The coolest boxes are sandboxes: The launch of Winnipeg's coolest fashion magazine

Winnipeg's newest, coolest magazine is hitting newsstands across Winnipeg March 5.

Sandbox Magazine is created by Jeffrey Vallis and Braden Alexander - two driven, smart, and very talented men from Winnipeg who decided to begin this adventure because they wanted to "honour exactly what they feel makes life worth living: beautiful, confident women and everything they love, including fashion, lifestyle, arts, entertainment and culture."

Sandbox Magazine has issued three online issues since beginning last fall, and their first print issue will be launched in style Thursday, March 4 at Mystique Nightclub. The Glamour Party will be an evening of style, fashion and hottness so be sure not to miss it. Tickets are $10 in advance, or $12 at the door. Each attendee will receive a copy of the first print issue, The Glamour Issue, featuring Winnipeg's own Meaghan Waller - winner of Canada's Next Top Model.

For more event information, visit the Facebook event page.

See the sneak-peek below of Meaghan Waller's photo shoot for Sandbox. HOT.

This Is It? More like this is awkward to watch

The movie hit theatres last October, but I've only now sat down to watch Michael Jackson's This Is It. My first opinion while watching this film is that it's incredibly awkward. MJ is rail-thin, pasty white, and looks as though he'll break into a thousand pieces if he falls down or trips on stage.



The footage for this film was taken during rehearsals last April through June as MJ and his dancers and band members got ready to perform for sold-out crowds at London's O2 Arena. Unfortunately, Michael died June 25, 2009, and so this film has been released so that Michael Jackson fans all over the world can experience his last project.

The Los Angeles County coroner found many prescription drugs in the King of Pop's system - to which he didn't have prescriptions for, and MJ's personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, has since been charged with involuntary manslaughter.

The coroner's report states that, at the time of his death, MJ had punctures all over his body, and his home contained an oxygen tank, a broken syringe, an open box of needles, IV-catheters, and glass vials to name a few.

When I see MJ in this film, all I can seem to picture is his frail body lying in bed with an oxygen mask on and his doctor sticking all kinds of drugs in him. He was an addict, and obviously in no shape to perform such an extensive concert residency in London.

Rest in peace Michael - such a sad life.

Straight up: this guy's going far

American Idol judge, Kara Dioguardi, compared this season's AI hopeful, Andrew Garcia, to Adam Lambert, and not because he's a flamboyant rock star, but because he can take a song and "flip it."

Andrew performed an amazing acoustic version of former AI judge, Paula Abdul's hit song, "Straight Up," and let me tell you, if Paula was there, she would have loved it.

Watch the performance below:



Speaking of Adam Lambert, his rendition of Tears for Fears' "Mad World" on last year's American Idol brought tears to my eyes and as corny as that may sound, listen to the song and try not to be blown away.



This performance won Adam a standing ovation by non other than Mr. Grouch, Simon Cowell. It's one thing to be able to sing a song well, but it's another to be able to put a unique spin on it and make it your own.

Adam's clearly pleasing his fans, as his debut album, For Your Entertainment, has officially hit Gold with sales reaching 500,000 copies.

Do you know who's behind the mask?

On behalf of the Red River College Human Rights Group, Erica and I invite you to "Behind the Mask... We're All People" - an unrivaled masquerade experience taking place Thursday, February 25, 2010 at 8:00 p.m at The O.C Social Club.

DJ Cassanova & MC Escalade will be spinning the ones and twos, and don't forget - each person will receive a mask at the door with his or her ticket purchase.

All money raised from ticket and silent auction sales will go to the Friends of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) - the organization responsible for raising funds for the CMHR set to open in Winnipeg in 2012.

Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased from the following ticket outlets:

The Mercantile at the RRC Princess Street Campus
The Ox at the RRC Notre Dame Campus
Answers at the U of M's University Centre
The U of W Info. Booth
The front desk of the Express by Canad Inns, 1792 Pembina Hwy.
Or, email rrchumanrights@hotmail.com

There will be great silent auction prizes to be won as well. Prizes include donations from the following businesses:

Berns and Black Salon and Spa
Edward Carriere Salon
Fabutan
Global Television
The Habadashery Guys and Girls
Mariaggi's Theme Suite Hotel
MTS
Prairie Theatre Exchange
Provici Cosmetics
St. Vital Golf Centre/McGibby's Golf

If you know someone interested in donating a prize or sponsoring the event, please let Erica or I know at rrchumanrights@hotmail.com

This event will be unlike any other - so make sure to mark Thursday, February 25 in your calendars!

Oscar Noms Released!

The 81st Academy Award nominations have been announced!

Surprise, surprise, Avatar has been nominated for nine of them.

The following is a very brief rundown of some of the most notable nods:

This year, there are ten films nominated for Best Picture. This includes The Blind Side, Avatar, The Hurt Locker, Inglourious Basterds, and Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire.

Colin Firth has been nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance in Tom Ford's A Single Man. I haven't yet seen the film, but am quite excited to. My favourite, Christoph Waltz, is nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his brilliantly evil portrayal as SS Col. Hans Landa in Inglourious Basterds. He'll win it for sure.

Sandra Bullock is nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in The Blind Side. If she wins, she will undoubtedly have the best year of her life. She is, however, up against the mother of all actors, Meryl Streep, for her portrayal as Julia Child in Julie and Julia.

For a full list of Oscar nominees, click here. Don't forget to tune in to ABC Sunday, March 7 for the 81st Academy Awards!