Apple iPad

So Apple has come out with a new gadget, sure to be a hot item for those gadget junkies out there.

The iPad was just launched and in my opinion, at first glance it seems really cool but really, we already have the Kindle and the Iphone and iMacs... do we really need this device that is worth $499 US?

Check it out for yourself.
http://www.apple.com/ipad/

I wish I had a Jeep

There are times I wish I could afford a vehicle. Like right now for instance.

Taking the bus definitely has its annoying downfalls.

Here's a list of a few things I hate about taking Winnipeg Transit:

- Waiting in the cold when the bus doesn't show up on time.
-Sitting or standing beside someone who feels the need to wipe their runny nose all over themselves and then proceed to touch parts of the bus with their germ-infested fingers. EW, EW, and EW!
- Sitting next to someone who has foul body odour. Take a shower, stinky!
-Crowded sardine-in-a-can like conditions during rush hour. Ick! I realize how much I like my personal space when I'm standing almost on top of someone.
-People who open the windows when it's really cold outside. Be considerate!
-People with loud, crying babies. Yeah I know babies cry and you really can't stop them, but it's not cool on a bus, when even my iPod can't drown them out.
-Waiting 20 minutes or sometimes more for a bus sucks. And I hate Sunday schedules, there's never a bus when you need it.

I'm sure there is a ton more stuff I hate about taking Winnipeg Transit, but I'm stumped for now. Feel free to add more things if you think of any that I've missed.

I wish I had a Jeep.

It seemed like a good idea at the time

Thursday night I attended two one-act plays at the Rachel Browne Theatre as part of Theatre Projects'  In the Chamber 2010 production. The first scene is a bedroom scene of a couple trying to sleep while one of them steals all the covers. One person eventually leaves the room, while the other sleeping man hears a strange voice and ends up speaking to it saying "I still have chaos in me" before the lights go black again.

Last Man in Krakendorf

The first 50 minute monologue is about an agricultural engineer, Doug Turner, played by actor Steven Tanner, who has an emotional mid-life crisis in a hotel room while doing a PowerPoint presentation to a camcorder that is supposed to represent the CEO of AgroTech Industries, Warren Buffet. Turner works with human factor analysis research and has to investigate the cause of a devastating hog barn fire on a hutterite colony where he finally has an awakening that caused him to lash out at the hog farmer and the boss during the presentation.

The simple set of only a bed, nightstand, chair and table with a laptop, makes Tanner's performance seem intimate like a confessional.  We witness his character struggle with the fact that he's been doing the same thing for 20 years and finally realizes he hates everything about it. He wears a simple blazer and black jeans with loafers and glasses. He often flips back his greying hair as he speaks rather bluntly to the camcorder.

We witness Turner trying to wrap his head around the devasting fire he had to investigate, using humour, often swearing saying "Who fucked up? You fucked up!" He even puts the curse word in his powerpoint presentation (that also included many hilarious slides). The play is also very topical considering the amount of hog barn fires that have happened in Manitoba recently. If someone didn't know the realities of the hog industry in this province, they would after the 50 minutes of dialogue from Tanner. Kudos to him for memorizing so many lines!

Last Man in Puntarenas

After intermission, actor Steven Ratzlaff sits at a makeshift banquet of sorts, surrounded by a few other "people" set up on stage as balloons attached to each chair. He makes a speech about Manitoba's Health Care system, using his son's death during heart surgery as an example. He tells the audience of his epiphany during his winter stays in Costa Rica, and then continues on with the inquest of his son's death. We discover that his marriage ended because of it, his wife couldn't handle the loss. It seemed Ratzlaff's character escaped to South America trying to forget his loss through alcohol and legal prostitutes.

Ratzliff ends up losing most of his balloon audience one by one as he makes comments about being a school teacher at Balmoral Hall. "Oh, Balmoral Hall girls" he said while reminiscing about liking his old students. Like Tanner's monologue, Ratzliff also throws around the F word which makes his act humourous yet real. Especially since its about an inquest at The Health Sciences Centre.

Ratzliff's character feels remorse for not letting his wife have a child until she was 40, and then since they didn't get tested during pregnancy, their son ended up having down syndrome and a heart defect- hence the cause for heart surgery. He also feels bad for not consulting with another doctor for other options. "Bitterness at eggs gone bad" is how he described his wife losing hope within the system and ultimately herself and their marriage.

Both acts were tremendously passionate about very significant topics. Each actor's monologues were thought-provoking and human, making the audience feel a range of emotions. They both explore traumatic situations and the self discovery that comes with it.

PETA's Star-Studded Pseudo Event

In PR class this term, we are discussing pseudo events and how they work. A pseudo event is an event that is created to bring awareness to something- an issue, organization, band, product, etc. Our goal for today's class was to google a psuedo event (that's not a fundraiser) and blog about it.

Here we go, PETA to the rescue!

In summary, PETA has an annual celebrity thanksgiving, held at a PETA member's house.I'm guessing from the pictures it was at Ingrid Newkirk's place (PETA president and cofounder). On November 13th, stars such as Alicia Silverstone, Casey Affleck, Emily Deschanel, Simpson's producer Sam Simon, Kevin Nealon, James Cromwell, Diane Warren, and host for the evening CSI's Jorja Fox gathered for a cruelty-free vegan dinner in L.A.

This is obviously deemed a pseudo event, because like-minded celebrities who support PETA got together to share the veggie thanksgiving. Another star guest was Tom the turkey, whom apparently cuddled up with Silverstone and Fox. 

I think this is a great event, because who better to shine light on an organization than celebrities? Using their popularity for a good cause is refreshing. It's interesting to know what famous people are vegetarians as well. PETA has done oodles of events using celebrities, however. I wonder just how much of an impact they have made over the years?

One of PETA's bloggers wrote about the event (the writer did not attend). They include pictures and the dinner menu. It sounds really tasty! Here's a link. Don't forget to check out the video posted about the celebritie's experience at the dinner and their thoughts on thanksgiving.

This topic relates well to one of my new year's resolutions. I wanted to go vegetarian (again) for a while now. This month my roommate and I decided we would start eating meat-free on the 17th for 30 days. In honour of "Pledge to Be Veg for 30 days" with PETA. My roommate wants to go to The Keg to "celebrate" on the 31st day. I'm not so sure I will join her, depending how the month goes. I've been grappling with this for years now, so maybe it's about time I stuck to what I really believe in. Eating animals is really sad.

Wish me luck!