ACTRESS BRITTANY MURPHY DIES AT 32!

 Brittany Murphy’s break-out role was as Tai in Clueless, but she has come a long way since the 1995 flick. Brittany Murphy was raised in Edison, New Jersey and honed her acting skills in regional theater.

By age 13, she had signed with a manager and was appearing on TV commercials. At that point, Murphy and her mother moved to Burbank, CA to pursue her dream of acting. She consequently landed her first TV role on the show Blossom. She also landed a starring role in a short-lived series, Drexell’s Class.

About four years later, she starred opposite Alicia Silverstone in Clueless. Murphy was nominated for best leading female performance in 1998 in the Young Artist Awards for her role in the TV film David and Lisa.

In addition to 25-plus screen appearances since the breakout role as Tai, Murphy expanded her wings by leveraging her vocal abilities. She was lead singer of her band, Blessed Soul and was the voice of Luanne in the cartoon, King of the Hill.

As Brittany Murphy’s star kept rising, so did coverage on her love life. At the time of her death she had been married to screenwriter Simon Monjack for two and a half years. The starlet was linked to romancing Ashton Kutcher, her co-star of Just Married. She also had two broken engagements, one with talent manager Jeff Kwatinetz and the other with Joe Macaluso.

Although Brittany’s husband did not want an autopsy performed, the coroner will be performing one this week and the results will be imminent. As the story continues to develop, we’ll be sharing the news. As of this morning, we heard Murphy took prescription medications for flu-like symptoms and that she told family members she was feeling very sick.

WHY ALL THE FUSS ABOUT HOLIDAYS ANYWAY? IS IT REALLY ALL THAT?

I had an epiphany just a few minutes ago…well if you would call it that. A few days ago, I had an in-depth conversation with some of my Ghanaian friends about the huge fuss in the United States whenever Thanksgiving and Christmas approaches. Coming from a culture where all you got for Christmas was a “Merry Christmas”, the idea of gifts and the whole commercialization of the holidays was a bit appalling.

I do not know how many of you would agree with me, but after the 50th person (Yes! 50th person) asked what she was getting for Christmas, I was very pissed. I mean, help me out here. I am a 20-year old kid from Ghana, West Africa trying to get a good education in a remote town in southern Indiana. How the heck am I supposed to afford Thanksgiving and Christmas gifts for all of my friends and family. Well I am not required to get anything for family but you start to feel a sense of guilt when you have been out shopping all day for gifts for your friends and you get nothing for the people responsible for giving you life and footing your bills….well, some of your bills.

Why can’t I just do what I want and get gifts for those I want to, or better still, get cards for everyone?  Ha-ha if only! but it never is that easy. People out here are so used to this commercialized version of the Holidays that you cannot just decide you do not want to get anyone anything. SUICIDE!! Well not really but yes!

Thanksgiving shopping starts before all the sales and then Black Friday is the opportunity to start Christmas shopping. Geez! Americans and all their sales….shoe sales, clothes sales, decor sales, blah blah blah. There is always some fuss about an ongoing sale and the mall is always packed especially on those days.

My last words? Can we please try to one-person-at-a-time put and end to this commercialization of the holidays? It makes the entire season suck for some of us BIG TIME!!!

My First Outlook on the World Outside my Home

The night I had to leave home was one I will never forget. It was a bittersweet night and I know that every time I go back to visit and the time comes to return to school, I will experience the same feeling. Coming to a new country was exciting, leaving my friends......that was very sad. It was quite exhilarating staying up all night on the plane and watching the sun come out in the morning when flying over the ocean. Getting to the Louisville Airport in Louisville, Kentucky; I could not wait to start on my journey to my new home for the next four years. The ride was one I will never forget. I didn't know until I experienced it, that I was getting myself into something far out of my comfort zone. Don't get me wrong...I love my college! I just wish I was better prepared. Coming from a place where I was always in the thick of things, it is very strange to be out in the country with hardly nothing to do. The only social events I go to are the ones organized by the school, the Greek community, or the neighboring community. Hanover College.....This is a very good place academic-wise. Socially......suicide!! How I survived a whole year here, I have no freaking idea!! The faster the months went by, the more I missed home. up until now I miss home, but the amount of experience I have accumulated over the past year cannot be traded for anything. It takes a lot to have the guts to leave your family, friends and everything familiar and start over in a place where you have no idea as to how the poeple are going to receive you and treat you. i know, and feel like I am a very brave person to pursue my dreams far from home....and holding myself upright and being my only support while doing it.