In the past couple hours I’ve been blog surfing and stumbled across a couple 24-hour BLANK-a-thons. I really want to participate but I’ve got a lot of personal stuff up-in-the-air right now and I don’t want to commit to something I can’t follow through on. So I’m mulling over joining the Read-a-thon (to promote Reading is Fundamental), and the Blog-a-thon, where you blog for your choice of charities.

The Read-a-thon is a 24 hour reading marathon with “readers” and “cheerleaders”. You blog at intervals that suit you, and keep the world updated with how your read-a-thon is progressing. The Cheerleaders have mini-giveaways and generally keep people motivated! You don’t have to stay up for 24 hours, the organizer, Dewey, encourages you to modify the guidelines to suit your own schedule: it is meant to be fun. I really like this concept, but I believe that the Reading is Fundamental Organization is a USA-based (national) program. If I participated, I don’t know what I would do… Canadian organization? Worldwide organization? No pledges for me?

The Blog-a-thon is technically on haitus for this year, and will be back in 2009. But a Vancouver blogger named Miss 604 (Vancouver’s original area code) is planning to run an “unofficial” blogathon. The original concept was for bloggers to post every 30 minutes for 24 hours (ikes!). If I participated I would probably commit to blogging once an hour for 24 hours (a little more realistic). However, since it isn’t even officially on, I might just wait until next summer when I may have a little less “personal” stuff on my plate.

ETA: I just did some surfing and found out abut Book Aid International. All donations go to promoting literacy in developing countries. If I participated in either ‘thon, I’d probably do it promoting Book Aid.

May 24th, 2008 marked the opening of Apple’s 5th store in Canada, and the first store on the West Coast. It’s downtown in Pacific Centre and the first 1000 people through the doors that morning got a free tshirt. I didn’t head to the opening as it would just be too busy for me, and it was a mere 3 days after CW arrived in Canada (personal priorities).

I’m really glad there is an Apple store in the area. You have no idea how amazing it was in London and Manchester to just be able to head to an Apple store for gear, advice, or just to browse. I wish it had come sooner! I wouldn’t have had to wait for my Macbook and had all that run-around with the shipping. (Not to mention all that unpleasantness with my iPod and silly Future Shop!) I’ll have to make it down soon to the Genius Bar as I hope to ask some questions about upgrading my memory on my MacBook. I’ll let you know how my first visit goes!

Also in the news, June 9th is WWDC 2008 — the Worldwide Developers Conference. The event will take place on June 9-13, 2008 in San Francisco, CA at Moscone West. A majority of the keynote speech by Steve Jobs is expected to be about the next version of the iPhone (when is expected to be unveiled….and possibly even available in Canada).

(Photo by John Biehler found via Flickr)