Cannes Lions Commercials

Last night I went to check out the 2010 Cannes Lions Commercials at the WAG.  I hadn't been to see them since 1990 and the only commercial I remember had a punchline of "let's nibble on Nobby's nuts" - soooo funny to a kid. They're even funnier now as an adult and I actually get all the jokes.  I thought I would include some of my faves.  The first one is from the Canadian Cancer Society and won a Gold Lion. Yay Canada!  It really is powerful. It was the 4th commercial played and  I was sitting in the theatre about ready to cry.  I had to use my scary movie strategy and only focus on the bottom right side of the screen. This is so I don't look like a wimp who can't watch a scary movie but I also don't have to actually look at the scary stuff (btw I love scary movies and watch them all the time so I'm not actually a wimp).  Apparently it also helps to deter tears.  Please watch it though, it's really good. F*#K You Cancer!!!    The other ones are fun, fluffy laughs.  Take 'em as you like.

 

dry your eyes, it's time to guffaw

Udi's Gluten Free Bread

I went to Hawaii recently and was a little bit worried that I wouldn't be able to find any good gluten free products. Well, was I ever wrong AND I ended up finding the best gluten free bread I have ever eaten - Udi's.  I found it in Hawaiian Moons Natural Foods on South Kihei Road in Maui.  It was the first package I picked up, I gave it the squeeze test and it passed with flying, leaping colours.  I even had to show my family, "Look, I squish and it squishes back!"  I was so excited, and then I ate it.  OK, anyone who has ever been on a gluten free diet but still remembers the wonderful smell and texture of gluten-ridden-devil-treasures aka bread, knows what I mean.  This bread is freakin' amazing.  So it passed the first two tests; 1. Squishy  2. Tasty, and now 3. Storage.  And this one almost made me lose my lunch.  YOU DON'T HAVE TO FREEZE IT.  YOU DON'T HAVE TO TOAST IT (unless you want to). YOU CAN STORE IT AT ROOM TEMPERATURE. It's in all caps because I AM shouting at you.  This, to me and numerous others who need to adhere to a gluten free diet, is amazing, outstanding and unheard of.  Every other gf bread that I have had is alright for day 1-2, and then pop in the freezer or it will go bad, and 'toast for best results'. Well, boo to that I say.  I am now a converted, devotee of Udi's.  I just can't say anything better about this product.  When I returned to my humble Winnipeg home I searched my usual gf haunts and was ecstatic to find that WE HAVE UDI'S HERE!!!!!!  I feel much better, my desire to move to Hawaii can now move beyond its gluten free riches and rest on the obvious warm, sunny weather and beaches.

Music Videos

Ahhhh the lure of the music video.  It's a fascination that even in this day and age, the age of downloads, itunes, MP3 players, YouTube, ring tones, (and I could go on and on and on) that music videos still hold a place in pop culture.  They seem to be one of the only ways artists can share their vision with us.  Albums are no longer the significant, well-researched, meticulously crafted, cohesive collections that they used to be. Such importance was once placed upon the order of these songs as they were generally intended to be listened as such. The rise of C.D.'s was the downfall of the B side tracks, they were just given new meaning, a figurative meaning, instead of the literal "these songs are on side B". Side B, the second side, the least likely listened to side. Nowadays people barely pay attention to song placement, or whether or not a song from the same artist even came from the same album. Who cares.  Videos are the best medium to showcase an artist's (or  their record label's) vision in the 2000's+. Just look at Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, or Kanye West.

These are a few of my favorite videos.  I can't specify an order, they all speak to me in different ways. I love RZA as a bird, and the Bat for Lashes video always reminds me of Donnie Darko; Janelle Monae's universe is amazing and her videos are great. I really don't know anything about Make the Girl Dance, I just like the video because I am partial to anything and everything French.   I tried to find a better version of I'll Walk Alone but alas, I was unable. I love it because it's my town that they're walking around.  Shout out to Peg City!!!! And let's face it, Odario is a babe.