This month’s Blog Hunter, Adam Graham, is discussing modern issues facing the gay community and urban community at large.

Tradition is loosely defined as “something that is handed down.”There is no implication of right or wrong, good or bad – just “something.” So, it’s interesting when a tradition is so strongly defended. In this ever-changing world, we are faced with ideas that challenge our traditional way of thinking, and often tradition is defended over innovation, because there is some sort of comfort in familiarity. Currently the most discussed tradition pertaining to the gay community is traditional marriage, but one that is buzzing quietly is the transformation of gay villages.

If meat’s not murder, it’s definitely suicide: Why adopting a plant based diet is where it’s at.

You’ve seen the images and heard the horror stories (or have you?) The same way smoker’s see the ghoulish images and continue to smoke, turning a blind eye to the warnings and photo’s, the initial shock worn off; business as usual.

But what if the information was presented in terms of saving our environment, because honestly, we can and will kill ourselves with this nasty, fear and loathing style diets, but what about what we are doing to our planet, our only home? What about the instant gratification crowd who say, who cares? It won’t affect me, yet go on to have children?

Get off your ass and get moving!

This winter seems to be never ending. Completely bi-polar or someone with massive mood swings with one day being 18+, the next hovering around zero, just to sky rocket again followed by rain and now the inevitable winter storm with snow, ice, sleet and rain. It can be tough to find the motivation to get outside and get moving, but get moving you must!

It’s officially spring time around PinkMafia and we’ve decided that means spring cleaning. For the next 4 weeks, our holistic go-to Jocelyn Black from A Holistic Affair is going to help us get healthy inside and out. 

After a long winter of sub zero temps and what felt like a snowstorm almost every day, being cooped up at home, only really working out in my living room and curling up on the couch with comfort food, and sometimes wine, it’s time to shed the winter weight and toxins.  I’m not one to eat ‘bad’ food, but I did indulge in more hot and heavy foods than my body wanted, like rice or rice noodles, which my body can’t tolerate without gaining pounds immediately.

They’re only a few days away and the media and Twitterverse are already a-buzz with who will take home the golden man,
whether miss ‘so and so’ will wear the little Gucci dress or the little Gucci dress or the little Gucci dress,
who will have the most long winded and awkward acceptance speech and get kicked off stage by the orchestra (hint: jodi foster isn’t nominated this year.) and if Billy Crystal will finally make someone laugh.
I’m just going to go out there and say it: there’s not too much interesting left in the old Academy Awards. The whole thing is judiciously scripted under iron fist contracts, most of the predictions tend to be right due to voting following the trends in other awards such as SAG and Golden Globes, and thanks to James Franco being high as a kite at the 2011 awards (and Anne Halfway having to do improv in front of half the world) we’re going to be left with Billy Crystal’s 80s jokes and dad humour for the rest of eternity.

But, it wasn’t always like this.

Here I explore the 5 most Outlandish Oscar moments of all time.

Usually I find the Grammys the snooze fest of award season, especially for when it comes to the musical accolades. The script and hosts are often boring, you find yourself endlessly scratching your head at the nominations, and the whole thing feels very sanctioned and predictable.  However this year, there were enough wtf moments, celebrity fueds, boob action and genuinely interesting performances for it to be well worth the experience. Here, I explore the best and most awkward moments of the 2013 Grammys through a series of gif, pictures and videos.

The Superbowl has come and gone, after all the beer drunken, chips eaten, oreos dunked and tweets sent, one can certainly say it was one of the most entertaining Bowls in recent history. Alicia Keys created a whole new definition of “artistic license” with her long-winded but perfectly delivered ballad arrangement of “Star Spangled Banner.”  Beyonce showed us that the only thing better than Beyonce performing, was Beyonce and a whole bunch holograms of Beyonce performing. Even though it has been proven otherwise, I’m still sticking to my theory that her self absorbed half time show caused the superdome’s electrical system to blow a fuse and quit that bitch, causing the 35 minute Blackout. In addition to that there was no shortage of buzz worthy game moments. A bunch of records were set, Ray Lewis thanked Jesus a lot, and Joe Flacco was constant eye candy and superb hubby material. But, the biggest talking point after all the drama is still the commercials. Here I review my top 3 best and worst of the ads from last night everyone is talking about.

Before there was Mrs. Doubtfire, there was Tootsie. Tootsie is a movie that still stands the test of time to me. For those of you who haven’t seen it, Dustin Hoffman plays an actor who is down on his luck and learns to drag it up in order to play a part on a successful soap opera. I love that his look is really drag – he really doesn’t look like a woman, but in the film everyone accepts him as a woman. In interviews today Hoffman still talks about how he finds it hard to watch women who can’t walk in heels – it’s heel toe, heel toe, honey! So for those of you who haven’t dressed up as a man dressing up as a woman before I am going to give you some helpful hints on how to get started!

All of my friends, of all ages usually complain about adding a few pounds over the holiday season. Whether it’s taking a week or two off of work which means you aren’t cycling or walking as much, or you’re drinking twice or three times the amount you do during this festive time, everyone I know talks about the pound or two they put on and would like to immediately take off.

Are you already a little hungover from the holiday parties? I know I am and I have stolen away from the second consecutive holiday party in a row to give you all some tips on how to drink your way through the party season and get out alive.

Do you remember your first haircut? I sure do. I was a little girl in Nova Scotia when my mom took all seven of her children to the mall for fancy new do’s. I remember the whole salon laughing at how much I talked and how loudly (some things never change). I felt so grown up and got an awesome fringe before my first day of school. So what went wrong? Why do I detest getting my hair done now? Especially as someone who has been doing makeup and hairstyling for years, I find it perplexing that the thought of having someone else cut or colour my hair fills me with anxiety. For those of you who feel the same way I do and would like to avoid a massive beauty mistake, I have a few tips on finding a hairdresser that you can trust and have a long and meaningful hair relationship with.

Dear 20-something-year-old you. Let’s chat.

Despite the fact that you spend the majority of your waking hours filling your body with vodka, taquitos and other people’s stink-parts, you are somehow going to live to be 30-years-old. As someone who made it here herself in defiance of God’s will, I feel I owe it to the universe to pass on a couple of personal nuggets of wisdom from the Land of Olds. Ask away, my hatchlings!

One of the many gifts that the Universe bestows upon you during your 30s – besides grey pubes and difficulty walking up stairs – is the invitation to dive into dream-crushing debt by celebrating your friends’ love.

Congratulations! You’ve been selected to be a Bridesmaid. You can either say yes and drop a couple Gs for this “honour”, or decline and the only cost will be your friendship. Forever. Your choice!