After seeing a strange increase in students requesting pregnancy tests at a local school’s health clinic, administrators started to dig a little to see what was going on. Upon investigation, it was discovered that a group of approximately 17 girls had entered into some kind of ‘pregnancy pact’ to have their babies together this year.

So many questions come to my mind I can’t even begin to spit them out. There were two parts of this article that really piqued my interest – you know, other than the sheer obvious ridiculousness of a pregnancy pact in the first place.

The article notes that a previous school doctor and nurse resigned in protest of the fact that the school refused to distribute contraception to students without parental consent. So, wait a second. How is administering pregnancy tests ok, but giving out the stuff that could prevent using the pregnancy test in the first place not ok? Moving right along…

The other part that really freaked me out is the fact that there is speculation that one of the girls was impregnated by a homeless man! Are you kidding me? Were these girls this desperate?

I guess things have changed since I was a teen. Back in the day, the idea was to avoid pregnancy.

The times…they are a changin’.

Gone are the days of second rate Science Fair projects. In grade five I did mine on “Domes and Arches.” It was crap. I had a lacklustre experiment that followed a less than enthusiastic presentation, all backed by a really ugly Bristol board.

BC has developed its Science Fair program to become one of the top ones in Canada. With over 60,000 students from more than 800 schools participating every year, these Fairs have reached epic proportions. And companies are taking notice, investing in events like the Science Fair Fun Run to gather funds that support students in their scientific endeavours. On May 10th, 71 BC kids were flown to our nation’s capital to compete against more than 400 other students in the Canada Wide Science Fair, something that would not have been possible without these funds.

With project titles like “Is Pomegranate Juice the Cure?” and “The Mechanics of Bioplastics,” kids these days are coming up with incredible ideas for their projects, and putting a ton of work into them. Prep for my experiment involved cutting egg shells in half and seeing how many text books I could pile on top before one of the shells cracked (27 for those who are interested). Somehow this pales in comparison to “examining the cell viability, proliferation and morphology of breast carcinoma cells” like our pomegranate juice friend did. Ok, you win the white lab coat.

Events like the Science Fair Fun Run are crucial in developing science programs in our schools, and motivating our youth to aspire to reach their full potential. Learning outside the book is the key to reinforcing concepts taught in class and generating kids’ interest in science. Why do you think everyone gets excited when it’s lab day and cringes when it comes time to read the chapter on combustion?

Breast cancer, blindness, Alzheimers. There are tons of worthy causes out there, but in my mind, the Dr. Michael Smith Science Fair Endowment Fund is really one of the most noble. It’s a true investment in the future and offers kids the opportunity to experience, not just read about science. Besides, who do you think is going to cure cancer anyways?

Join me at the PMC-Sierra Science Fair Fun Run on Sunday May 25th. You can bet that I’ll be taking some time and checking out the kids’ projects afterwards to see exactly who I’m investing in. That and I really do want to know what the deal is with pomegranate juice!

To register an Individual, click here.
To register a Corporate Team, click here.
To register a School Team, click here.
To register for Mini Fun Run, click here.
To register for Mini Fun Run (no shirt), click here.

You can also download your registration form and mail to:

PMC-Sierra Science Fair Fun Run
c/o TELUS World of Science
1455 Quebec St.
Vancouver BC
V6A 3Z7

Note: Entry fee does not include the processing fee. To view processing fees, click here.

Race Kit Pickup:

May 24th 12 pm to 5 pm
Broadway Running Room
1578 W Broadway, Vancouver

Race Day Race Kit and Timing Chip Pickup:

May 25th 7:30 am to 8:30 am
TELUS World of Science
455 Quebec Street, Vancouver

Team packages will be delivered to team captains prior to Race Day.
Please note that baggage check is available on Race Day.

The Race Day: Sunday May 25, 2008

7:30 – 8:30 am

* Race package and timing chip pickup
* On-site registration
* Mini Fun Run sign-up

8:30 – 9:00 am: Welcome and race warm-up conducted by Fitness World

9:00 am: Start of PMC-Sierra 5k Science Fair Fun Run

9:05 am: Start of Mini Fun Run

10:00 am – noon

* Awards Ceremony
* Entertainment
* Post-Race Refreshments

11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Free Admission to TELUS World of Science for Registered Runners!

• 7 out of 10 women believe it is a man’s job to provide contraceptives – while a third of women believe carrying a condom will mark them as being ‘easy.’

• 1 in 6 women carry condoms in their handbags – with many saying that a pen or gum were more essential contents for a good night out.

• 52% of young people list HIV and AIDS as their biggest concern but 34% surveyed had unprotected sex with two or more partners.

• Men are more worried than women about getting AIDS but engage in riskier behaviour. When asked, only 44% of men, compared to 68% of women, would refuse their partner sex if they were not wearing a condom.

Pretty unnerving numbers if you ask me, that reflect the current attitudes toward safe sex amongst today’s youth. For more stats, read on.

There’s a current campaign to increase awareness of HIV and AIDS but I have mixed feelings when it comes to pushing consumerism on people. Getting all of us to come together and work toward the greater good of society shouldn’t require the use of incentives and gimmicks. As a Western society (and to a lesser degree the European), the ever increasing move towards individualistic mentalities is arguably a greater concern than the issue at hand. BUT I digress. Utopia exists only in fables so I’ll cap the rhetoric there.

Quite plainly, what I’m talking about today is buying a product, namely The Body Shop Limited Edition Guarana Lip Butter to help raise funds for MTV’s Staying Alive Foundation. Now in their second year of successful collaboration, these two organizations have thus far raised approximately $860,000 CDN (£430,000) towards a foundation committed to fighting stigma and discrimination, and empowering young people to protect themselves against HIV and AIDS. The funding from last year’s campaign went directly to the Staying Alive Foundation Awards, which gave small grants to 85 young people to mobilize HIV prevention efforts to educate their peers and influence or inspire others to think about HIV/AIDS.
That’s why I have no qualms about promoting the Move Your Lips Campaign. Let’s be honest. In today’s over-commercialized world, you can’t get far with a cause without an initiative like this. Give people the option to donate $8 or offer a product from a reputable source for the same amount and guarantee that partial proceeds will go towards a worthy fundraiser. This is math even a toddler can do. With the purchase of a jar of Guarana Lip Butter, an average of $5 will go to the Staying Alive Foundation. That ain’t half bad. And you know why this works? Well, besides the obvious affordability, no one really has an excuse for not getting involved. If you think one purchase can’t possibly make a difference, then think again. The Body Shop has more than 2,200 stores in over 60 countries, including 122 locations in Canada alone. Again, put two and two together.

So go and buy a Guarana Lip Butter for someone you care about and get lippy! Think of it as a solid investment in the karma bank.

Here are some more statistics from the survey:

• Men are more likely to rely on factors such as “trust” and “healthy” physical appearance when it comes to having unprotected sex.

• Amongst those surveyed, Swedes were the least worried about HIV and AIDS and the most likely to be willing to have unprotected sex with someone just because they appeared healthy.

• Young people in South Africa, Mexico and Singapore were the most worried about HIV, but also the most responsible when it came to using condoms.

• Asian men were much more likely to carry condoms than women, reflecting a strong stigma among young Asian women over buying condoms.

• For some men, their reluctance to carry a condom is linked to a superstitious attitude. 36% of men feel that if you go out to “hook-up” you will fail.

• 37% of women (ages 16 – 20) believe that HIV and AIDS isn’t something that would happen within their social circle.

Young people are very open when it comes to talking about sex – and they discuss a wide variety of sexual topics.

Sexual topics they discuss with friends (% saying they discuss topic):

Sexual positions: 55%
Number of sexual partners: 48%
Orgasms: 46%
Using condoms: 55%
The pill: 48%
Risks of getting STDs, such as AIDS: 46%
Sharing advice or sexual tips: 54%
Other topics about sex: 52%

Only 14% claim to NOT talk about sex with their friends.

MoveYourLips.com is a site which gives young people the opportunity to discuss the campaign on the ‘Lip Love’ wall and to join the ‘protest’ by encouraging users to join the campaign on social networking sites.

About the Survey:

Commissioned by The Body Shop and MTV Networks International, the survey took place in 10 countries: South Africa, Singapore, Mexico, Sweden, India, UK, Russia, Hong Kong, Germany, and USA, with 200 young people, aged 16 – 24 (18 -24 in South Africa, Hong Kong, Singapore and India) taking part in each country. To qualify for the survey, respondents had to have had at least one sexual experience. All interviews were carried out online using nationwide online panels and took place February 8 – 15, 2008.

About the Staying Alive Awards:

Staying Alive Awards are made twice yearly at the beginning of June and December. Applications can be submitted year round via Staying Alive Foundation partners and directly to the Foundation. Awards range from $1,000 US to $12,000 US and are made to youth-led organizations and young individuals in communities where HIV/AIDS is prevalent.

Do you know someone who could apply for a Staying Alive Award? The chosen award recipients are selected based on a number of factors such as: their work to educate young people with responsible information about HIV and AIDS; their support or mentoring of youth leaders responding to HIV and AIDS; their work to help eliminate or eradicate the stigma and discrimination associated with HIV and AIDS; and areas including their efforts to encourage young people to take action to protect themselves from HIV infection.

To be eligible for an award, projects must demonstrate credibility – and provide independent references, government accreditation, verifiable banking and accounting systems, and will be committed to following the Staying Alive Foundation guidelines.

About the Product:

The new Limited Edition Guarana Lip Butter has a unique formula to restore moisture levels and protect delicate lips, and contains guarana berry from the Amazon Basin in Brazil. For ultimate moisturization, this Lip Butter also contains Community Trade shea butter from Ghana and beeswax from Zambia. Both ingredients are sourced through The Body Shop Community Trade Program, ensuring communities get a fair deal for their ingredients and accessories.

A few months ago, I received a phone call from a dad who’s girl was going through cancer for the second time. She had just turned 15 and was put on heavier medications to try to get rid of the cancer. As a result, she lost her hair and her will to live. She quit school, would not see any of her friends, cancelled a planned family vacation, and wouldn’t even leave the house. At one point she told her mom and dad that she was going to quit the chemotherapy and she didn’t care if she died. Absolutely distraught, her parents went to speak to Dan Mornar at B.C. Children’s Hospital. Dan told them of the Wigs for Kids program and they convinced their daughter to go down to Eva & Co. Wigs and see about getting a wig. The great people at Eva’s showed her different styles and textures and colours of hair and they came up with something she was pleased with. Eva’s told her that they would rush the making of the wig and she would have it within the week. Her dad said from that point on she was a different girl. She went back to school, went out with friends and even attended our last Wigs for Kids event. He just wanted to call and tell us that of all the wonderful things that B.C. Children’s Hospital did for his daughter, the wig had the greatest impact on her life.” - Bev Friesen

This true story shows just how important small things are in a child’s life. On March 29th, 2008, Bev Friesen and her friends will be hosting the 3rd annual Wigs for Kids silent auction at the Steveston Community Centre. Thanks to the generosity of many individuals and businesses, $70,000 was raised last year for the program which benefits kids from all over the province who have lost their hair to cancer or other serious illnesses. This year, they are looking for more donations to further this worthy cause. To find out how you or your business can help make a tremendous difference in a child’s life, please read on…

BC Children’s Hospital is the primary treatment centre for all childhood diseases in our province. In 2006, more than 170,000 children and their families visited BCCH on an in-patient or out-patient basis. One of the more challenging childhood diseases they treat is cancer. Last year they saw more than 150 new cases of pediatric cancer from more than 200 communities across our province. Along with the newly diagnosed children, they have more than 350 children in active treatment and over 1,200 in long term follow-up treatment.

It is very encouraging for children, families and health care professionals when people like Bev Friesen and her friends decide they are going to make a difference. Because their raised funds exist, it is possible for physicians, nurses, social workers and other health care professionals to obtain a wig for every child undergoing cancer treatment who needs one. Whether or not hair loss will occur in patients receiving chemotherapy depends on the drugs and dosage given. Since drastic changes in children’s and teenagers’ appearance can undermine their self-image and hinder their self-esteem, wigs go a long way in helping to boost their confidence, allowing them to experience life with fun and dignity.

Thank you in advance for any support you might be able to offer Bev Friesen and her friends as they strive to brighten the lives of seriously ill children.

Some examples of the items that people have been donating for the silent auction:

• Hotel packages
• Golf packages
• Spa packages
• Restaurant packages
• New clothing
• Sports memorabilia
• Home furnishings
• Electronics

Receipts are available upon request. Donations will be accepted until March 28.

If you would like to offer a monetary or an auction item donation, or simply have a question about Wigs for Kids, please contact Bev Friesen or Barb Bakke:

Bev Friesen: 604.271.8422 or 604.340.5489
Barb Bakke: 604.272.5544

Although DHA is not a household name, it is something families should become familiar with. A key building block in children’s development from conception to adolescence, DHA should be included in their diets, particularly during their formative years as it has been proven to have invaluable health benefits in boosting brain function and in ensuring healthy development of eye and nerve tissues.

A long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid in the Omega-3 family of fatty acids, DHA plays several important roles in children’s development, especially in the last trimester of pregnancy and in the early years of childhood. Infants are usually able to get their daily requirement of DHA through breast milk if they are being breastfed by mothers who have an adequate supply of DHA from their diet, or through infant formula supplemented with DHA. However, once the intake of these foods stops, so does the intake of DHA. It should come as no surprise then, that children across Canada are not consuming enough of this Omega-3 in their diets, which means they are missing out on their chance to have higher IQ scores and better vision. (1)

DHA is most commonly found in fatty fish like salmon, mackerel and herring, not exactly at the top of kid’s lists of favourite foods (Omega-3 enhanced eggs are now an option though) so for more information on how you can incorporate more DHA in your children’s diets, read on…

Recognizing the importance of this nutrient in children’s development, Parmalat Canada has created two new products containing DHA, Beatrice Smart Growth Milk and Black Diamond Ficello Smart Growth Cheese Snacks.

“Many parents have no idea how important DHA is for their children’s optimal development,” says Gina Sunderland, Canadian registered dietitian. “Since the body does not naturally produce enough DHA, we have to turn to foods enriched with this unique Omega-3. By including these in your children’s daily diet, you are ensuring that they are getting the benefits of DHA, plus all the nutritional benefits of milk and cheese!”

So how do they get the DHA in Smart Growth Milk and Cheese Snacks?

By supplementing the diet of cattle with sources of DHA, some of the DHA from the feed is transferred naturally to the cows’ milk fat. This means both the milk and the cheese snacks have the exact same health benefits as the DHA found in fish, but with a taste children prefer.

In addition to including food and beverage products containing DHA in children’s diets to support brain, nerve, and eye development, also ensure that your children get a balanced diet according to the Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide. Also, don’t forget that physical activity along with a balanced diet is key; make sure children are active every day to stay energized and alert.

What is the difference between the three types of Omega-3 fats?

Omega-3 fats are a type of polyunsaturated fat. The three main Omega-3 fats found in foods are:

Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA)
• Considered an essential type of Omega-3 because the body cannot produce it
• Can help prevent heart disease (2)
• Naturally occurs in flax, canola, soybean oils and walnuts

Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA)
• Plays a role in protecting the heart

Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)
• Plays a unique role in the development and maintenance of a healthy brain, nerve and eyes in the years of life when a child’s body is growing and developing
• The body is able to convert, albeit it small amounts (from 1 – 9%), of DHA from ALA

What is the acceptable intake for children?
Note: When reading the table, remember that DHA is only one of three types of “Omega-3′s.”

• Children between the age of 1-3 years old: 70 mg or 0.07 g of DHA
• Children between the age of 4-8 years old: 90 mg or 0.09 g of DHA
• Two servings a day of the homogenized Smart Growth milk would provide a 1-3 year old child with more than half of the Institute of Medicine’s recommendations for DHA
• Two servings of the Smart Growth cheese snacks would provide a 1-3 year old child with more than half the Institute of Medicines’ recommendations for DHA

With the introduction of Beatrice Smart Growth Milk, children can obtain their daily requirement of DHA in both regular and chocolate milk:

• Homogenized: 20 mg of DHA
• 2% Regular or Chocolate: 10 mg of DHA
• One 250 ml glass doubles the average intake of DHA in a child’s diet
• Also an excellent source of Calcium and Vitamin D

Suggested retail price: $3.99 – $4.50 for a 2 L carton.

The new Black Diamond Ficello Smart Growth Cheese Snacks are the first to contain DHA:

• Made with 100% natural, stringable cheese in “Cheddarific” flavour
• Contain 20 mg of DHA per 21 g serving

Suggested retail price: $5.99 for a 252 g bag of 12 cheese snacks.

Nutritional Information for These Products
Note: When reading the table, remember that DHA is only one of three types of “Omega-3′s.”

For more info, visit www.smartdairy.ca

(1) 27. Gustafsson PA, Duchen K, Birberg U, Karlsson T. Breastfeeding, very long polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and IQ at 6 1/2 years of age. Acta Paediatr. 2004 Oct;93(10):1280-7

(2) Renaud S, de Lorgeril M, Delaye J. et al. Cretan Mediterranean diet for prevention of coronary heart disease. Am J Clin Nutr 61 (supple):1360S-7S, 1995

As the fillings that poke out of my well worn couch will attest, the only healthy thing about my incorrigibly bad habits is probably the literal meaning of the first word that describes my favourite pastime…vegging out.

The Hollywood writers strike (which thankfully ended a week ago) has definitely contributed to the dangerously brain rotting effects of most recent TV fodder, BUT I feel a change comin’ on! Morten and I actually sat through an evening of programming last night without so much as one lament at the current state of tube entertainment. The first reason doesn’t deviate too much from what’s already ubiquitous on TV, but read on for more examples.

Very much by chance, we stumbled on NBC’s newest family competition series, My Dad Is Better Than Your Dad (Mondays at 9/8c), as a father hurled his harnessed son over an elevated platform into a giant inflatable target, where Junior attempted to velcro stick a giant dart as close to the bullseye as he could. The object being to score as many points as possible within the alloted time to avoid elimination, it was hilarious watching the different approaches the dads had during the pep talk before the trial. You had the encouraging dad: “You can do it kiddo! I know you can!” – The adrenaline dad: “YEAH! WE GOT THIS ONE! THEY’VE GOT NO CHANCE! *GROWL*” – and the one that laid on the pressure: “This is it! We can’t lose this one so it’s important to concentrate and win!” (consequently, also the Asian dad). The atmosphere is electric and the kids are literally (and figuratively) bouncing off the walls.

Despite having missed the introduction to the show and the first challenge, the format of MDIBTYD is so easy your first grader will be able to deduce it. Four father & 8 to 12-year old son/daughter pairs start off the show as they come out of four garages in a studio set designed to emulate an ordinary suburban neighbourhood. One team is eliminated (the one scoring the lowest) in each round of games but no one leaves empty-handed. As each eliminated team exits the stage via the same garage door they entered from, the host announces that they’re going home with an Xbox 360. The champion team then moves on to a final how-well-do-you-know-your-kid Q&A “Money Round” where $50,000 are up for grabs, the object being for the dad to correctly guess the answers his kid gave to questions asked before the show. We’re talking about $10,000 for each correct answer here, so a team can really rake in the dough, especially when they’re allowed one mistake. Last night’s team won a respectable $20,000.

For a one-hour show, I found that it passed very quickly and was pleasantly surprised how entertaining it was. The production value is high, as is the energy level (especially from the kids), and it definitely passes the host test, which is a crucial factor in a successful game show (or any show really). Led by Dan Cortese (you may remember him from Melrose Place or Veronica’s Closet with Kirstie Alley), the pilot episode was fluid and a lot of fun. If you’ve got young kids, you’ll definitely have a blast watching this show together (how often does a TV show come along where both parents and kids can enjoy it equally?!). Even if you don’t have kids (like myself), it’s a great way to chill out before bed.

What the show has in store:

Alphabet Soup: Dads (in regular clothes and barefoot) climb into their own big bowl of messy soup, retrieve 12” letters one-at-a-time, run out and place each onto a board with their kid until they spell out an item commonly found in the produce department

Velcro Wall: Dad stands on a platform and pushes his harnessed kid into a giant inflatable target in order to score points with giant velcro darts

Empty Nest: Dad climbs up a tree and has to successfully throw one egg from each nest down to his kid without breaking any

Robo Paperboy: Using a newspaper cannon, dad must score as many newspapers as possible through windows while the other dad tries to block them from going in

Spinning Discs: Dad, dressed in yellow fisherman gear, jumps across four slippery spinning turntables and on each turntable has to grab overhead fish and throw them into a receptacle operated by his kid

Tarantula Hat: Dad puts his head in a clear box with tons of creepy tarantulas and with his free hands below, has to lace and tie his kid’s shoe

Desk Smash: Dad has three minutes to smash a desk using a 10 lb sledgehammer and shove as much of it as possible through a 9-inch hole into a box

Does everything Mark Burnett touch turn to gold?

For more reviews on other shows that Morten and I dig, read on!

As MDIBTYD wrapped up, we couldn’t help but hit the TV guide channel in the off chance that we were missing somethin’ good by hauling it in early. That’s when we caught the title “Damages,” (Mondays at 10 PM ET/PT on Showcase). Having seen some brow-raising snippets of the adverts over the past few months, we couldn’t help but let our curiosity flip to channel 39.

Two great new shows in one night? What are the odds eh? Well, this one certainly has the potential. Very gritty, edgy, and thought provoking (which doesn’t happen too often), it’ll be very interesting to see this Golden Globe winning legal drama/thriller unravel.

The plot begins with all the key elements that engender intrigue: A clearly shocked and dishevelled young half-naked woman in an open trench coat runs out of a posh residential condo covered in blood that is obviously not hers and in bewilderment runs aimlessly until she’s picked up by police and put in an interrogation room. We quickly realize that we just caught a glimpse of the season finale as we’re then flashed back six months when and where it all began.

We meet Ellen Parsons (played by Australian actor Rose Byrne of 28 Weeks Later), not yet running wildly through the streets of New York City, but sharply dressed and in the midst of signing a to-die-for employment contract with the prestigious law firm of Hollis Nye (played by Philip Bosco). Instead of taking this golden opportunity however, the ambitious new lawyer holds out for an even juicier gig with the infamous Patty Hewes (played famously by Cruella de Vil herself, Glen Close). Hollis forewarns Ellen that she’s diving head first into dangerous waters, but such melodrama is brushed off by a thus far naive Ellen.

Very early on in the show, we see Patty as a ruthless litigator, who plays dirty and who clearly stops at nothing (yes, not even murder) to get her desired outcome. When Ellen is hired, the law firm of Hewes and Associates is in the midst of an Enron-esque class action law suit against billionaire Arthur Frobisher (played by Ted Danson). In a nutshell, Frobisher is accused of insider trading and as a result, ruining the financial futures of his former employees.

Not-so-coincidentally, Ellen happens to be the future sister-in-law of a key witness in the case, Katie Connor (Anastasia Griffith), a chef who catered a Frobisher event during which she may have witnessed something that will win the case for Hewes. Funny that Frobisher then became the prime investor for Katie’s new restaurant, supposedly because she so impressed him…and hmmm…strange that the corporate giant’s shifty lawyer Ray Fiske (Zeljko Ivanek) keeps asking her to sign confidentiality agreements. Patty, with the aid of her trusty lieutenant Tom Shayes (played by Tate Donovan), of course takes every advantage of this grapevine of connections, naturally to the detriment of Ellen and David Connor’s (Noah Bean) engaged relationship. By that I really mean his death, which we witness towards the end of the the pilot episode (“Get Me a Lawyer“). Why are heroines’ boyfriends always done in?!

So there you have it, a titillating mystery that will take 13 episodes to unfold (actually, three seasons have been bought). The story is deliciously spun, and crumbs of clues are dropped in perfectly timed out points for the viewers to follow along in anticipation. For instance, we find out along the way that the condo that Ellen flies out of in the beginning is that in which Patty resides. I think it’s clear that the blood she’s dripping in is that of her fiancé David, but I think it’s also a safe assumption that she had no hand in it and only became covered in the damaging evidence when she found the body and tried to revive it. That Patty was the direct cause is irrefutable, but all the evidence as to the who’s, the how’s, and the why’s are purely speculative at this point and I don’t see how anyone will object to seeing this case unfold.

Now for something completely different:

Falling into in the “Guilty Pleasures” category, we’re definitely lovin’ ABC’s hit series Cashmere Mafia, which airs Wednesdays at 10/9c (not to be mistaken with the poor NBC imitation Lipstick Jungle).

For Sex and the City fans who were sad to see the series end, this one’s arguably better. The scope is certainly broader so it’s bound to attract a more varied audience, as long as people give it a chance and don’t dismiss it as just a sequel to Sarah Jessica Parker’s show.

“Set in glamorous New York City, where titans of media, finance, advertising and publishing reside, these driven women (best friends since business school), who daily share their relatable and relevant problems dealing with both the boardroom and bedroom, combine their smarts, wit and humor to deal with personal and professional misfortunes and stunning triumphs. Whether it’s coping with rocky marriages, fending off scheming colleagues or just trying to find themselves in the midst of chaotic lives, these compelling women use their valuable friendship to keep centered.”[abc.com]

Unlike Damages but similar to Sex and the City, you won’t get lost if you start tuning into Cashmere Mafia now (its sixth episode airing tomorrow night). New conflicts are presented each week and each episode can stand alone.

However, if you need a quick primer:

Mia Mason (Lucy Liu) was introduced in the pilot episode competing with colleague (and fiancé) Jack Cutting (Tom Everett Scott) for the head position of publisher. She may have come out as the winner, but her relationship lost big time as Jack couldn’t accept being second best. Mia has since then tried to move on, casually dating neurosurgeon Jason Chun (Jack Yang), impulsively making out with Zoe’s male nanny (“manny”), and even coming close to reuniting with Jack for the wrong reasons.

A top marketing exec for a cosmetics firm, Caitlin Dowd (Bonnie Somerville) enjoys great success in her field but is sorely lacking in the relationship department. With countless failed heterosexual relationships, she decides to switch teams and begins to date Alicia Lawson (Lourdes Benedicto), only to fall off the bandwagon for a one-night-stand with a good looking guy she flirts with at a lesbian baby shower. Alicia has since broken it off with Caitlin, but not because of her fling but because she’s decided to go back to her ex-girlfriend after successfully getting pregnant. Caitlin is the sweet wacky one in the bunch and most definitely confused.

A woman that has it and does it all, Zoe Burden (Frances O’Connor) is an investment banker with a loving and supportive work-at-home architect husband, Eric Burden (Julian Ovenden) and two small children. Balancing full-time jobs and good parenting is a constant struggle, only to be challenged further by conniving colleagues and a sexist boss. After a less than deserving co-worker wins the promotion that’s rightfully hers, she quits and is now re-evaluate her life.

Juliet Draper (Miranda Otto) may be the CEO of a major hotel chain but she has no control of her own life. She turns a blind eye to her husband Davis Draper’s (Peter Hermann) philandering inclinations and feigns domestic perfection in the eyes of the public, even though her marriage is falling apart, and her 14-year-old daughter clearly rebelling. When Davis cheats on her with nemesis Cilla Gray (Noelle Beck), something snaps and Juliet seeks retribution by entertaining thoughts of a liaison with business mogul Bobby Walsh (Bill Sage). She doesn’t fall through with her revenge but instead tries to divorce Davis, only to find herself royally screwed because he has complete control of their finances and is cowardly hitting below the belt.

So now that you’re all caught up, join in the fun! My favourite is Zoe…Morten is quite partial to Mia but can’t for the life of him understand why the show dresses her so badly!

And last but not least: Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles

We never thought we’d say this but here it goes…FOX not only produced a show that wasn’t a spinoff, but it’s actually good! I’m tapped out though, so Morten’s taking over and here are his thoughts:

This one’s getting the “Biggest Surprise of the Season” stamp of approval. When we first got wind of the project, we presumed it would be a total bust. Can you really make a TV show (and have enough money for the quality effects necessary) out of a film franchise that has lost its lustre? Well, the answer is yes, and Chronicles really is something worth watching, whether you are a fan of the movies or not.

Since it premiered on the same week as Cashmere Mafia, here’s a quick recap of the basics:

The show picks up where Terminator 2: Judgement Day left off and before Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines began, filling in the many holes in the story while at the same time, expanding its scope. We meet a 15-year-old John Connor and his mother on the run from the law, the Machines, and just about everything in between. We’re back in the mid-90s and they are living a mundane existence in nowhere town somewhere in the States. Everything seems to be going great: John is finally in one place long enough to make friends, and Sarah is in a serious and loving relationship. But when Mr. Right proposes, she decides it’s time to move, leaving the ring and the town behind without a word. After settling down in a new and equally mundane country town, they try to start over for the umpteenth time. Unfortunately, a Terminator (“Cromartie”) has other plans and on John’s first day at a new school, it shoots up the classroom in an attempt to stop the future saviour of the human race from even graduating.

While John dives out the window, Cameron Phillips, a waif of a girl who doesn’t seem to blink, gets up and decides to take Cromartie on. It becomes pretty obvious that the TX (Terminatrix) from Terminator 3 wasn’t the only hot fembot ever created and Cameron manages to stall the killing machine long enough for John to escape.

As the pilot develops, Cameron convinces Sarah and John that it’s time to rob a bank. They lock themselves in the vault to access parts (hidden in the safety deposit boxes by time travellers over the years) that build a time machine which takes them (along with Cromartie by accident) to present time. Naturally they land, completely naked, in the middle of a busy road and the mandatory naked-robot-beats-up-people-for-clothes scene unfolds, proving once again that naked chicks doing martial arts are friggin’ hot *anticipating Angela’s punch…and there it is.*

That’s the beginning, the rest of which you’ve missed being fairly easy to catch up on. What makes this show worthwhile isn’t so much the story as it is the interpersonal (or intermachineal?) relationships. You have:

John Connor (played by Thomas Dekker): Young and frustrated by the constant uprooting and the unfathomable burden of being the hero he’s destined to be.

Sarah Connor (played by British actor Lena Headey): The mother of said hero who’s desperately trying to keep him safe and trained for the inevitable, while running from the FBI as a convicted and escaped mentally unstable terrorist (not to mention trying to prevent Skynet from ever being built).

Cameron Phillips (played by Summer Glau, also familiar because you know her as the agile “River” from Serenity): The female Terminator sent by future John Connor to protect his younger self from the many Terminators sent back by the Machines to kill him.

Agent James Ellison (played by Judging Amy’s Richard T. Jones): The FBI agent whose career has gone down the drain due to his obsession with Sarah Connor’s case, and who seems to be the only one who notices that things don’t add up.

The show creators have taken a page out of the Star Trek Voyager Seven of Nine success book and are focusing heavily on the weird situations that can arise when you have an attractive entity who operates based only on logic and without emotion in a world where emotions are paramount. Oddly enough, over time, Cameron becomes more and more robotic (which drives Angela mad because it doesn’t make sense), her behavior less human and more bizarre, leading to all sorts of hilarious situations. In one scene for instance, John jumps in the front seat of their car shouting “I call shotgun!” to which Cameron responds immediately with “I call 9mm.” You get the idea. The sexual tension and confusion between John and his female cyborg companion is amusing – there is something weirdly sexy about a woman whose actions are purely logical and rational *yup, there’s the second punch* and I can pretty much guarantee there’s going to be an “Oh, you want to have intercourse with me? Ok, let me remove my clothes,” followed by Cameron peeling and John running out of the room type scene in an episode to come. Trust me, it works.

The series has also introduced some new and very interesting characters: Turns out there are several Terminators with very specific assignments roaming the streets. We meet one stockpiling Coltan, a key metal in Terminator endoskeletons, and locking it up in an abandoned bomb shelter to save it from destruction when the apocalypse comes. There are also teams of resistance fighters stationed throughout the city with thus far unclear assignments. One of these is John’s uncle, Derek Reese (who’s unaware of the familial ties), played by a surprisingly old (and shockingly built) Brian Austin Green (90210 people!) sent back by John himself.

The real challenge for the show is the uncomfortable knowledge of what will happen that hangs over the characters, as well as the viewers. You know Sarah will die (she was dead in Terminator 3) and in one of the early Chronicle episodes, Cameron tells her she ‘died’ of cancer in 2004 (something they postponed by making a jump to 2007). You also know that the apocalypse is inevitable. What never seizes to impress me is that the Terminator series has managed to stick to one theory of time travel, namely the linear one, since day one, meaning that everything is pretty much set in stone and whatever the characters do, they can’t change the future. The desire to allow the ability to change the future without changing the past is a pitfall most movies and shows fall into and it drives me absolutely crazy: If you go back in time and kill your own father, you would never be born and you wouldn’t be able to kill him, so you would be born but then you would go back and kill him, which means he wouldn’t be born, which means neither would you and then he wouldn’tbekilledandyouwouldbebornandyouwouldgobackandkillhim…(insert sound of head exploding). One can only hope that the writers stick to their guns and steer clear of this temptation so that the show doesn’t become a contradiction in terms.

After T3, I had very low expectations for any future franchise expansions but now that I’ve seen The Sarah Connor Chronicles, I can’t wait to see what Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins (slated for release in June 2009) will have to offer.

STEP INTO SARAH CONNOR’S SHOES: Check out Evasion, the game featured on the Terminator website. It’s a very short game, but it’s fun and an impressive feature for a TV show website.

What is it about little girls and their love of horses? I swear that those of us with that double x chromosome are genetically predisposed to developing this attachment when we’re young. I remember a time when I was so obsessed with them that I was willing to do just about anything to own one. It was always just a pie in the sky though. I never actually considered the possibility that I might be able to do something about it. I just continued begging and pleading, hoping that one day my parents would simply cave and grant me my wish.

Triana Segovia isn’t just a dreamer though. She’s a doer. Only nine years of age, she has already set the goal to purchase her first horse by the time she’s eleven. If that sounds far-fetched, you need to check out the video. There’s passion and then there’s Triana’s love of horses. She’s at the North Shore Equestrian Centre twice a week for lessons, but don’t be mistaken; there is a lot of work and responsibility involved. Before a horse can be ridden each time, Triana needs to ‘tack it up.’ Releasing a horse afterwards is also a process which includes cleaning the equipment just used. It may sound like work, but not to Triana. She loves everything (and I do mean everything) about horses, even cleaning out their stalls.

Two years ago, when her mother was preparing an exhibit for the Eastside Culture Crawl, she suggested that Triana should display her own drawings and paintings. Originally a mere hobby, Triana’s talent very quickly evolved into a career! She had ten pieces that year and they sold out on the very first day. The following year, she returned to the same event with twice as many drawings and again repeated her success on day one. The demand was so great that she immediately went home and got back to work. Buyers had caught the bug and Triana had another clean sweep on day two.

Realizing the value of her product, Triana opened an account and now deposits every penny that is earned through her sales in the hopes of one day accumulating enough funds to buy a horse to call her own (“a big gray or white Appaloosa gelding” to be exact). That is no small task, so that’s where all of you come into play.

If you live in or around Vancouver, come and check out her inaugural art exhibit THIS Saturday August 4th from 7 to 9 PM at The Petri Dish, an eclectic little shop that is located at 42 Kingsway. You can support her by purchasing one of her affordable $4 cards. Larger drawings are also available that range in price from $10 to about $30 for a framed Triana original. Quite the burgeoning artist, her drawings are whimsical and possess a charm that only a child can transfer to paper.

If you didn’t at one point dream the same dream, I’m sure you know someone who did. This is your chance to make it a reality for a very deserving little girl.

If you don’t live ’round these parts, send me an email and I’ll let you know how you can help feed the Triana horse fund.

If you’re like Kalpna Solanki, only the very best foods make it to your child’s plate. Nutrition is all-important at any age, but particularly in the first year. She saw many parents feeding their babies solid foods too early or feeding them only a few foods, making their nutrition limited and less than perfect. So Kalpna developed BOBOBABY – the first frozen, organic, age-appropriate baby food available in the country. Her own daughter was the inspiration for wanting to assist other parents with the ‘baby’s first foods’ mystery.

Kalpna recreated her daughter’s menu plan to reflect a baby’s critical and changing needs from 6 – 9+ months. The recipes for each phase are backed by the latest research in infant nutrition, are all certified organic, kosher, and also offer baby foods that contain no added salt, preservatives, sugar, colour, peanuts, nuts, soy, wheat, sesame, dairy, eggs, fish, shellfish, poultry or meat. Research indicates that feeding a child a vegetarian diet for the first 10 to 12 months of life can decrease the risk of diabetes and obesity in childhood.

For our featured recipe, and to learn more about BOBOBABY and your child’s important nutritional needs, read on!

While in the mother’s womb, baby gets lots of iron from mom, which becomes stored in the body’s tissues and hemoglobin. During the first few months after birth, however, these iron reserves get depleted and must be replaced through diet – which then comes in the form of breast milk or formula. But once baby is weaned and solid foods are introduced, other sources of iron are essential (such as iron-fortified cereals and other iron-rich foods, like dark green, leafy vegetables and grains). Signs of inadequate levels of iron may include slow growth, reduced appetite, irritability, fatigue and paleness.

Aside from overall good health, iron is vital to all of baby’s functioning organs and it’s especially important for hemoglobin, the substance in red blood cells that helps with the circulation of oxygen throughout the body. Yet what foods baby receives in combination with each other are just as important as how rich they are in iron. Some nutrients can significantly increase iron absorption, while others do the opposite. For example, the vitamin C found in orange juice, when consumed with a meal can double the amount of iron absorbed, while milk taken with a meal can actually decrease absorption.

An excellent combination for babies is iron-fortified cereal or grains eaten together with fruit. This way, the vitamin C in the fruit ensures maximum absorption of the iron from the cereal. The following is a recipe that not only serves as a tasty dish for baby, but it also uses the above principle of iron absorption.

Quinoa and Apple
Suitable for babies seven months and up

Quinoa is a grain that is an excellent source of protein, calcium and iron. The vitamin C from the apples helps with the iron absorption

Ingredients:

2 apples
1/2 cup quinoa
1 1/2 cups water

Directions:

1. Peel, core and dice apples and cook with 1/2 cup water until easily mashed

2. Wash and rinse quinoa (this is important as quinoa has a bitter coating), and cook with 1 cup water for about 10 – 15 minutes

3. Combine cooked quinoa and cooked apple. Mash or puree to desired consistency (add boiled water if necessary), taste and serve

Leftovers can easily be poured into ice cube trays, covered and frozen. Frozen cubes can then be emptied into an air tight container and kept in the freezer for up to 3 months

Some other unique characteristics about BOBOBABY:

* All packaging materials are sourced locally

* Their manufacturing plant (the only one that is solely dedicated to the production of frozen baby foods) is designed for minimal environmental impact

* All food wastes are composted

* 95% of the ingredients are sourced locally

* They advocate organic living, demonstrate sustainable practices, and strive to make a difference in their communities by donating to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank and Success by 6 member organizations

Kalpna has been nominated The SavvyMom Mompreneur of the Year Award for all her hard work! If you’d like to support her, vote for BOBOBABY here by September 16th.

BOBOBABY is available throughout North America. To find out if it’s available in your area, click here.

If you have kids, you know that travelling with them is hardly a piece of cake. It’s simply not feasible to pack all of a child’s necessities, yet it’s just not possible to do without. Until now, there have been few options for parents, so to accommodate their needs, Wee Travel rents baby equipment to people visiting Toronto, Vancouver, and Victoria.

Launched by Shana Cherry and her Toronto-based sister Lesley, Wee’s mission is to make it easy for parents to travel lighter by providing a full range of hard-to-pack baby equipment and supplies. In other words, they provide everything that parents could possibly need when travelling so that they don’t have to bring it all with them.

The idea was hatched after Lesley and her son visited Shana in Vancouver a couple of years ago. Shana’s son had outgrown his cot, stroller and other kid-size equipment, so Lesley had only to pack some clothes. But when Lesley and son visited a friend in New York, things weren’t so easy. Her hosts had assured her they had everything, but Lesley discovered that meant poorly maintained equipment that had obviously been in storage for some time. She ended up buying a new stroller.

Many people have very old equipment which is inadequate and likely doesn’t meet current safety standards, so in addition to travellers, Wee also caters to local grandparents who have small children visiting. Hotels frequently use this type of service, as do big budget film and production companies, airlines, car rental companies…pretty much anyone who has a baby or toddler coming.

The rentals offer temporary solutions for newborns to children up to eight years of age. These include car seats, cribs, Pack ‘n Plays (fold-up playpens that infants can also sleep in), ExerSaucers, swings, bags of toys, high chairs, change tables, rockers, beach packages, strollers and joggers (double and single), backpacks for hiking and snugglies for newborns out for a stroll with their parents…virtually anything you require for your child when you’re away from home.

There are similar services in Vancouver and Toronto but Wee stands out in several ways. Whether you’re staying at a hotel or in someone’s home, they will deliver any rentals to your door before you arrive, and pick them up after you leave. They are also very careful about the equipment they offer. Neither trend nor hype top the list of criteria in the selection process as the latest fad may not always be practical for someone who’s travelling. If you’re in Vancouver and you like to go for walks, to shop, or to go for coffee with your stroller, storage and portability are obvious necessities. Wee also sanitizes everything with baby- and environmentally-friendly products and if you need their services on a more regular basis, they offer practical gifts with a certain amount of rental. For instance, as you saw in the video, they have a compact folding potty seat which comes in a washable bag; very useful when travelling with your child. Shana has a background in psychology so she did a lot of research on parenting books and offered one as a gift as well.

There is always something new in the baby equipment market so Wee is always on the lookout for innovative new products. One of their most recent items is the Gogo Kidz Travelmate, which is a suitcase wheeler-type tool that you hook on to the bottom of a car seat to enable you to pull a seated child through the airport. It fits through the isles of the plane and goes right onto the airplane seat with the car seat. Imagine the convenience!

You’ll find the prices quite reasonable. Here are some examples:

Car Seats: $7 a day or $42 a week.
Pack ‘n Plays: $7 a day or $42 a week.
Cribs, which come with a 4”mattress inside a foldable steel sided frame (no assembly required) and includes a sheet: $10 a day or $60 a week.
High Chairs: $7 a day or $42 a week.
Booster Seats or Bumbo Seats: $5 a day or $30 a week.
Gogo Kidz Travelmate: $5 a day or $25 a week.
Double Joggers (probably the most expensive item): $14 a day or $84 a week.

And in addition to larger equipment, Wee also offers:

Baby Supplies: They’ll provide you with any brand of diapers, wipes, formula, baby food, shampoo, soap or sunscreen ($10 service fee).

Bag of Toys: A selection of age appropriate toys to keep your little ones entertained, including books, toys, and videos ($4 a day or $24 a week).

Specialty Toys: They offer a variety of toys such as trikes, push cars, wagons, rocking chairs, toys, picnic tables and winter sleds.

Mom/Dad: They will do a run for whatever you require should you be so focused on baby that you forget some important items for yourself.

International Beach Package: If you are traveling somewhere hot, they have a number of sun packages. They can arrange to drop it off at your home or at the airport on the day of your departure. They offer a large fold-up sunshade (not an umbrella), a playpen, beach toys, pail and shovel and a variety of other items ($20 a week).

Interestingly, the Cherry sisters have noticed a distinct east-coast, west-coast divide when it comes to what parents want. In Vancouver, a lot of people rent outdoor equipment such as strollers, joggers, and beach packages. In Toronto, joggers are not much in demand but Lesley regularly rents out ExerSaucers and swings. It has to do with climate obviously and Vancouver caters to a more active lifestyle with great outdoor spaces like Stanley Park and the Seawall to take a stroller. Toronto summers are so hot and their winters so cold that locals are more inclined to stay indoors.

With airlines now, there are a lot of restrictions on what you can bring, and you have your own personal restrictions because there’s a limit to what you can carry. There are a lot of things you have to check in and parents often complain that their car seats end up getting torn, dirty, and bashed around when they send them through. It’s not on the site yet, but soon, Wee will offer wheeled car seat cases.

A lot of times, people come to Vancouver but they’re going to the Island or through the Rockies. Shana realized that there are many people from new Zealand and Australia who come here for a month, rent a motor home, and travel around Canada. Wee is a useful service for such travellers because their rentals can be taken anywhere as long as they are brought back when they’re due.

When you’re planning on traveling somewhere, give some thought ahead of time, to what your child is going to need to have an enjoyable vacation because if your child has an enjoyable vacation, you’ll have an enjoyable vacation. You might start by thinking you need a package of diapers…then all the formula because where you’re going they won’t have yours…the swing is a must because ‘Johnny’ lives in that swing and won’t nap anywhere else…you also need somewhere for him to sleep in because he can’t sleep in the bed…and there’s also the jogger because you like to jog every day…and it’ll probably be raining in Vancouver so you also need some cover for the jogger…by the time you finish your list, you’ll need a moving truck to go on holiday! If this sounds like something your family has gone through, next time you go to Vancouver, Victoria or Toronto, consider Wee Travel. They’ll certainly make sure your holiday is much more enjoyable.

Things You Didn’t Know About Car Seat Safety

Shana is certified to install car seats but she can’t actually do it for you as that would pose a liability issue. Car seat safety is the driver’s responsibility but Shana can help by looking at the installation that you’ve done and direct you if it’s not safe.

Here are some important tips from Shana:

* A lot of parents like to swaddle their babies to make them comfortable in their car seats. What they don’t know is that they’re sacrificing their child’s safety when they do this. In the case of an accident, everything compresses upon impact so if there is a towel or a snuggly wrapped around the baby, it too will compress. This means that the straps won’t be as tight as they were and your child could actually shoot out of the seat. So, never put anything between the car seat/straps and your child. If you want to keep your baby warm, place the blanket on top once they’re securely strapped in (you should be able to put one or two fingers between your child and the strap).

* The purpose of the middle clip that you do up on the infant or convertible seats is to ensure that the shoulder straps remain in the right position in case of an accident. Please note that it doesn’t hold your child in and typically will break off on impact. What it does is keep the straps in place until such an incident. That buckle should be at armpit height.

* With booster seats, many people think that high backs are safer. That is not true. There are two options available to accommodate the kind of car you drive. If you have headrests, you don’t need a high back on the booster and if there are no headrests, you want to have a high back to avoid whiplash. One’s not safer than the other.

* All car seats and cars are shaped differently. The seats in your car may have more padding…you may have flat seats or bucket seats…As long as your car seat meets Canadian safety standards (CSA sticker) though, it’s alright to have about one inch of wiggle room. Shana received a recent email from a client who had a very strong man install her car seat so it fit tightly in her car, but she couldn’t do the same in a rental car. The reality is that depending on the car and depending on the car seat, a tight fit isn’t always possible. The back seats in some cars have a little bit of a hump on them, or a little ridge…some slant a little more at the back…If you manage to secure your car seat so well that it won’t budge, that’s fantastic. However, please note that it can move one inch and still be considered safe.

For more information and a tourist and shopping resource, visit www.weetravel.ca. Also check out the Wee blog here for additional tips and the latest news.

Remember when Brangelina had their baby last year? Barely introduced to the world and Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt managed to create massive hype for the Pots & Pans Band t-shirt that she wore in the much anticipated People Magazine photos shoot. Now THAT’s star power.

Kingsley, the designer of the line with the same name, was in Vancouver for the first time this past weekend and sat down with me to chat about the evolution of children’s clothing and life after the whirlwind of publicity.

The brand was formed three years ago after the birth of Kingsley’s son, Zephir. Like any new parent-to-be, Kingsley and Amy were excited to start shopping for their little boy and very quickly realized that there was a very limited selection of clothing that defined their lifestyle. They didn’t settle however. When Zephir came out of the hospital, he was wearing the first ever hand-crafted Kingsley onesy. That got a huge response. All their friends were into it and that is how Kingsley Clothing was created. Their local community was very supportive but they never anticipated celebrities like Gwen Stefani, Johnny Depp, Chris Cornell (their favourite rock star), Seal & Heidi Klum, to turn to them for their children’s fashion needs.

Kingsley isn’t into the habit of sending celebrities clothes. That’s never been his philosophy. “We don’t like to shove it down people’s throats no matter who they are, celebrity or not. We just figured if they like it, they’ll buy it and that’s always been the case.” They send Brad & Angelina a package once in a while now as a thank you for all the exposure they’ve given him but that’s where it stops. Kingsley is confident that the quality of the product speaks for itself. A lot of copycat brands have emerged as a result of his great success but the motives are different. Kingsley saw a need and wanted to fill a void in children’s clothing.

Much of his inspiration comes from his son. The Pots & Pans Band t-shirt came about when Zephir started a band in their kitchen. He was the drummer, banging on all the pots and pans and that sparked an idea. With a background in fine art, graphics, and photography, Kingsley is now expanding the line to pants, wovens, a line of accessories, and larger sizes. Look for an adult line this Fall at Holt Renfrew and if you’d like to carry the brand in your store, click here for contact info.

In today’s ‘Gap’ed world, we all need “a little more style…a little more flavour.”