Photo: New Line CinemaWhy I’ll Always Love the Thin Gruel That is Sex and the City I’ve watched countless years worth of Academy Awards and rarely ‘get’ what makes a ‘Best Picture’ – to me it’s never ’the best.’ Nor is it the picture I enjoy the most. Quite often its some obscure, overly artistic and complicated view (there are exceptions) at film-making and storytelling. Yesterday’s paper had a front page headline “Empty Sex” to intro Roger Ebert’s review of Sex and the City 2, a movie I will hunker down...

Young entrepreneur Sheena Murphy, co-owner of The Bra Lounge in downtown Red Deer, was awarded the title of Emerging Leader of Northern Alberta last week. Sheena is a member of the women in business networking group EWomen Network and will be attending the International Conference and Business Expo in Dallas Texas July 14-18th 2010 for the final awards ceremony. EWomen Network is an international group of women in business who unite to network, promote and educate. There are Alberta chapters in Red Deer, Calgary, Edmonton and Lethbridge. The conference in Dallas recognizes 5 achievements, including...

Canadian Statistics The number of people living with HIV (including AIDS) in Canada continues to rise, from an estimated 57,000 in 2005 to 65,000 in 2008 (a 14% increase). Approximately 30% of those do not know they are infected. ~ March 2010 statistics www.actoronto.org Women account for an increasing proportion of positive HIV test reports in Ontario, and Canada. Women now account for about 26% of diagnoses each year in Canada, 23% of diagnoses in Ontario, and 18% of diagnoses in the City of Toronto. ~ March 2010 statistics www.actoronto.org HIV is 100% preventable and there is no cure. There...

Living Fully With HIV/AIDS Tracey is a wife and mother of six children, four sons and two daughters, ranging in age from 25 to 10 years. One of those, Tracey’s second oldest, daughter Lesley, was born with HIV twenty years ago.    Tracey herself has been living with HIV for almost 25 years. As you know, HIV is the virus that causes AIDS.    Check Your Judgement at the Door Her story isn’t necessarily unique. In fact, it’s real life.    Girl marries high school sweetheart, much too young. She meets someone new, makes a poor choice and has an affair. Leaves husband. Marries lover and...

Straight From the Heart “It is bad enough that people are dying of AIDS, but no one should die of ignorance.” ~ Elizabeth Taylor Genuinely positive and forward thinking, Tracey seized the opportunity to become a voice for those living with HIV/AIDS. There were so many stigmas, fear and ignorance surrounding this virus, Tracey realized that she was being gifted a role as educator. Ten years ago, she and Tim started a program called Straight From the Heart. “Our mission and goals are simple. We aim to educate people and alleviate the stigma, fear, and ignorance that’s associated with HIV/AIDS. Two...

Skye Wikjord is no ordinary volunteer.  She is one of the many victims of a crime still shrouded in silence, sexual assault.  Many child victims of this type of abuse can experience depression, lowered self-esteem, suicidal behaviours, psychiatric illness and dissociative disorders. “I personally know eight people in my life that have been impacted by this despicable type of abuse” shares Skye.  The statistics are alarming. With enormous compassion and enthusiasm she took action and created the event Passionate Forward to raise much needed funds in support of local agencies that provide...

Photo Credit: Lana Law Climate and Energy Campaigner, Greenpeace Canada Born: October 3, 1976 in Medicine Hat, Alberta Employer: Mike was hired by Greenpeace to perform as Tar Sands Energy Campaigner to “try to stop one of the dirtiest and deadliest projects on the planet – the Alberta Tar Sands.” (www.greenpeace.ca)  He also works for Global Exchange (www.globalexchange.org) as the Director of Independence from Oil.   Where you’ll find him? Likely in a hotbed of controversy. Mike has slept on the steps of legislature to protest rising tuition rates during his tenure as President of...

What Message Are You Sending the Universe Why are human beings like this? We willingly do all the shit that is bad for us – smoke, drink, eat fast food, sleep with strangers, ingest chemicals… and forget about the stuff that is good for us… move your body, eat healthy, meditate or pray…  It feels good, too. (do me a favour and just nod, yes) As I mentioned in my VBlog update today, it’s been WEEKS since I made time for meditation. Why is this important to me? Well, I’ve discovered that unless I sit still, slow my head down, shut my self talk up – I...