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It took me a few seconds to understand this ad, but it clicked once I saw the Durex logo in the top right corner. In my opinion, this ad is very creative and clearly a great time for it to be released. It would be funny, clever, and eye catching, even without the genius tagline. I’m not sure how the Olympics would feel about a condom company ad imitating their Olympic rings, but it doesn’t seem like it would be that big a deal. 

This ad from the same company however, is not my favourite. This ad was released mid-June in the UK, and although they have more leniency in the UK with what they can and cannot run, I’m still surprised that something like this made the cut. The ad was posted on their Facebook page and read “Poor woman...(or maybe lucky one)?” Durex was promoting their extra large sized condoms, and used an image that implied a woman was performing oral sex on a penis so big that it slit the edges of her mouth. I’m not going to go into great detail but as I’m sure many can guess, there a number of things that can be found extremely controversial about the image.

What do you think about the two contrasting ads? Funny? Offensive? Neither here nor there?

Fringe Fest is the Best Fest

Country Fest? No thanks. Folk Fest? I’ll pass. Fringe Fest? I’m there!

Last Sunday I saw my first fringe show of the year, and I wasn’t the least bit disappointed. Lady Skits is a MUFF-Stache Collective featuring four young women exploring the ways of feminism in a very modern and hilarious way. The collection of skits accurately depicts what young women go through in regards to sex, friendships, sex, relationships, sex, menstruation, oh...and more sex! 

During this 45 minute performance you’ll see everything from ancient Greeks texting and watching porn, to booty call rapping, to giant vaginas on stage. Don't tell me you're not the least bit intrigued!

The following is from the Fringe Festival Website:

Venue #15 -Studio 320 70 Albert St. - 3rd floor

Lady Skits

MUFF-Stache Collective
Winnipeg, MB



Director: The MUFF-Stache Collective

Cast: Kaitlynn Porath, Dana Smith, Anne Tuma, Jaclyn Kozak

It began one naked, drunken hot tub night.

After titful comparison, fretful debate on hair removal and voicing our vaginas, we aimed to change the world one ha-ha-ha at a time.

Our collective creation (and bad boyfriends, F papers and insidious one-night stands) led to the obscurity of this sketchy comedy Lady Skits.

In a dick joke-dominated world, let's get some vagina up in heeere!

Recommended For: Mature Audience
Length: 45 min
Tickets: $10
Discount Tickets: $8 for Students, Seniors
Warnings: Subject Matter, Language

See the show and tell me what you think!

Baby Steps to Big Steps

Last Friday I went to see my doctor to get a prescription refill for my high blood pressure. As they do during every appointment, they took my blood pressure to see what kind of progress I’ve been making. I’ve been off the medication for a little over a month, due to laziness to go across town to get my prescription. This isn’t the first time I’ve gone for weeks without my medication, so usually when they take my pressure it’s a lot higher than it should be. But during my last appointment, in a strange turn of events, my blood pressure turned out to lower, even though I’ve been off my meds. 

So....what does that mean?

What it means is that the little steps I’ve been taking to exercise regularly and make healthier food choices, is actually helping me become a healthier person. Why has no one told me about this sooner? Since the beginning of the school year I’ve been trying to squeeze in workouts whenever possible, and trying to eat more fruits and veggies. It’s been tough but I have been making an honest effort, and it’s nice to know that even though I’m not getting the quick results I was looking for, that what I’m doing is in fact, making a difference. 

My doctor has decided to keep me off the meds for another month to see if my blood pressure continues to go down without the help of a few pills. 

Sometimes I feel too lazy for exercise, or find it easier to unwrap a chocolate bar than to put together a fruit salad. But I feel that knowing my health is actually improving is going to motivate me to keep up with the routine, and move from baby steps, to big steps.

My Deepest Apologies

To all of the sheltered young boys and girls of Winnipeg, I want to apologize on behalf of your parents for babying you and not allowing you to have any real life experiences; for making you think that living  in one area of the city, makes you a better or more deserving person than those living in all other areas; for making you believe that as long as you hide behind your white picket fence or the golden gates of your community, that no harm will come to you; for making it hard for you later down the road when life hits you in the face and you don’t know how to retaliate; for making it likely that you too will raise your kids to be a snob to any neighbourhood that isn’t theirs. 

I’d like to take the time to let you know that you don’t live in Beverley Hills, or Paris, or in Uptown Manhattan. You live in big small town WINNIPEG! Regardless of the area you claim, you still live in a city that many people outside of this country haven’t heard of, and have no interest in going to. You still live in a city often referred to as the murder capital of Canada, a city where people get mugged, a city where people are homeless, a city where bad things happen, regardless of the area.

 I’m not saying Winnipeg is a terrible place to live in, as a lot of great things happen here! All I’m saying is that regardless of who you are, where you live, and how much money you think you have, we ALL live in the same city. I’m sorry you were brought up to believe that your postal code makes you part of Winnipeg’s elite, as one day I’m sure you will be in for a rude awakening when you find out you’re not. I’m not suggesting you take a stroll through the streets of downtown  alone at 3 in the morning (mind you, I’ve done it many times and I live to talk about it), I’m merely suggesting that you step out of your comfort zone for a day or two, and see what your city has to offer. As I said, many great things happen here in ALL areas of the city, and me being the nice person I am, just wants to make sure you have the opportunity to enjoy being a true Winnipegger :)

Winnipeg, MB

Team Player

This morning I had the pleasure of meeting with a woman from the Heart and Stroke Foundation (HSF) to discuss how best to handle sponsorships and donations for the Red Dress Gala & Fashion Show I’m organizing for next February. She was extremely helpful, and as I was telling her more about my event, she suggested I set up an event committee. This isn’t the first time someone’s brought up this idea. 

I know that planning a gala dinner and fashion show is a lot of work for one person to do, but I struggle with the idea of having an official team of helpers. 

One reason I chose to host a red dress gala for my individual professional project (IPP) is because it’s an event I’ve organized before, but never had the opportunity to see through. A university student group I used to be involved with started to plan a similar event back in 2010. Unfortunately, there were too many people involved and things weren’t getting done when they needed to be. It can also be hard when there are too many clashing personalities working together on such a big project. Because this event didn’t go smoothly, I’m a tad reluctant to work on this gala with multiple people involved. It’s hard relying on different people for different things because no matter what happens, everything will come down to me. 

Another reason for my skepticism about working with a committee is the fact that I want to get as much experience from this project as possible. I’ve learned a ton of new skills during this year of CreComm, and I’m anxious to put them all to good use so I can strengthen them at every possible opportunity. There are so many aspects of this gala event and I want to be deeply involved in all of them. 

At the end of the day I guess I want all of the work done for the gala to be my own. Not because I don’t think I can work well with others, or that I’m above needing any sort of help, but just so I can prove to others and myself that I can do this; that I have the skills and the ambition to take on a big project and carry it out successfully. Not only is the success of the event important because the proceeds are going to a great cause, or because it’s failure would mean a later graduation date than expected, but it will be my calling card for jobs that lead me into the career of my dreams. 

No matter what’s happened in the past or what can happen in the future, I know the smart thing to do is to seek out some help. It is a big task and although I feel I can handle the workload on my own, what I have to realize is that once I get a big girl job, I’ll always be working in a team. Sure there will be challenges and not everything will go according to plan, but who says I won’t come across those obstacles on my own?  Having help doesn’t mean throwing in the towel or accepting defeat; it’s what I need to do. 

So I guess you’ll be the first to know, I am now looking for volunteers to be on the red dress event committee. 

Details coming soon!