A nice little cozy film for you amazing individuals out there!
Not afraid of the cold, eh? (How ’bout a winter swim?)
In Canada, we like to think of ourselves as the “True Great North,” unaffected by the cold. We joke about living in igloos, skiing to school and having pet polar bears.
So what’s all this complaining I always hear about it being cold out? What’s this whining about it snowing – again? (Actually, I can’t point any fingers, cause I’d just be pointing at myself)
Perhaps we’re good at enduring the cold. We can live with it. Although if we had the chance, we’d fly off somewhere hot and tropical instead (don’t deny you haven’t yearned for a sunny beach at some point during these bleary winter months).
Meanwhile in Russia, young and old are diving into freezing waters for fun!
There, winter is a friend, a source of pride, a reason for celebration. According to some, complaining about the cold can be comparable to treason. Winter, afterall, has won Russia some major battles.
So every winter, many gather at frozen-over rivers to cut a hole in the ice and jump in for a rejuvenating dip. Every Jan 19, the Orthodox Epiphany involves an imitation of the baptism of Jesus. Those who brave the icy water are rewarded with a sense of purification.
According to ice swimming clubs, the Polar Bears and the Walruses, winter swims do actually help your body – they boost circulation and the immune system!
Okay. Who’s up for a refreshing winter swim?
Calling all Piano Lovers!
For all of us piano players out there, we are all aware of the grueling Bach Prelude & Fugues, or the ever repetitive Czerny exercises. These, of course, are not bad pieces as they are absolutely crucial for your development in the fundamental skills of piano, but every once in a while, we all need to take a break from these pieces and play something more “interesting” – pieces that will save us from the foreboding apprehension that we experience each day prior to the dreaded piano practice.
For me, this saviour appeared in the form of a YouTube piano artist by the name of Kyle Landry. Kyle creates his own arrangements for various anime, movies, video games, and even Disney music. Here are a few samples of his music:
A rendition of Go the Distance from the movie Hercules. A smooth transition from the soft, peaceful, quiet motivation in the beginning to the much more powerful and exciting ending. Inspirational music for getting your homework done.
[youtube pUIhted5gEE]Gotta Catch em All! Need I say more, the title of the song itself is the embodiment of awesomeness.
[youtube vZ3gPXVMWRY]Can you feel the Love Tonight. Let the sounds of the piano take you back to your childhood as Kyle captures the romantic and soft atomsphere of the song without sacraficing the excitement by utilizing a freedom of tempo and expressiveness (Rubato) throughout the song.
[youtube 9QG6vY2dYQE]Finally, for my personal favourite: Naruto Medley Special! A combination of three of the greatest pieces from the anime Naruto.
[youtube ntkRQCh8c_Y]The best part of all of the pieces presented above is that the sheet music for all of them are downloadable for free on his website, kylelandry.com. These pieces are not only beautiful to listen to, but are also quite difficult to learn; hence, creating enough of a challenge that it will inspire you to practice it every day along with the other pieces that you practice daily. These pieces have become the most enjoyable part of my daily piano practice sessoins as each of these pieces takes many days of practice to master, and once you do master them, you can play these songs almost anywhere in public.
I have only touched upon a few of the hundreds of songs that Kyle has on his channel, and I highly encourage any piano lovers or even music lovers in general to check out his channel on YouTube. I promise you that you won’t want to leave his website until you have heard every single one of his renditions.
All kinds of music in one single space
To say I am a music lover is an understatement. That’s why I was beyond stoked when CBC announced the launch of their new website, cbcmusic.ca. From classical to singer-songwriter music to jazz to pop, the new and free website has genres to suit every taste, along with blogs, playlists, live concert recordings and artist pages. Boasting 40 web radio stations, the project’s aim is impressive and “will allow listeners to download music, stream podcasts, watch concerts and access CBC’s immense archive. The websites will also feature contributions and content from such popular music shows as George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight and Q” (according to an article from National Post).
What CBC is doing with this new website is more than offering digital music to the world. The broadcasting giant is fostering an online community “for music lovers made by music lovers,” as described by George Stromboulopoulos, host of George Stromboulopoulos Tonight (as cited by the National Post). With this unprecedented online music initiative, CBC is 75 years old and going strong.
Kids on marriage
Kids really do say the darndest things. Bill Cosby can vouch for that. But what would they say about marriage, a concept we presume they know very little about? Without a doubt, their responses are much more entertaining and at times, makes you wonder: how much of this world do children actually understand? A lot of the replies show a much higher level of intellect than you’d expect! If you make it to the bottom, Ricky- at just 10 years of age- has unquestionably cracked the code to being a gentleman. Enjoy!
Video of the Day: Brave student gets up on stage and plays with Dave Brubek
In the middle of the performance, a random student from the crowd hops up on stage and joins in with legendary pianist Dave Brubek. The smile on the Dave Brubek’s face gets me every time.
It happens at around 2:05
Video of the Day: TED Talk – Do schools kill creativity?
Absolutely amazing TED talk from Sir Ken Robinson, an amazing speaker about all things education.
This video will totally change the way you view education, creativity and the world around you.
So use your creativity and think of ways to change your world: enter the Mayor For A Day contest and use your creativity to change the city around you! You’re only a (maximum) of 1,000 words away from becoming Mayor For A Day!
Website of the Day: Koalas to the Max
What do you get when you split one circle into four circles? And split those into four more, then do it a few more times? You get Koalas to the Max dot Com, a website where you scroll your mouse over coloured circles to split them up to a point where a recognisable image may be seen. In this case, it’s a koala… and who doesn’t love koalas?! Be warned though, if you want to see the final result, it will bring you deep into a realm of procrastination. This consumes time, but for the sake of the koala, it’s perfectly acceptable. Personally, I’ve yet to reach the end, so here’s an open challenge to everyone. Can you reach the end?
CBC Calgary’s Junior Achievement Pitch
Have you ever wondered how to make a commercial? Or where the product idea came from? Recently, youth all around Calgary have been participating in the big JA pitch
. Every Junior Achievement Company has created their own commercial to promote their company. The top three companies with the most votes get to compete in a competition held in Edmonton. This is your chance to support your favourite commercial. Vote for the one that catches your eye, stands out from the others and makes you want to purchase the product. Use these commercials as a way to learn if you were to ever create a commercial. This is your chance. Vote. Vote. Vote for the best, most innovative Junior Achievement Commercial.
Picture of the Day: Labbit Stools
Anybody familiar with the Labbit series from Kid robot? If you’re not, here’s an example.
I wouldn’t recommend buying one though, it’ll run you $1,250.
Top emotional soundtracks
I’m not into music with lyrics, so I usually go YouTube a bunch of instrumentals (like soundtracks or classical music). It’s different take on music for a lot of people, but I laaave it. Music without words is my favorite.
Now, onto the top ten real deal. Oh, let’s make this a countdown, I’ve always wanted to do one of those. Most of these songs will be a piano and violin duet since I believe that these two instruments make the loveliest, most emotionally moving sounds. Also, try not to blast these songs, they lose their “emotional” and instrumental soft side. The violin also starts screeching if you do, and that… is not good.
10. Parting Song – Yuki Kajiura
From Pandora Hearts the anime
Pianos, violins, and cellos go together like ice cream and apple pie. That’s why I like this one (…and all the other ones down the list). But man, the melody is good in this one. It introduces the piano, then the violin takes over and I love that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRGC5HCjaVo
9. Un Myung – WHY
From Full House the Korean drama
The mix of guitar and piano have a Latino atmosphere to it, but it’s not overwhelmingly upbeat, it’s something I could close my eyes and enjoy. Also, please ignore the background art for this video. It’s disgracing the song and its prettiness. :/
[youtube 5Gn13apblfs]
8. Alice in Wonderland [3] – Hiroki
From Touhou the game
Some person just decided to write a 4-hand piano rendition of the original Alice in Wonderland piece. Good for him. I’m biased here because it’s got ‘Alice in Wonderland’ in the title, but it’s got a decent melody and I love how harmonized it sounds. Not a note out of place. But the thing is, this piece has got a full texture and sounds a bit techniquey to me, so it’s probably only good for piano buffs. Anyways, it gets crazy in the middle of the song with all the chords and stuff. I’d like to see the sheet music for this song just to look at all the notes jumping around o_o…
7. The Last Carnival – Norihiro Tsuru
It sounds like a legit last carnival and it sounds like something would play if rain were pouring over deserted carnival grounds. It’s got a waltzy feel to it, which makes it catchy for me. People that like Chopin and Vivaldi mixed together — this is the perfect music baby.
6. Only You – Performed by Ryu
From Winter Sonata the Korean drama
This song is fitting for a drama and it happens to be composed for one. It’s definitely an emotional piece, it invokes sadness. And it makes sense, Korean Dramas are usually sad; someone dies, someone goes blind, someone’s heart gets broken, and people cry all day erryday. That sums that up. Anyways, the music is good because of the piano plus violin.
5. I Say Yes – Mitsumune Shinkichi
It’s catchy, to me at least.
From Zero no Tsukaima the anime
[youtube 74Ww1V8Zi50]
4. Will – Yuki Kajiura
From Pandora Hearts the anime
This isn’t exactly an emotional song, but it’s so empowering and motivating that it had to be on this countdown. It’s got an addictive feel to it hehe.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVsytcg2kzM&feature=BFa&list=PL7A6B6B89F6EA9E6C&lf=plpp_video
3. Grandpa’s Violin – Yuki Kajiura
From .Hack// Liminality the anime
It’s another song with piano and violin. At 1:06, I like how the music jumps up to the higher ranges. It’s a wonderful transition and overall, a wonderful melody. The sad thing is, I found the duet for this and the violin gets beautiful parts while the piano gets a bland supportive harmony. It’s disappointing for a piano player like me.
2. To the End of Feelings I – Kaoru Wada
From Inuyasha the anime
There’s a lifting feeling to the echoing melody in this song. Many arrangements of this piece have been done; some too soft, some too edgy. In this one, you can clearly decipher the melody from all its counterparts, and nothing is too overpowering. Okay, ew. Too much technical speak. It’s really good. I like this song.
[youtube ZjmIzfoIcVE]
1. Song from a Secret Garden – Secret Garden
Song from a Secret Garden is the perfect blend of piano and violin which makes this number one on my list of top emotional songs. If you close your eyes and listen to it, it’s soothing. It’s a rainy day song or a crying song. It’s my favorite.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tjq0X6VWIvk&feature=related
Calgary youth photography contest
I’ve noticed that there are some really awesome photographers here in Calgary. Some of the photos I see as profile pictures on Facebook or outside the art classes at my school look like they came straight out of a magazine. That’s why I’m letting all you great photographers know about this amazing contest.
Calgary Junior High and Senior High Students are invited to showcase their photographic talent at the upcoming 2012 Mayor’s Environment Expo.
If your photo is chosen as the winner, it will be enlarged and displayed at a reception held on May 22 in Calgary. EVERY photo entered into the contest will be on display. Additionally, the winners gets to keep an enlarged AND framed copy of their amazing photo for themselves to display wherever they choose.
The focus for this year’s photo contest asks contestants to consider the environmental community which surrounds them and how action can be taken in order to protect it.
Here are some specific themes!
- Before and After
- Trash to Treasure
- Breath
- Patterns
There are some great prizes up for grabs including Flip digital camcorders and Crumpler bags!
In last year’s contest there were fifty photos submitted by Calgary students. “The quality of the submissions was incredible,” said Lorraine McElwain, contest judge and Talisman Energy representative on the 2011 Expo organizing committee. “Clearly a lot of thought and creativity went into the choice of subject matter and there was a really high caliber of photographic skill.”
What are you waiting for? This is your chance to show off that awesome shot! It could have been completely accidental or simply taken without much thought on your way home from school. Whatever the background, as long as it fits into the theme, participate in the contest and you could be rewarded quite nicely.
For more information or to download an application form, go to www.calgary.ca/mee.
Website of the Day: So you like documentaries…
No one can say they don’t like documentaries. Though not all may have a plot line, action or drama, they can be extremely interesting and intriguing. There are so many documentaries available to us, it’s quite easy to find one that addresses our interests, hobbies, or passions. Personally, I watch all kinds of documentaries for I am the type of person who is curious and loves to expand my knowledge. From physics to animals to ancient history, I enjoy them all!
I found a really cool website that has lots of different documentaries that either can be helpful for school of if you’re like me, you can watch them just for fun.
Video of the Day: TEDx Youth- Ideas Worth Sharing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5WPPC3McRs&feature=related
Poetry: Utopia|Dystopia
I have English this semester. WOOHOO. (No sarcasm, I actually love English). This is my tribute to its wonderfulness. I love the poetry unit. -Sigh-
From the title, I’m sure you can tell that it’s about a utopian and dystopian society. Watch for where it transitions from utopia to dystopia in the midst of the poem~
Lalalala, enjoy 🙂
Utopia|Dystopia
She weaved and conceived
A world, with just her mind.
Imagined and believed
There existed a land, refined.
She sat down in her wooden chaise;
Drifted into candy floss clouds.
It was a factory of living clichés;
Her mind speaking aloud.
There lived a civilization;
Angelic and divine.
A masterpiece of God’s creations
Of gold spun hair so fine,
Skin with a cherry blossoms dye,
Delicate flower petal lips,
Twinkling dewdrop eyes,
Dainty gentle fingertips.
Routines and regulations;
Not a hair out of place.
A daily repetition of actions
With rigid rules, no mistakes.
They preserved this equality
To sustain peace and order.
No surprises to shatter the tranquility
Of the empire behind borders.
These citizens, they were
Indifferent but smiley.
Had Chesire cat’s grin and purr,
But only felt one shade of happy.
Boys and girls showered in
Treasures, money, and jewels;
Like King Henry to Anne Boleyn.
No, as spoiled selfish fools.
She lived in euphoria,
Until smiles grew phony,
Gentle fingers began to claw,
Soft gazes became stony,
Bright eyes dulled and blurred,
Rose petal lips splintered and dried,
Peach skin turned pasty and puckered,
Tawny silk hair ripped out and died.
In time, rules could not bind
her imagination;
The wings of her mind.
Never was there perfection,
Just figments of bliss.
It did not rain, and they did not cry.
No one ever explored;
Limit was ground, not the sky.
Perhaps that is why she grew bored
Of this world she weaved and conceived,
Which she no longer believed.
Perfection could not be imposed;
For once, her eyes were open not closed.
