Entourage: The Contemporary Definition of Cool

Glamour has our society swimming in a sparkling sea of delusion and vanity has a whole new face that can’t move its forehead. With this in mind it is no wonder HBO’s hit show Entourage has become so popular. It reflects powerful distractions that throw human beings off their personal course to achieve their full potential, including the procrastinator’s drug of choice that’s being smoked in 50 per cent of their episodes – marijuana. The creators of Entourage continue to master in the art of manipulating and exploiting human weakness.

The team at Entourage has chosen not to shy away from the proverbial fast lane and the toxic consequences that their actors never take seriously. Also interesting is the real-world application of flirtation with this “road of spoils” or “fast-lane” lifestyle. This often tempts its patrons with an exciting taste for the senses that leads to a desire to continually live life in a way that ignores the inner Read more

Vaughan Municipal Election: Will Mayor Jackson Beat it?

Question marks float like buoys in Vaughan’s political waters, where six mayoral candidates tread towards a distant City Hall. Whether or not Mayor Linda Jackson’s campaign bid will be able to transcend a trail of controversy is becoming the crux of conversation. The early stages of the municipal election leave many residents wading in a murky reservoir, probing for a channel of transparency.

“It’s been entertaining, engaging and bewildering. It will be interesting to see if there is a higher turnout in this municipal election,” says Nelson Wiseman, an associate political science professor at the University of Toronto. “What’s gone on is quite unusual, quite out of the ordinary, quite wild in terms of the city and the legal cases and the intensity,” he adds, mentioning that he’s received more calls about Vaughan’s election than any other municipality, Read more

Lyme Disease: Tick Talk

Chris Vanclief woke in the dead of night, gasping and clutching his chest. An ambulance quickly rushed him to the hospital where an ECG came back clear. Two weeks later, an episode of difficult breathing, chest and abdominal pain, shakes and fatigue gripped the 38-year-old, a chiropractor and hockey coach in prime physical condition. “I remember being in the hospital and turning to my wife to say, ‘Something’s eating me inside and nobody’s listening.’”

As the days lagged on, Vanclief slept through Christmas and forgot his niece’s name. Test after test came back with no conclusive answers. Doctors simply told him, ‘there’s nothing wrong with you.’

As his unexplained pain mounted, a serious and growing concern continued its breadth across Canada, infecting parents and children bite by bite. Read more

BP Oil Spill: A Crude Conundrum

A manmade disaster of catastrophic proportions gushed through the Gulf of Mexico two days before Earth Day this year. Millions of gallons of poison surged from the seafloor, swimming throughout the world’s ninth largest body of water. The Gulf laps onto the shores of Florida, Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana – states still fragile from the destructive aftermaths of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

As flames licked the BP oil rig, a haunting déjà vu unfolded, eclipsing the Exxon Valdez disaster in size and depth and bringing a 40-year-old environmental movement to its trembling knees.

“The world should raise its eyebrows and say, ‘enough of this,’” says Dave Rauschkolb, who believes that many of the world’s problems are tied to our dependence on oil and prehistoric energy policies. A regular Joe and environmental prophet, if you will Read more

Nikki Yanofsky: Canadian Singing Sensation

Nikki Yanofsky is unlike other singing sensations her age. At 16, her interest in jazz music and love for performing tracks by timeless music legends like Ella Fitzgerald are a far cry from the pop-saturated culture of 21st century music.

Chosen as the voice for “I Believe” – the anthem for the Canadian broadcast of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games – and gracing a worldwide audience of 3.2 billion viewers during her opening performance of “O Canada” at the Games, Yanofsky recalls it as, “one of the most nerve-racking and amazing experiences” she’s had to date.

“Afterwards, I went back to my dressing room and I’m like, ‘OK, mom, dad – you go into the Green Room, I’ll meet you in a second,’ and I called my best friend and just started crying hysterically Read more

Ford Escape Hybrid and Jeep Wrangler

Ford Escape hybrid
SUV practicality without fuel consumption worries.

With the fuel efficiency gains of gas electric hybrid power, it wasn’t long before SUVs started adopting this green technology. Ford was one of the early adopters, after Toyota, to equip its popular Escape compact SUV with a hybrid system. Ford launched the Escape Hybrid early in the decade and since then the model has been updated and modernized to its current form. Having driven the Escape on an extended trip, the 177-combined horsepower of the 2.5-litre four-cylinder gas and electric hybrid motor feels energetic and gives surprising acceleration. At one point, with no highway traffic and the gas pedal floored, the Escape impressed by reaching “hello, officer!” speeds effortlessly. The only downside was the aural whine of the engine as the continuously variable transmission Read more

Are Smartphones making us smarter?

Your day begins early, and whether early is early, or early is afternoon, on the way to work or to play something begins to worry you, something is missing. Presumptions lead to paranoia and, after checking each pocket, portfolio, and underneath each car seat, your paranoia becomes an unwanted reality. You’ve forgotten the device that was created to help you remember all your important dates, numbers, and notes and without it you are nearly useless. You’ll now be forced to use the outdated, bacteria-infested box that for many people entails embarrassment as much as the opportunity to make a phone call – the dreaded public phone.

The smartphone is indeed a very smart phone, much smarter than phones from the past, but placing our social and professional lives in its microchips doesn’t leave you with much to do when you accidentally leave it at home. Not having it can Read more

Mandranova Estate, Sicily, Italy

An island in the beautiful Mediterranean Sea makes an ideal vacation destination. With rich history and breathtaking scenery, Sicily is a must-see region of Italy.

Mandranova brings you all the beauty of an island with true Italian hospitality. A comfortable atmosphere, authentic cuisine, first-rate amenities and beautiful surroundings epitomize the Mandranova experience.

To appreciate Italy and all it has to offer, a Mandranova tour package is available. Starting off at the Mandranova hotel, this tour is six days, five nights. From Day 1 to Day 6, there is endless sightseeing in various Italian cities and towns, visits to museums, cooking courses, wine tasting, and leisure activities. Enjoy the architecture, history and overall beauty of Palermo, Agrigento, Caltagirone Read more

2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa

From June 11th to July 11th, 2010, the world will come to a standstill – or at least a ‘sit-still’ – as arguably the world’s greatest sporting event takes place. The FIFA World Cup is a sporting spectacle that transcends age, economic class, social status and even religion. This year, more than 30 billion viewers are expected take in the 64 matches worldwide; this is an incredibly large number given that the global population is around the seven billion mark. In comparison, the Vancouver Olympics drew an audience of 3.5 billion viewers. This kind of audience means huge revenues and huge expenses. South Africa has 10 world class stadiums to host the matches, ranging from seaside stadiums to venues that are at such high altitude that some countries have been forced to train in parallel conditions in order to acclimatize. Five of the stadiums are new or re-built and the other five have had major renovations to ensure the highest standards for the world’s biggest stage. All of this comes at a cost Read more

Women’s Fashion — Sweet for Summer

Simplicity with a splash of blooming accessories goes a long way. This sizzling season embraces a relaxed look in lightweight apparel with highlights in footwear, jewelry and handbags. Spice up your summer wardrobe with any of these must-have pieces.

Dress to Impress
Mellow yellows never get old. This classic cut halter dress is a perfect piece for a summer picnic or with some ice cream in the park. www.dynamite.ca

Jackpot
Get sun-kissed in the Bianna top by Jackpot. Wear this loose asymmetrical linen nude with graphic floral as a cute cover-up on the beach. www.iccompanys.com Read more

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