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My app drawer on the ‘Droid: Light manager

Wentao
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I personally think that the default notification light setting on most phones don’t do the LED light justice. On my Nexus 5, the fact that white is the default colour used for every new notification almost seems to hinder the light’s multicolour capabilities.  Thankfully, third-party apps are there to fill this disparity – I prefer using light manager to maximize customization to my liking.

A nifty utility, custom options include being able to change the colour and interval of the light when it flashes for specific apps. That liberty is already a big step above the system default – I can use different profiles for different apps to be able to tell notifications apart by just looking at the light. When there are multiple notifications, there is the option for the light to alternate between your different profiles (in other words, to flash in several different colours) or just have one consistent colour depending on which of those came first.

One of the limitations of this app is the fact that root access is required to manage the profile for the email app and all third-party apps if your phone isn’t running Android 4.3 or 4.4. This might put this app out of reach for many who want full control – otherwise, the functionality of this app is definitely an asset to users who do not fall under that restriction.

Get this app on Google Play and tinker away. 😉

Basic settings.
Basic settings.
Scrolling down.
Scrolling down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Detailed profile settings.
Detailed profile settings with a ton of options to explore depending on the app.
You can create a profile for every app.
Every app (even ones that won’t even use the light) can get it’s profile.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic colour settings...
Basic colour settings…

 

...Or choose your own.
…Or choose your own.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advanced settings.
Advanced settings.
Ta-da!
Ta-da! 😀

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don’t play Flappy Bird

Jessica Mai
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Flappy-Bird-Creator-Is-Taking-Game-App-Down-For-Good1If you haven’t played Flappy Bird yet, then I have one piece of advice:

DO NOT PLAY THIS GAME.

Flappy Bird is an app created by Dong Nguyen. The game itself consists of a bird (although it looks more like a mix between a chicken nugget and a fish) that you tap the screen in order to make it fly through terrifying green pipes.

Simple, right?

NO.

This game has been the bane of my existence since I first downloaded it. This game and the fact that my fake nails render me useless whenever I try to type/write/pick things up (update to follow in a week) make me want to cry. But even before I had tiny pieces of plastic glued to my nails, this game made me want to cry. Economically speaking, its genius. A worldwide seller, Dong Nguyen is probably rolling in cash due to the money he makes off of the ads that periodically pop up and what Apple pays him.

Good job, Dong. Your wealth comes from making young adults cry of frustration. But this game – it’s such a simple concept! Get the bird through the tube. Tap to make it move. But then why is it so hard?

And what makes it so damn addicting?

I tried talking to a few of my classmates about the addiction, and their answers are down below. Please note that before you read on there are a few things you should know:

1. Key word here is “tried.” I almost got punched for it too.

2. The dialogue below is exact. No paraphrasing, nothing added for the sake of dramatic effect or comedy – these are real reactions.

David

Me: How long have you been playing?

David: About an hour or so. My thumbs are getting tired.

M: And what’s your high score?

(At this point he lets out a small grunt of disappointment)

D: Six.

(Note that he was playing Flappy Bird the entire time)

M: Why do you think it’s so add-

(Screams of frustration followed by him exiting the app)

D: Sorry. I died. Almost beat my high score though.

(Opens app)

Deanna

(Silently watching her play)

Me: Maybe you should put the phone down (I said this jokingly)

(Glares at me and moves to the other side of the room)

At this point I cross the room and reach for her phone, and this is where I almost got punched.

Deanna: DO NOT TOUCH ME IF I DIE BECAUSE OF YOU I SWEAR I WILL BURN DOWN YOUR CROPS.

She tried to push my hand away, missed, and almost punched me in the neck.

 

My Dad

No commentary here. Just imagine the agonized cries of a dying whale coming from a 40-year-old man.

 

I realize that Flappy Bird is probably so addictive because how can a tiny bird nugget make one feel so inferior? We may never know.

But what I do know? My high score is 52 and I am dead set on beating it.

*Names have been changed to protect privacy

5 places you should visit

Obayd
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1. Dubai, UAE

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This fascinating city has many amazing tourist attractions that will blow your mind away. Their architecture is beyond compare to that of any other city. For example, they have the largest building in the world, the Burj Khalilfa. They also have a hotel that spins! Many of their buildings twist and turn too. Besides this, Dubai has a very pleasant and relaxing temperature. Dubai has several malls that also attract many tourists throughout the world. With its fantastic architecture, and wonderful tourist attractions, Dubai is one of a kind.

2. The Caribbean

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If you’re looking for peace, quiet, relaxation, the Caribbean is the place to be. Their food is also very different, and are generally combinations of cuisines from the rest of the world. Considering how different of a lifestyle they live, the Caribbean is the place to be. With its stunning views, tropical atmosphere, and soothing waters, it can almost feel like you’re in heaven.

3. Canada

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Canada, as we all know, is one of the best countries in the world! Everyone is given equal opportunity, and justice is promoted throughout society. We value democracy, and the concepts that are linked to it. Canada is a free nation, that allows you to express your beliefs however you want. We have a well established economy, and have developed and enforced new laws that lead to economic stability. Besides the “political” aspect, Canada is also a very accepting nation. We are one of the most multicultural nations in the world! Canada also has several tourist attractions, and amazing ski hills (Canada is one of the best places for skiing) If you live in Canada, you’re probably one of the luckiest people out there!

4. Italy

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Italy is one of the world’s most breathtaking cities. It has amazing scenery, and is very inspiring. We must consider that it was the birthplace of the Renaissance. Cities including Venice, Florence, and Rome are all cities you should keep in mind. Varied architecture, natural beauty, vineyards, and amazing mountains make Italy a place where everyone wants to be.

5. Santorini, Greece

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If there was one word to describe Santorini, it would be WOW. Yup, that’s all I have to say. The picture says it all.

 

 

 

 

Awesome youth: Natalie Cuei

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Each month, youth from Youth Central’s Mayor’s Youth Council select 5-12 youth to be recognized and Kids Up Front plans a monthly one-of-a-kind experience for these youth, called the Pay it Forward Project. So far they’ve had youth attend Free the Children’s We Day and had an on the field experience with the Calgary Stampeders; each month will be something new and exciting. Please meet Natalie Cuei, one of the Pay It Forward recipients!

Natalie said that her parents inspired her to volunteer and the idea of helping others was intriguing. She is a part of Immigrant Services Calgary Youth Volunteer program. As part of a team, she volunteers at multiple organizations, such as The Mustard Seed, Prospect and The Brenda Strafford Centre. She says that her best experience is being able to volunteer with these amazing organizations. They are all about helping out others and seeing people smile while saying thank you to the volunteers is rewarding.

Natalie thinks that as of right now, she would like to become a forensic scientist. That is something she would definitely want to accomplish after finishing the IB curriculum. She says IB has been excruciatingly hard, and has provided many sleep-deprived days, but it’s all worth it in the end. Her father, who works as a law enforcement officer, provides her with information about law enforcement that associates with forensic scientists; that how she came to admire it.

Some of Natalie’s passions are baking, swimming, reading, and playing the flute. She has been playing the flute for four years, and says that it is a great instrument to try out. She has taken swimming lessons in Taiwan, but had to stop when she immigrated to Canada at the age of nine. She doesn’t swim that much any more but goes when she can. Another favourite hobby that she has is reading, ever since she was little. Her parents encouraged reading and took her to the library every weekend to read or take out books, thus reading has become a big part in her daily routine.  She has definitely engaged in many things such as volunteering, sports, and music over her life, but she hopes to expand on that over her lifetime!

If you know of an amazing youth like Natalie, Youth Central is accepting nominations for youth who ‘pay it forward’ on an ongoing basis and anyone can nominate.

The 100 Happy Days Challenge

Malika Daya
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100HappyDays

100 Happy Days is a challenge created to benefit you. Basically, all we want as people in life is to be happy, not matter who you are, where you are from or how much money you have. We all want to be happy, but let’s face reality here, things happen, not always good things. Things that make us sad, mad, disheartened and that happens quite frequently. So instead of focusing on the upsetting things in life why don’t we focus on the little things that make us smile, things that make us happy?

The 100 Happy Days challenge was made just to do that. For everyday of the next hundred days, take a picture of what makes you happy-it can be anything from having a coffee with a friend to a picture of your Starbucks peppermint mocha and post it on Instagram/Facebook/Twitter for 100 days! Hashtag it #100happydays.

Then once you have reached and fulfilled your challenge, on the 101th day, look back on all the little things that have made you happy. Perhaps even create a scrapbook of memories!

71 per cent of people do not complete this challenge. Be the 39 per cent who do fulfill this challenge. Allow yourself to be happy, enjoy the little things in life because who knows what will happen in the future. It’ll create long lasting affects, so take a chance, change your life.

I myself have taken part in this challenge and am in the early stages of my own journey, I urge you to do the same! Cherish the happy moments in your life, they are the ones that count!

For more info or to sign up go to: http://100happydays.com
If you want to be apart of my journey follow me on Instagram: @splendiferousxx

Stay Happy! XX

A quick look at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics

Mavis Li
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As many people already know, the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics will be beginning this Friday, Feb. 7. The wait for this Olympics has been rather tense, with controversies surrounding Russian homosexual intolerance and dangerous shootings, particularly some advances in completely boycotting the games this year. Despite some issues, the games will proudly continue on.

Olympic Flame in Space

After the Olympic torch finishes its journey to Sochi, including its slight detour underwater and into space, the 2014 Winter Games will begin! The Opening Ceremony’s performances have been kept mostly quiet this time around, but there has been word that Mariinsky Theater ballerina Ulyana Lopatkina, violinist Yuri Bashmet, conductor Valery Gergiev, and pianist Denis Matsuev will be part of the program. So far, it seems an emphasis has been put on the classical element; tune in online or on TV to watch.

Sochi Winter Olympics 2014

This year, a few new games will be introduced to the Olympic grounds. These include the biathlon mixed relay, men’s and women’s snowboard slopestyle, men’s and women’s snowboard parallel slalom, luge team relay, ski halfpipe, men’s and women’s ski slopestyle, figure skating team event, and women’s ski jumping. These 12 debut events will contribute to a total of 98 gold medals that will be awarded in the games this year. In addition, keep a look out for the Russian Paralympic mascots and the Olympic mascot trio, the Polar Bear, the Leopard, and the Hare!

Olympic and Paralympic Mascots

Sochi 2014 marks a year that a record of 88 countries in attendance, including 221 Canadian athletes that will compete in the games.  This year, Canada’s men’s hockey team will strive to defend a gold medal; this has not been done since the old Soviet Union in the 1984 and 1988 Games.  Projected by the Associated Press, Canadians are predicted to win 32 medals, 13 of which being gold medals. Out of the 12 new games, it has been predicted likely for our athletes to medal in 9 of them. Good luck to all of our hard working athletes!

Check out these interesting sites:

The Flappy Bird phenomenon

Eryl David
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Move over Angry Birds, there’s a new bird in town! Nearly a week ago, the indie game Flappy Bird was released on the Google Play Store, and yet in a matter of days it found itself at the top of the free charts with over 10 million downloads. Why the sudden smash hit, you ask? Well, Flappy Bird was original released in the App Store on May of last year, but in the past few weeks has had a late boom in popularity and climbed up to claim the top spot in free apps.

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If you are just starting to hear of Flappy Bird and haven’t tried it, let me explain: the game is simple enough, you fly a pixelated bird through a series of green pipes by tapping the screen, and if you hit any of the pipes while flying, it’s game over. Make no mistake, despite its deceptively easy premise, this game is essentially a rage game. In other words, one that you can spend hours upon hours just trying to get past three (yes, it’s that hard).

Look easy? This is just the start.
Look easy? This is just the start.

As for it’s explosive popularity, my guess is that it has to do with the sheer competitiveness of it. By the time all your friends hear of it and play the game, you’ll all be striving to beat each other’s scores. Flappy Bird is just one of those games that evolves sheer frustration and absolute concentration simultaneously. After all, the feeling of winning after countless failures is always rewarding. However, as easy as it is to pick up it does require skill. Another reason for it’s popularity probably stems from the fact that you feel the need to condemn the game for its difficulty. Flappy flappy-bird-memeBird’s popularity infamy has turned the game into an internet meme, with countless tweets, images, Vines, you name it. Since it’s release in the app store, people had been eagerly awaiting the release on the Google Play Store, which lead to it’s rapid rise to the top.

In my opinion, it’s not exactly a good game. It’s simple, short and repetitive. But of course, that’s not what makes us come back to play it again. What makes us play it over and over again is our sense of determination to get a better score, since it’s simple and easy enough to get into. It takes some skill to get out of it though. Do I recommend you get it? Not personally, but if you are curious, don’t blame me if you end up playing for hours with building frustration. I warned you, it happens.

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What will the future for Flappy Bird hold? Perhaps it will die out after a while, but no one ever knows.

download (7)

Top three creative art ideas

Daisy
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  1. Capture things at unusual times:

Whenever you want to impress people, this is always a good place to start. It is really amazing to see something usual in an unusual state, people don’t see these things everyday captured by artwork; whether as a photograph or as a painting or anything else. It really brings us a different view of the world and to us humans, there is something inspiring about perceiving something regular in an irregular time. It leaves an impression, especially when the artwork is presented is an outstanding way. Some examples of this technique:

  • A picture of when a bullet just flashes through water
  • Or just a bullet firing:
    photography-herra-kuulapaa-01
  • An athlete midair or mid-movement
  • Dancers in motion:
    photography-jesus-chapa-malacara-03
  • Nature in Motion:
  • Animals:
    nature-in-motion-1
  • Natural scenery like water falls will work too, but they are more common.

2. Environmental art:

I’m not suggesting that you should all go “green”. I just know that there is a part of everyone that is touched by nature.  There is something exciting about looking at what made all of us. This is also another way for you to express any ideas you have about nature that you might not want to explicitly say or write down, but you still want to express. Don’t be afraid to try anything like this, it will always turn out to be appreciated!

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3. Paint/Draw/Take a photo of something that you care about:

This works every time. Make your next project on something you love. Some people might think that they hate everything, but find something in the world that you care about and you will find inspiration. Your parents, your siblings, your childhood home, your grandparents, your first dog. Those might all be things in your life that you love; but there are others too that might not seem that significant but could mean a lot. A butterfly you saw at the park one day, your first doll, a flower you found when something in your life happened, or maybe even just that latte you had after your first breakup. There are a lot of things in your life that are important to you; you just have to look. And it is those things that will make the most difference in your artwork, and it shows once you are done.

Since, this one is more personal, I wouldn’t provide examples.

 

Nerdblock: The coolest thing you’ll ever get in the mail

A N
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Some cool stuff from the November 2013 box! Image Source
Some cool stuff from the November 2013 box! Image Source

I have been getting this monthly subscription box called Nerdblock for three months now, and it is super cool. This box that is shipped right to your door every month is filled to the brim with cool merchandise from all your favorite nerdy franchises, such as Marvel and Nintendo! Plus it always comes with a specially designed t-shirt, how cool is that?

The best part is, it’s only $20 a month! In January I got a Japanese style Batman shirt, some cool figurines from The Hunger Games, My Little Pony and StarWars. There’s stuff for every fandom and I have yet to be disappointed. The variety is great too; it isn’t just figurines, there’s neat toys and collectibles as well. Even if you aren’t a huge pop culture buff but more of a tech nerd, sometimes there’s even cool gadgets inside. For instance in December, I got a really cool faceless laser watch called the Inferno Samurai Watch and it’s retail price is over $50. If enough people are interested I’ll do a review of the Nerdblock that should be coming within the next few weeks for February so you can get a better idea of what to expect from this service.  I just wanted to write this short blog post this week to let all my fellow nerds and geeks about this cool deal. If you have any questions feels free to ask me in the comments below or ask away on Nerdblock’s many social media accounts – they always reply. Go check out the website and register for next month’s Nerdblock at: www.nerdblock.com

 

 

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What’s up with YVC: engaging a young demographic

Wentao
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What’s up with YVC: engaging a young demographic

Long time no see. I’m getting quite sloppy with keeping up with blogging so feel free to give me an update, you guys. Writing about volunteering will sure get me back into shape and back into that enthusiasm.

Youth Are Awesome is, of course, a program of Youth Central, but there are a ton more, as you may know. I’ll be focusing on the Youth Volunteer Corps program (YVC) as a member of the YVC steering committee. I wouldn’t be surprised if many of you readers just glazed over that bit of information since I’m sure you, along with many of the other bloggers I work with, are already YVC volunteers yourselves.

Rebecca Yang, my fellow committee member and blogger, will be joining me in our new series with her creations. Of course, what is up with YVC? We’ll be discussing some of our takes on emerging topics among us volunteers with a look at some operational aspects. Feel free to join in for a challenge; we introduce our opinions and some background info, you use your ability to comment and add in your two cents.

databasecapture
This setting can be found under “qualifications” in the “my profile” tab on the volunteer database.

Most of the other volunteers I’ve met along my volunteering journey are in high school. Quite a lot of them are in the IB program. When we have some time to spare at volunteer projects, of course we’d be chatting about our classes and such things as high schoolers. If I meet a volunteer still in junior high, they would most likely be in Grade 9 as well. In either case, they would be able to do projects that only allow for volunteers who are 14 and older, giving them access to the expanded selection on the database. There’s the occasional 15+ and 16+ opportunities, but those restrictions are set only for specific projects.

So what about those that are just in junior high though? At the time of writing, 15% of the registered youth volunteers were born in 1999, 2000, and 2001, which can be roughly translated to those who are 14 and younger. That number goes down to 5% if we narrow it down to just those who were born in 2000 and 2001.

These young, young volunteers are in quite the unique position when you look at the differences they carry compared to the older youth. For one, they don’t share the high school experiences that older volunteers often mention. Due to the more limited array of projects available 12- and 13-year-olds, they have less access to opportunities like working in the kitchen. When they participate in projects, they are more likely to perhaps feel intimidated because it is more likely their first or second time volunteering. I joined when I was 14, so I’ve felt intimidated more than once when all the other youth around me were in Grade 12.

YC logo

At the same time, the YVC program is open to all youth 12-18, after all. I’ve begun to notice a trend of the age spread becoming wider as I come across more and more younger volunteers who become “regulars.” For all of us, volunteering can open a new road to youth leadership, particularly those younger ones who will be exposed earlier, hence why this demographic is so valuable; from this end, what could we do to encourage younger volunteers to participate?

The collective preferences of this age group as to the types of projects they prefer influences their participation. Some projects, like those working in the kitchen, carry liabilities regarding safety that lead to them to be restricted to 14+ only. Similarly, partner agencies that YVC works with have their own age restriction policies as well that form such limitations.  Senior highs generally respond better to in-school presentations as well, which puts forward the question of demand; what is volunteerism in their eyes?

We can never underestimate how many potential youth are out there. I wasn’t exposed to the idea of volunteering until Youth Central came to do a presentation at my school; quite a lot of those I’ve worked with didn’t volunteer until high school’s emphasis on extracurriculars came along. What unique aspects play into getting volunteerism out there to this age group though?

Drop me a comment below with your take; I appreciate the variety of insights you may be able to offer me (and Rebecca). If there’s a potential topic among the youth volunteer community you would like us to tackle, feel free to mention it as well. 🙂

 

What to do alone on Valentine’s Day

Talia Santarossa
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Joy of all joys. In just a matter of days, the day that lonely single people everywhere loathe will be upon us. But do you really need a significant other to enjoy your Valentine’s Day? I think not.

First of all, aside from all the flowers, chocolates and cheesy little cards, Feb. 14 is just another day, insignificant in the grand scheme of the year. So if you’re by yourself, don’t worry about it! There will be plenty of Valentine’s Days to come. Enjoy the time you have left where you don’t have to worry about impressing someone else. But if you feel the need to do something special, even on your own, here’s a few ideas.

Have a “night out” with a celeb crush

C’mon, when you read that subtitle, you thought of someone, didn’t you? Whether they are an actor, music artist, comedian or whatever else, you can spend the evening watching some of their flicks, listening to their cutest love songs or even just go hide under your covers while stalking them online.

Go shopping

This one is geared a bit more towards the girls. With everyone else out on dates, malls should be relatively empty. Considering that Valentine’s Day falls on a Friday this year, there’s no consequence for getting home late and not being able to wake up early for school or work.

Treat yourself to a bit of pampering

Again, a little bit girly. I’m not particularly informed in this area but you could always go get a mani/pedi, massage, facial or even just a plain ol’ haircut, right?

Gather your single friends and PARTY

If you have even one friend whom you know could be looking, like you, for things to do alone on Valentine’s Day, call them up and do something fun! Gorge on junk food, watch ridiculous romantic comedies and make fun of them, bake cookies or just do whatever makes you happy!

Read a book

Just do it. Reading is amazing and its inherent awesomeness really doesn’t need to be explained. single cupid

Ignore the fact that it is Valentine’s Day and go on like any other day

This one should be a given. It really doesn’t matter what you do, so if you really have nothing better to do, then don’t make an effort to do anything about it. If it really matters that much to you, well, go write a rant or something.

Just remember, no matter what you or anyone else has planned for Valentine’s Day, it’s no reason to feel bad about yourself or to have any negative feelings surrounding the day. As a teenager, it’s highly probable that you won’t be in a real relationship now or anytime soon. That, to me, means that you should just enjoy your time no matter how you spend it!

Happy Valentine’s Day, all you beautiful people!  ^_^

Torchwood Series 1 review

Laurie
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General spoiler alert issued!

Image source

On Doctor Who rebound, I thought Torchwood would be the perfect spin-off show to watch next. Torchwood, as introduced in Series 2 of Doctor Who, covers the escapades and adventures of an organization created to investigate alien life and technology to “arm the human race for the future.”

While it’s sci-fi basis and format of cumulative single episode story arcs is similar, Torchwood is best not approached as a replacement. Apart from the occasional reference (one of the cleverest were the tattered “Vote Saxon” posters) as a reminder that you’re still in the same universe, there is little connection-and viewed in this particular light, Jack’s charisma is only a shadow of the Doctor’s. However, as an individual television show, I enjoyed it: it was fun to have a larger cast of recurring characters and character-specific episodes.

Surprisingly character-centric (Image source)

One of the greatest differences that I did not expect was the decidedly more mature tone of Torchwood—the themes are often darker, visually there is more gore (the cannibals were downright horrifying), and sexuality plays a much larger role. However, there is also the recurring idea of morality, so central to Doctor Who; Captain Jack is far from infallible, often questioned for his methods, and others find themselves engaging in dubious behavior, whether an affair or the ability to eavesdrop onto other’s thoughts.

Another theme was the value of life—as multiple “revived” characters attest, after life there is simply nothing: “darkness.” One character goes as far as plotting their own resurrection in order to try to escape, contrasted against Jack who feels “cursed” with the fact that he can never die.

Oh, hello again (Image source)

Even despite the overarching themes, it sometimes felt as though there was a lack of continuity in the back stories and struggles of a character—present one episode, and seemingly gone the next.

My favourite episode was easily “Random Shoes” about a ghost who, alongside the Torchwood members, unravels the cause of his death. It was much more cheerful and optimistic than the other episodes, and about the only one where death was not treated as a dreadful descent into oblivion. It stood out in the season as a bit overly sentimental, refreshing amidst all the moral ambiguity and confusion.

Really? (Image source)

The conclusion to the series was, in one word, disappointing. A giant horned demon rampaging across the city was unimaginative and, compared to the subtlety and emotionally charged nature of the previous episodes, felt crude and hasty. The final scene/extended montage was painful, and against all odds, even less original–an overused technique to create a tension filled end.

The ending is vital to a series, and unfortunately it simply left me with too poor of a last impression to be able to recall the series successes over its weaknesses.

 Pros

  • complex, developed characters
  • thematic ambiguity
  • intriguing episode premises

Cons

  • discontinuous feel to character’s personal struggles
  • an anticlimactic climax

Let it snow or a big no, no; Looking at Calgary’s snow removal

Rebecca Yang
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Snow removal crews work away, yet Calgarians are still left unsatisfied with the untimely arrival of some snow removal attempts.
Snow removal crews work away, yet Calgarians are still left unsatisfied with the untimely arrival of some snow removal attempts.

A Saturday morning, I am dressed in my most comfortable flannel jammies, prepared to waste away the day with some much needed R & R. But to my distress, a roaring ruckus arises from a snow plow. My annoyance escalates as it has taken nearly two weeks for the snow to be fully plowed in the community of Varsity, a neighbourhood among many unsatisfied with the job of Calgary’s snow removal.

The city states that snow removal crews are overwhelmed due to the massive amounts of snowfall received in December (CTV News). However, the civilians in Calgary continue to express their disapproval. In a recent poll on CBC, 53.2% (753 votes) of the voters say that they struggle to drive on roads when asked how well the city has done clearing the snow. It is apparent that Calgarians are not impressed with the city’s job on snow removal.

Snow removal efforts in Calgary have been compared to our northern neighbor, Edmonton. Edmonton and Calgary do not experience a distinctive disparity in the amount of snowfall received—Calgary, in fact receives more snowfall than Edmonton by a few centimetres (Metro)—yet, Edmonton has a snow removal budget of $50.4 million compared to Calgary’s budget of $34 million (Metro). Sure, Calgary may have multitudes of sources to report regions to clear snow on Twitter, Facebook and the city’s hotline (3-1-1), but reporting becomes insignificant attempts, when there are no resources to satisfy the needs of Calgarians.

With the first month of 2014 over and the wrath of Calgary’s winter just beginning, let us all hope that all this snow can be removed before all of us express our exasperation upon the snow blowers and snow plows. On second thought, lets just pray that there are snow blowers and snow plows outside our doors, roaring away.

Just another mushy love playlist

John Gabriel
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If you haven’t realized it yet, the day of hearts and chocolate comes in less than two weeks. Valentine’s Day instils a certain warmness in the cold February air (thanks polar vortex). Something about Valentine’s Day just gets me thinking in pink and red. I have a strong urge to buy heart shaped chocolates by the dozen, make gushy Valentine’s Day cards, and tell someone I love them. But if you’re a Valentine’s Day Scrooge and do not see the way I see this Day of Love, I’ve compiled my very own playlist of songs that share the similar tune just to get me into the lovey dovey, kissing and hugging, vomit inducing holiday that is Valentine’s Day.

LOVE SONG
Sara Bareilles

According to Sara herself, this song was meant to be a tongue-and-cheek message to her record label, to stop forcing her to write love songs, as they seem to fair better commercially as “radio friendly.” Out of her frustration and jesting, came one her best top singles ever, and one of my personal favourites.

UNITY
Kelly Rowland

This song just has this magical sound to it. The xylophone and bouncy guitar just tugs the heartstrings. Just the sound of it just makes me want to bake some cookies and blow up heart shaped balloons.

CHECK ON IT
Beyonce ft. Slim Thug

Is it just me, or does Beyonce look even more beautiful in pink hair? This catchy song is infectious. Every time I hear it, I can’t help put to belt it out in public, but alas, real life isn’t a musical where I could do that and still look normal. I’ll just stick with my iPod and headphones for now.

THE ONLY EXCEPTION
Paramore

In an interview, Haley Williams, the lead singer of the band Paramore, said that in the music video there is a scene where she lies on top of a pile of homemade Valentine’s Cards. She said that these weren’t manufactured just for the music video, but were created by devoted fans who constantly send these beautifully designed cards.

HATE THAT I LOVE YOU
Rihanna ft. Neyo

This heartfelt duet makes me happy. The complimentary voices of Rihanna and Neyo just seem to mash together so perfectly, that their voices seem to blend into one person. This orbital love-hate relationship is just so mushy it makes me want to awkwardly smile.

MARRY YOU
Bruno Mars

Why is it that this song just makes me want to dance. This song gained popularity due to a couple who played this during their wedding. The groom and the bride danced their way down the aisle as they made their vows. Talk about a great way to get married.

Start your day off right with a blueberry amaretto muffin

Lauren Morris
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The other day I was looking for a quick, easy, on-the-go sort of breakfast, and quite frankly, there’s only so many smoothies I can make until I get a little bored. So instead, I thought I’d do a little experiment. I wanted to make blueberry muffins, and at Annie’s Cafe where I used to work we had Amaretto muffins. The Amaretto always gave them a really rich, nutty flavour, so I thought I’d try to incorporate it into my own. Here’s how:Blueberry Muffin

I took a blueberry oatmeal muffin recipe, any one you like should do, or click here for the one I used. Then, I added 1/4 c. of Amaretto and 1/2 c. walnuts (no particular reason for the walnuts, I simply wanted something crunchy).

Before baking, I also mixed 3 Tb. oatmeal with 1/2 t. of cinnamon and nutmeg and sprinkled a little on each muffin.

The only other modification I made is that I used frozen blueberries instead of fresh. When doing this it is best to keep the blueberries in the freezer until you’ve mixed all the other ingredients in and are ready to fold them in, this way they’ll still be frozen and shouldn’t turn your muffins totally purple.

All in all these muffins are really good, and I’ll definitely be making them again. The Amaretto and the oatmeal spice topping amp up the basic blueberry muffin, while the walnuts add protein to keep you full through the morning. Next time? I’m adding orange zest to incorporate some sunny Vitamin C into my morning meal.

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