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	<title>Alexandra Highcrest Magazine &#187; Commentary</title>
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	<link>http://alexandrahighcrest.com/blog</link>
	<description>I used to work in fashion, then I took an arrow to the knee.</description>
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		<title>The Spirit of Occupy Toronto</title>
		<link>http://alexandrahighcrest.com/blog/2011/10/23/the-spirit-of-occupy-toronto/</link>
		<comments>http://alexandrahighcrest.com/blog/2011/10/23/the-spirit-of-occupy-toronto/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 23 Oct 2011 15:44:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alexandra Highcrest</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Commentary]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[history]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Occupy Toronto]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Robert Gourlay]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[St. James Cathedral]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[St. James Park]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Toronto]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://alexandrahighcrest.com/blog/?p=2168</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Last Saturday (15th Oct.) the Occupy movement that has swept the industrialized world set down in Toronto. Anywhere from 1,000 to 2,000 people converged on King and Bay, in the heart of Toronto’s financial district, to protest corporate greed and its handmaiden, compliant governments. The organizers of Occupy Toronto knew the faithful couldn’t establish a staging area and campsite in the financial district, an essentially privately owned dreary asphalt and concrete canyon. Instead they pushed on and established their base in the lovely, and public, St. James Park. They could not have chosen a better site. Tis neither St. James Park’s location nor its public status that makes it so appropriate as Occupy Toronto’s campsite, tis its history. The park lies just east of St. James Cathedral, a beautiful Gothic Anglican church which has existed in some form as a church since 1807. St. James Park was a onetime cemetery of early York but even though those bodies were moved in 1850 the park is still home to the great Cholera pits of 19th century Toronto. Tis estimated that more than 5,000 bodies are still buried beneath the grassy slopes at its north end. At the centre of the park [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>The Model, the Murderer, and Blood Diamonds</title>
		<link>http://alexandrahighcrest.com/blog/2010/07/22/the-model-the-murderer-and-blood-diamonds/</link>
		<comments>http://alexandrahighcrest.com/blog/2010/07/22/the-model-the-murderer-and-blood-diamonds/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 22 Jul 2010 04:55:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alexandra Highcrest</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Commentary]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blood diamonds]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[celebrities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[models]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://alexandrahighcrest.com/blog/?p=2026</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[British-born model and courtroom regular Naomi Campbell has again managed to piss off a bench full of judges and prosecutors. Campbell was recently ordered to give evidence at the war crimes trial of Liberia&#8217;s ex-president, Charles Taylor. The UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone, based in The Hague, issued a subpoena forcing Campbell to appear after allegations surfaced that she was given a so-called “blood diamond” by Taylor at a dinner party held by Nelson Mandela in South Africa in 1997. The former dictator Taylor is accused of selling diamonds to fund a war that cost thousands of lives, and it was one of these uncut diamonds that he is alleged to have given Campbell. Actress Mia Farrow, who was a guest at the same dinner party, has claimed that Campbell told her she was interrupted in the middle of the night by men saying they were representatives of Taylor before handing over a “huge diamond.” Prosecutors say Campbell&#8217;s testimony would provide “direct evidence of the accused&#8217;s possession of rough diamonds from a witness unrelated to the Liberian or Sierra Leone conflicts”. Taylor, once one of West Africa&#8217;s most powerful men, is charged with 11 counts of murder, torture, rape, [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://alexandrahighcrest.com/blog/2010/07/22/the-model-the-murderer-and-blood-diamonds/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
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		<title>Paddy Plays Fast and Loose with Lenzr</title>
		<link>http://alexandrahighcrest.com/blog/2010/04/06/paddy-plays-fast-and-loose-with-lenzr/</link>
		<comments>http://alexandrahighcrest.com/blog/2010/04/06/paddy-plays-fast-and-loose-with-lenzr/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 06 Apr 2010 05:50:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alexandra Highcrest</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Commentary]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lenzr]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[photo contest]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Toronto]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://alexandrahighcrest.com/blog/?p=1974</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This morning I found Paddy rooting through my makeup portfolio photos. When I asked him what he was doing he said he was looking for photos to submit to the latest lenzr photo contests. “There are four running right now,” he said. “We should be able to win at least one or two.” “Take the contest ‘How Green Are You’ for instance. Contestants photograph symbols of environmental protection—objects like recycling bins, tied bundles of newspapers and cardboard, composters, rain collectors, windmills, hybrid cars, solar power, and rooftop gardens and explain which they’ve adopted. We can send in the photo of the girl in the dress made of juice boxes, or the girl in the hat because I think the hat’s made of paper.” “Yeah, it might be; I’ve a couple of designer sun hats like that, but…” “If we win The Grass Cutters will reward us with a rechargeable battery powered lawn mower. Cool huh? The company is competing in the 2010 Green Innovation Awards.  Every year the Toronto Community Foundation donates up to $50,000 to help green businesses get established in Toronto.” “That&#8217;s nice, but our lawn’s too big for one mower.” “And look, here’s the ‘Backyard Party Events’ [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Judy Sgro’s Fear of a Pro City</title>
		<link>http://alexandrahighcrest.com/blog/2010/03/31/judy-sgro%e2%80%99s-fear-of-a-pro-city/</link>
		<comments>http://alexandrahighcrest.com/blog/2010/03/31/judy-sgro%e2%80%99s-fear-of-a-pro-city/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 31 Mar 2010 06:09:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alexandra Highcrest</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Commentary]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[archives]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[politics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[prostitution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Toronto]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://alexandrahighcrest.com/blog/?p=1938</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It is time to scrap Metro&#8217;s prostitution task force, or, at the very least, fire its chair, Metro Councillor Judy Sgro. The task force was supposed to bring interested parties together to work toward finding reasonable solutions to Metro&#8217;s prostitution problems. Instead Sgro has turned the task force into a one-woman show to promote fear of Toronto&#8217;s street prostitutes. The task force is made up of Sgro, Metro Councillor Brian Ashton, a rep from the Metro Toronto Housing Authority, two advisors from the Police Services Board and two cops – all like-minded people when it comes to prostitution, but make no mistake about it, Sgro is the bell ringer. Less than a week after the shooting deaths of prostitutes Brenda Ludgate, Shawn Keegan and Deanna Wilkinson, Sgro opportunistically launched an all-out attack on prostitution in Toronto. Sgro stated there may be as many as 100 HIV-positive prostitutes working in the city. She claims to know 11 HIV-positive pros personally. Her comments sent shock waves through Toronto&#8217;s Board of Health and agencies that are combating the disease on the street. In fact, HIV infection rates in Metro are not climbing. The Board of Health&#8217;s Works program sees 60-75 people a night [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://alexandrahighcrest.com/blog/2010/03/31/judy-sgro%e2%80%99s-fear-of-a-pro-city/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Rebooting the Toaster</title>
		<link>http://alexandrahighcrest.com/blog/2010/02/16/rebooting-the-toaster/</link>
		<comments>http://alexandrahighcrest.com/blog/2010/02/16/rebooting-the-toaster/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 15 Feb 2010 22:02:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alexandra Highcrest</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Commentary]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[photography]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://alexandrahighcrest.com/blog/?p=1765</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It was during an editorial meeting, while we were all sitting around making excuses for why it had been so long since anyone had published a story, when Paddy, our intrepid intern, said, “We should get the toaster a blue tooth.” “What!” exclaimed Angelina, Karen rolled her eyes, and I said, “Why, I hate those things. They look like tusks or bug antennae. Besides, Karen doesn’t drive and she hates talking on her cell in public.” You see, we call Karen our “toaster” because she has a tech implant. Paddy was insistent. “She should have one, she’s been upgraded and rebooted. She needs new hardware.” He grinned and I was very nearly blinded by the mischievous glint in his eyes. Karen continued shaking her head, and began laughing. “And how much does a blue tooth cost?” I asked. “We are in a recession after all.” “Nothing,” replied Paddy. “All you have to do is win a contest. You shoot pictures, enter them in a Lenzr photo contest then sit back and wait for the good news. Simple, no? And while we’re discussing upgrades we should consider ramping up our office phone system too.” “Forget it Paddy,” I said, “I’m no [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://alexandrahighcrest.com/blog/2010/02/16/rebooting-the-toaster/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>When Worlds Collide</title>
		<link>http://alexandrahighcrest.com/blog/2010/01/23/when-worlds-collide/</link>
		<comments>http://alexandrahighcrest.com/blog/2010/01/23/when-worlds-collide/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 22 Jan 2010 22:43:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alexandra Highcrest</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Commentary]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[celebrities]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://alexandrahighcrest.com/blog/?p=1749</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As sports and pop culture commentators laid bare Tiger Woods’s cheating heart, and the parade of cocktail waitresses, porn actresses and prostitutes booked their tell-all interviews with the gutter press in order to collect their 30 pieces of silver, Tiger copped the usual plea for a celebrity caught with his pants down. He asked the press and the public to respect his privacy while he tried to heal the wounds he inflicted on his family, and rebuild his reputation. Fat chance. Woods made a fortune and was granted demigod status because he’s very good at playing a game popular with old men and people who need an excuse to go for a walk. In the grand scheme of things his golfing skills are irrelevant but for reasons I don’t understand the corporate world has thrown bags of money at him so he’ll endorse razor blades, deodorant, and other stuff bought by guys. The same world turned him into a role model, a shining example of a good guy, even though all he does is play a boring game. Woods eagerly accepted the accolades and the money and in so doing sold his soul to the devil, and the devil is [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Lambert, &#8220;I&#8217;m Not a Babysitter&#8221;</title>
		<link>http://alexandrahighcrest.com/blog/2009/11/28/lambert-im-not-a-babysitter/</link>
		<comments>http://alexandrahighcrest.com/blog/2009/11/28/lambert-im-not-a-babysitter/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 28 Nov 2009 15:59:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alexandra Highcrest</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Commentary]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Adam Lambert]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://alexandrahighcrest.com/blog/?p=1596</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Another lewd cliché-driven song-and-dance act broadcast during a pop music awards program has outraged middle America, the US-based Parents Television Council, and a handful of conservative radio talk show hosts. We at AHM are outraged that a little implied sex on TV has gotten people so fired up, and that the audience’s reactions can be so easily manipulated. The current offending artist is Adam Lambert, a product of the American Idol pop star factory and last season’s runner up. His performance of For Your Entertainment, the closing act of the American Music Awards, included faux-oral sex, gay-male make-outs and implied bondage and S&#38;M play, as well as the music industry stalwarts crotch grabbing, hip thrusting, and vulgar gesturing. The audience’s reactions ranged from cheers to jeers, despite the fact that we’ve seen it all before. Lambert banked on his act being controversial. “It&#8217;s gonna be sexy, I think,” Lambert told MTV News last week about his planned AMA performance. He also declared that anyone who criticized his display of sexual liberty was endorsing a double standard that says straight women can explore their (bi)sexuality onstage, but gay men can&#8217;t. Adam, where have you been? Karen and I can recall watching [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://alexandrahighcrest.com/blog/2009/11/28/lambert-im-not-a-babysitter/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Snapping for SWAG</title>
		<link>http://alexandrahighcrest.com/blog/2009/09/28/snapping-for-swag/</link>
		<comments>http://alexandrahighcrest.com/blog/2009/09/28/snapping-for-swag/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2009 04:52:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alexandra Highcrest</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Commentary]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Steven Meisel]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://alexandrahighcrest.com/blog/?p=1391</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Over the years I’ve had the pleasure of working with many local photographers, some good, some adequate, none bad.  Because of my experiences our intern Paddy has been bugging me to take up snapping myself. “It’s not like you’ve never worked behind a camera,” he said. “Why not give it a go?” To emphasize his point Paddy brought the latest Lenzr.com online photo contest to my attention. “It’s simple,” he explained. “Charge up the digital and go out and take snaps of some of your fave tourist attractions. The city’s full of ‘em and how hard could it be. You don’t have to slap makeup onto a building. It’s a contest but you wouldn’t be competing against the likes of Steven Meisel, just other local snappers. And you could win stuff.” The contest is very easy to enter; contestants upload their original photos to the Lenzr.com Ontario Tourist Attractions Photo Contest page then compose a brief text caption for each shot. Lenzr’s upload mechanism ties the captions to the photos so the process is a no-brainer. Visitors to the Lenzr site then vote on their fave photos and at the end of the contest she or he with the most [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
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		<title>The Dogfight Over Toronto’s Island Airport</title>
		<link>http://alexandrahighcrest.com/blog/2009/09/08/the-dogfight-over-toronto%e2%80%99s-island-airport/</link>
		<comments>http://alexandrahighcrest.com/blog/2009/09/08/the-dogfight-over-toronto%e2%80%99s-island-airport/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 08 Sep 2009 06:18:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alexandra Highcrest</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Commentary]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[aviation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Billy Bishop]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eileen Vollick]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Toronto]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://alexandrahighcrest.com/blog/?p=1207</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On the morning of 2nd June 1917, Canadian air ace William Avery “Billy” Bishop flew his Nieuport 17 on a solo mission behind enemy lines to attack a German aerodrome. After the attack Bishop claimed he shot down three enemy aircraft and destroyed several more on the ground. For this feat he was later awarded the Victoria Cross (VC), the British Commonwealth’s highest award for valour. The award was controversial. Bishop’s VC was one of two awarded in violation of the warrant requiring witnesses (the other being the Unknown Soldier), and since the German records have been lost and the archived papers of Bishop’s VC were lost as well, there is no way of ever knowing if there were any witnesses or not. However at the time it was common practice among British pilots to submit kills claimed without confirmation or verification from other witnesses. Although Billy Bishop died 53 years ago his name is embroiled in controversy again. On 3rd September The Toronto Port Authority announced its intention to rename Toronto’s island airport the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. The board voted on the change Wednesday, but still needs approval from Transport Canada, the International Air Transport Association and [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Has the Press Allowed Diana to Die?</title>
		<link>http://alexandrahighcrest.com/blog/2009/08/31/have-we-allowed-diana-to-die/</link>
		<comments>http://alexandrahighcrest.com/blog/2009/08/31/have-we-allowed-diana-to-die/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 30 Aug 2009 18:59:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alexandra Highcrest</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Commentary]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lady Diana Spencer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[media]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://alexandrahighcrest.com/blog/?p=1144</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Today is the 12th Anniversary of the death of Lady Diana Spencer, who died as a result of injuries sustained in a car wreck in the Pont de l&#8217;Alma road tunnel in Paris. Her companion Dodi Fayed and the driver of the car, Henri Paul, were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. Fayed&#8217;s bodyguard, Trevor Rees-Jones, was the only survivor. An eighteen-month French judicial investigation concluded in 1999 that the crash was caused by Paul, who lost control of the car at high speed while intoxicated and under the influence of antidepressants. In other words, the most famous woman of her time was a victim of a drunk driving accident, a form of death I associate with over-indulged celebutards and teenagers. I recall watching the events unfold back in August/September 1997 and although I didn&#8217;t have a teary-deary moment I couldn&#8217;t help but be moved and mesmerized by the events. Since then I&#8217;ve watched numerous documentaries focused on Di&#8217;s life and death, most of them broadcast around the anniversary of the accident. That is until today. We have access to hundreds of channels through our cable TV provider and apart from a one-hour documentary on the crash, which [...]]]></description>
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