eckhart Tolle
Tuesday, August 25th

Actors Paul Rudd and Jason Segel
Nickelback
Wednesday, August 26th

The Smashing Pumpkin
Comedian and Game Show Host Howie Mandel
Director James Cameron

Thursday, August 27th

Activist Erin Brockovich
Musician and Artist David Byrne
Motivational Speaker Tony Robbins

Friday, August 28th

Musician Lily Allen
Acclaimed Film Director Gary Marshall
UFC's Dana White

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Interesting Products at Mindanao Trade Expo

There are a lot of beautiful and interesting products during the Mindanao Trade Expo held at the Central Bank of the Philippines Hall here in Davao City. Products are made from local raw materials, finely crafted. Here are some of the photos:

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