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Lytro: Capturing Life in Living Pictures

Bill
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Siphoning coffee at Blue Bottle Coffee. Photo by Lytro / Eric Cheng

Introducing, potentially, the most versatile camera ever.  Lytro is the name given to the newest advancement in cameras; the light field camera.  The concept behind this camera is simple.  “Shoot first, focus after.”  This camera uses light field technology, which is a core concept in imaging science.  Light fields describe the amount of light traveling in every direction through every point in space.  There are complex equations and mathematical relations that I’ll spare since it’s summer.  Simply put, cameras have always been limited to the instantaneous amount of light they are exposed to at the time of taking a picture.  Conventional cameras can not record the light fields present in a scene, but a Lytro can very well do that.

Using new light field sensors, the Lytro can capture colour, intensity and most importantly the vector direction of light.  That just means that it can recognise where a source of light came from (keeping in mind we’re not talking about light bulbs here, we’re talking about each and every ray of light and its origin).  This allows for the user to pick a focal point after the photo is taken!  For photo junkies and amateurs alike, a tool like this is revolutionizing.  Not only does it make capturing the perfect moment easier, but it also opens up opportunities to see details that would be missed otherwise.  This camera, though still a young camera in the photography world, has already succeeded by having the capabilities to shift your perspective in photography, literally.  Click through to interactively play with pictures taken by the Lytro and experience and/or fall in love with it for yourself.

 

The Sheer Madness and Excitement at SLED ISLAND

kevin
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One of the most vibrant music and arts festivals in Calgary, Sled Island is something that one cannot afford to miss while living in this city. In its four-day duration, Sled Island offered all kinds of treats for all ages. With over 200 bands (mostly Canadian) playing at 25+ venues in the downtown core, Sled Island celebrates culture and brings people with tastes in all kinds of music together. The only unfortunate part of this is that it is only four days in length, and one may not be able to attend every concert and see all the exhibits. On Friday June 24, I spent the whole day being absorbed by the sheer madness and excitement at Sled Island. It was a welcome change from the stress of studying for exams the previous week, and I shifted from study mode to party mode in mere seconds. By the end of the day, I had gone to five concerts in three different venues, all of them absolutely spectacular. It took me some time to escape from the delirium and readjust to the norm, and when I finally calmed down and reflected on the day I’ve just had, I simply wanted to do it all over again.

My itinerary on Friday featured the bands The Friends Electric at Tubby Dog, C’mon and Bison B.C. at Olympic Plaza and Black Rabbit and 17-year old Mariya Soetaert at Cantos Music Foundation. Here is my take on all of them, and my experience at each of the venues.

3:00 p.m. – The Friends Electric @ Tubby Dog

First of all, let me talk about the venue. It is simply the most eccentric restaurants you’ll see in Calgary. Never have I seen such colourful toppings on hot dogs, with the likes of peanut butter and jelly going on top of the sausage. Tubby dog has a kind of flair that once you step in, you’ll want to do more than just eat one of its famous hot dogs. The walls are decorated with strange and wonderful things that make you pull out your camera to take a memento of your visit to Tubby Dog.

By the time I got to Tubby Dog, The Friends Electric was already cranking out their tunes. The place was jam-packed, and there was not a lot of space for me to get a clear view of the band. When they finished their opening music, people wildly clapped their hands in appreciation. The Friends Electric then proceeded to play rockin’ tunes like “Places to Stay,” and “Skeletons in the Closet.” There is something about their music that is incredibly hypnotic. I could not help moving my body to their groovy beats, and when I left I had their songs stuck in my head all day. I hope to catch their performance again the next time they are in the city. In the meantime, I am going to download some of their music and drift off.

4 p.m. –C’mon @ Olympic Plaza

You reach Centre Street and you hear loud music emanating from somewhere. You are strangely drawn by it, and wonder where it is coming from. You begin to hear people scampering towards one of the gates, hoping they haven’t missed even a minute of the performance. Wild, screaming fans flock to the front of the stage, trying to catch a glimpse of the Canadian rock ‘n’ roll band C’mon. The beat is thunderous, prompting fans to move their body and raise their hands in excitement.

Watching the performance of C’mon was a new experience for me because I have never seen so much energy displayed on stage. The members of the band certainly took the contemporary rock ’n’ roll to the next level, with their wild tunes seamlessly flowing out of their guitars. Hairs were flowing everywhere as they poured their soul out, and I thought the stage would explode at one point.

5 p.m. – Bison B.C. @ Olympic Plaza

Bison B.C. is a heavy metal band based in Vancouver, B.C., hence the name. When they performed up on the stage, I think their sole purpose was to remind the people that were watching that heavy metal is a force to be reckoned with. After watching C’mon, I thought surely that it couldn’t be more energetic. I was wrong, as Bison B.C. turned up the temperature and burned up the stage with their thunderous performance. I believe it shook the ground and the heavens, as big drops of rain started falling out of the sky shortly after they played their first tune. Bison B.C. certainly proved that they were kings of heavy metal, and I was literally blown away by their surreal performance.

6 p.m. – Black Rabbit @ Cantos Music Foundation

What can I say about the performance of Black Rabbit? Adrenaline pulses through your veins after you hear the first note of their performance. The raw power of this youthful band is unmistakable, and the punk-rock nature of their music is close to bursting your eardrums. It will make you want to stand up and raise your arms in exhilaration. This was their major debut, and I certainly hope that I get to see them real soon.

7 p.m. – Mariya Soetaert @ Cantos Music Foundation

This 17-year old songstress from the tiny tight-knit community of Stavely, Alberta amazed me from start to finish. Oozing confidence with every strum of the guitar, her bright smile illuminated the whole stage and made the performance incredibly enjoyable. Her talent was unmistakable, with her dulcet voice filling up the whole room and blowing everybody away. Her great personality and stunning talent provided a lively atmosphere inside the Cantos Music Foundation. Some of her songs included “Peanut Butter,” a piece dedicated to her younger brother, and “Jesse’s Girlfriend,” a light-hearted song about a boy-girl relationship. Other wonderfully performed songs include “Into the Dark,” and “Let it Burn.”

Well, there you guys have it. Sled Island was the highlight of my week, no doubt about it. It was unfortunate that I was under age to go to some of the concerts, but I really don’t have sour feelings about that. It was an absolute delight to watch some great shows, and I hope to get to return next year to celebrate this great festival.

I would also like to thank Kids Up Front for providing me with a wristband to attend Sled Island. Without their efforts, I certainly wouldn’t have got to experience this wonderful event.

Check out these websites and videos about the bands that I mentioned:

The Friends Electric: http://www.myspace.com/friendselectricmusic

C’Mon: http://www.thisiscmon.com/

Bison B.C.: http://www.myspace.com/bisoneastvan

Mariya Soetaert: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Hd3PeCRUco

Sled Island: Random Task Collective

missCarrie
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The crowd stirred as four young men dressed in fancy-shmancy bath robes stepped onto the stage inside the Cantos building. On June 25, they played some sweet tunes at the Sled Island independent music and arts festival, some of which you can listen to on their website.

The venue, which is home to the Cantos Music Foundation, seemed uncanny for musicians to perform at. It seemed like another downtown building, however there was a room that had great ambiance and a large stage. After a long day searching for bands around downtown, seats were provided at the venue. It was just absolutely perfect for alternative and indie-styled music.

RTC wasn’t going to perform until later that night, but I’m glad that they were able to fill in for another band where the singer fell down with strep throat. This gave me the opportunity to hear and see a great performance! They opened with a cover of The Decemberists and followed up with an amazing set list. Each of the band members were rocking out and looking cool on stage–I was in love! Composed of four talented guys, they started RTC when they were 15-16 years old.

Band members Connor Harvey-Derbyshire, guitarist Jake Simard, drummer Ryan Keddy and guitarist-keyboardist Shawn Savard are not shy of interviews and performances. After CBC Radio, Youthink magazine, the YouthScape community and other organizations wrote about the band, it was Youth Are Awesome’s turn! I was able to capture their awesome opening cover, which will conclude this post.

If you want more information about Random Task Collective, go to their Facebook page and check them out on Canada Day at Prince’s Island Park at 3 p.m.

[youtube P9JMpkEzLbg]

I also want to say a big thank you to Kids Up Front for providing me a wristband to the Sled Island music festival! Kids Up Frontis an amazing charity that provides tickets to events to kids and youth, giving them the opportunity to see a show or event they might not have seen otherwise.

Serving0fNeRd: Follow the Owls

SaM
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With the final movie of the Harry Potter series two weeks away, many of us (especially me) have been wondering what will be left for us to look forward to in the incredible world of HP? Well, fellow citizens, worry no longer! This past week, J.K. Rowling gave a very exciting announcement.

The term PotterMore has been floating around the interwebs for the past while, appearing on Twitter and YouTube. The only information that was provided was to “follow the owls.” Suspicions of a new book were incredibly evident; however, PotterMore is something slightly different…

[youtube i5DOKOt7ZF4]

As mentioned in the video, PotterMore will be open to the Muggle world in October 2011, however, you can enter your email address to be placed into a draw to enter early.

~

Follow the owls: www.pottermore.com

—

Follow PotterMore on twitter: @pottermore
Follow J.K. Rowling on twitter: @jk_rowling
Follow ME on twitter: @Serving0fNeRd

One short weekend in Calgary, one giant step for Calgarians

MJ
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The Finish Line

This weekend, I volunteered with Youth Volunteer Corps for two amazing projects.  First, I helped with building a playground at Prominence Park at Patterson (no alliteration intended) and second, I helped with the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer at Spruce Meadows. I must say, these two projects were probably the most laborious and tiresome projects I’ve done, however they were also the most rewarding projects as well. The Ride to Conquer Cancer was a two-day event that worked towards raising money for supporting the cancer cause. Huge thanks goes to the top 10 fundraisers:

1 –  Trent Boehm ($70,214.49)
2 – Andrew Hogg ($68,643.50)
3 – John Osler ($45,870.00)
4 – Donald Chynoweth ($34,698.31)
5 – Gwen Gross ($34,550.00)
6 – Veronica Devall ($34,500.00)
7 – Richard Bird ($34,483.33)
8 – Al Monaco ($34,121.64)
9 – Ruby Wallis ($34,023.00)
10 – Rick Warters ($32,438.00)

Some of the awesome volunteers: Alexis, Ameen and myself!

On Saturday, June 25, the volunteers got down and dirty as they evened out the ground for safety (I must’ve dug out about five huge rocks in the process) and removed excess dirt and rocks around the playground for aesthetic purposes.

 

More awesome (kind of lazy) volunteers: Bill and Nico!

The playground is still in need of a safety inspection, but once it’s approved, I’m definite it’ll be a huge enjoyment for kids in the neighborhood.

 

One of the first bikers in.

On Sunday, June 26, the volunteers helped with tying up posters, cheering for the bikers, unloading the bikers’ baggages and covering them from the rain and crowd control. Crowd control was especially troublesome because family members and friends were so eager to see their respective associates that the path at the end of the finish line were getting too crowded for bikers to get through. And despite the rain at the beginning of the project, the weather improved as more bikers crossed the finish line.

All in all it was an invaluable, although tiresome, weekend for Calgary!

Website of the Day: Today’s Big Thing

tim
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[youtube LDeq5AAI2C4]

Want to keep up with the latest trends and the newest viral multimedia? Check out http://www.todaysbigthing.com. Some of the best stuff you will ever watch and read. 😛 Enjoy!!

Nike: Get High

Syed
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1

Wait, what? If that’s what you are thinking right now, you’re in the same boat that I was when I first came across one of Nike’s new slogans. The sporting apparel giant has used the widely renowned “Just Do It” trademark for over 20 years, but has started up a new “Nike 6.0” campaign this month. The Nike 6.0 campaign takes contemporary slang such as “dope” and “get high,” and using it as slogans for their new campaign. The purpose of this campaign, say company officials, is to appeal to the extreme sports demographic – those that surf, skateboard, etc. Needless to say, however, the campaign has been met with large amounts of controversy.

A whole new meaning to “Bleed for your country”?

In Boston, Mayor Tom Menino asked local Niketown retailers to take down a display of the new campaign. In a letter to the store’s manager, Menino said “Your window display of T-shirts with drug and profanity wordplay are out of keeping with the character of Boston’s Back Bay, our entire city and our aspirations for our young people … not to mention common sense.” The CEO of the American Anti-Doping Agency echoed Mayor Menino’s thoughts by citing the Marion Jones scandal: “Apparently, Nike did not consult any of their former sponsored athletes like Marion Jones, to see firsthand the destruction that comes from choosing to use dangerous drugs.” For those of you unfamiliar with the Marion Jones story, Jones was an Olympic athlete whose gold medal was stripped after being caught doping. There are many other critics to the campaign that are all in agreement with one idea: as a major corporation that has massive pull with today’s youth, Nike should not be endorsing what is basically drug language.

Nike, on the other hand, argues that the point of its campaign is the exact opposite of what critics are saying. “Sport is an antidote to drugs… There is no better adrenaline rush than catching a wave or landing a trick. The language is the same that skaters, BMX’ers and surfers use every day around the world,” Nike spokesperson Erin Dobson said. According to Nike, the company is trying to appeal to a demographic that generally sticks to brands such as Rip Curl, Hurley, and DC. However, this isn’t the first time that Nike has raised eyebrows from its campaigns. The Air Stab campaign was pulled in England after a series of stabbings in London in 2008, and ads for Nike’s Hyperdunk campaign were blasted as being homophobic.

Personally, I don’t think that this was a very bright idea on Nike’s part. Not only is the company alienating itself from clients and consumers that don’t agree with the campaign, but it is also painting an image of skate and surf culture that members of that community may not appreciate. Admittedly, lots of skaters I know do use language like “dope” but at the same time, there are many skaters and surfers that don’t think it reflects their beliefs and values. I understand that Nike isn’t condoning the use of drugs (hopefully) and as someone that does tend to buy Nike products, I realize that the company does seem to walk a fine line when it comes to controversial advertising. However, I feel that this campaign went a little too far for my liking.

Apples deletes controversial anti-Israel app

tim
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Apple Removes Controversial Anti-Israel App from App Store
Photo Courtesy of Truth Leem from Reuters

I chanced upon this article in a random web surfing trek: http://techland.time.com/2011/06/23/apple-removes-controversial-anti-israel-app-from-app-store/.

I have always loved controversies and this is as good as any.  Apple has recently deleted “The Third Intifada” app from its app store.  The app provided updates on the latest Palestinian protests as well as anti-Israel publications.  Some posts highlighted by the app has demanded violence against Israel. Due to complaints from an Israeli official and a human rights organization, Apple removed the application a short week after it was released.

At first glance, the issue seems to be a simple necessary censorship of the public against hate speech.  However, the problem has certainly triggered some hot debate from the viewers.

One blogger wrote: “Please, Time, tell me what is ‘controversial’ about an application that promotes violence and murderous  actions. Is there any doubt that it should be taken down, please explain.” His words seem clear enough. The controversy seems ridiculous.

However, another responded: “I would like to know what was wrong with this application? Just because Israel felt threatened by the impact it might have to unite Palestinians doesn’t mean it will lead to violence.”

Another added: “Yea yea its been up for a week but when Israel started CRYING like a little girl all of a sudden Apple removes it cause of so called SECTION 19… So where was section 19 when you approved this app???”

Some research yields suspicious elements within the banning of the app. While there were certainly some violent articles that were highlighted by the app, these violent posts are in the slight minority within the large number of stuff the app has highlighted or been used for. The majority of the posts involved relatively peaceful demonstrations and protests. Many of them were similar in nature to the ones hosted by the Egypt and Libya except Palestinians are protesting to oust Israelis. During the revolutionary protests in Egypt and Libya, certain bloggers and individuals certainly endorsed violent sentiments, but Apple did not belittle nor condemn the entire cause. Even now, it seems that elective censorship of only violent messages seem to a much more logical alternative than banning the entire app that was approved only a week ago.

I am a staunch supporter of the freedom of the press but certainly do understand the necessity of banning hate speech. Nonetheless, we must question ourselves if our reaction to “The Third Intifada” app is influenced by our government’s support for Israel? Do we inherently view any protests against the Israeli state as illegitimate and violent in nature? Are the protests legitimate if we view them separate from some of the violence in the past. Make no mistake, I do not share the point of views of these protesters. Nonetheless as Voltaire said, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”  So do the Palestinians have a right to say what they are saying?

Team Fortress’ Biggest Update Yet

missCarrie
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If you haven’t caught up with Valve news lately, then here it is:

MEET THE MEDIC IS HERE! Wait, that’s probably not what you wanted…

Team Fortress 2 is free. Forever. Like, forever and ever and ever and even until after you’re dead!

With several modes like Capture the Flag and Capture the Point, TF2 plays like any good first-person shooter. With cartoon-y graphics and a lovable cast of 9 playable characters, who wouldn’t fall in love with this game?

From the original release of TF2, over one million of copies have been sold. Sure, that might not be as much as Call of Duty (or whatever), but trust me, it’s a brilliant game. With constant free updates (PC exclusive), who wouldn’t want to play TF2?

If you want to see what the very first edition of TF2 was like, buy The Orange Box on PS3 or Xbox 360 to find out. It’s not pretty; lots of bugs, limited map selection and pretty much less epic than the PC version. But, who wants to buy a disc version on a console when you can get the game FOR FREE?!?!?!?!?

Well, I already have the game so it sucks for all the paying customers–actually it doesn’t. Thanks to all the paying customers, I can convert all my TF2 PS3 playing buddies to the PC version! All they really need is a decent PC and a good mouse. And that should be pretty affordable.

So anyway, go buy download TF2 now, and be amazed by the awesomeness that is, TF2.

Photo of the Day – Halifax Public Gardens

sarena
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This shot was from last summer when I was visiting Nova Scotia.  We took a stroll through Halifax’s beautiful public gardens and I went a little crazy with the camera.  The gardens are really a perfect place to take photos, with all the lush vibrant colours to capture.  With summer already upon us, I suppose I was feeling a little nostalgic so I dug this picture up!  This is also my first hand at editing a photo so… enjoy!

Stampede 2011- A Royal Affair

sarthak
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The Calgary Stampede, the biggest rodeo show on earth, approaches a fresh start by including the presence of the Dutch and the Duchess of Cambridge for 2011. If you stayed up late watching the royal wedding, now is your chance to catch a glimpse of Prince William and his wife, Kate in real life. The Stampede Parade is expected to feature the couple, which indicates high security and more turnouts that usual.

Even if you are not enticed with the royal touch, you can still expect to have a blast during this week as the organizational committees have brought back the excitement and the festivity to this event. All of the activities running during the Stampede from July 8 to 17 can be found on the Stampede website which enables users to customize their experience. You can enjoy this year’s Stampede your way by clicking here.

So here is what you can expect from this year’s Stampede:

1) Festivity and enthusiasm among the Calgary crowd!

2) Pancake breakfasts- Like every year, be sure to tune in for some community fun as different places and organizations offer free pancake breakfast. A detailed list of free breakfasts can be viewed by clicking here.

3) And the traditional: Grand Stand Show and Coca-Cola Stage.

The Stampede is fast approaching, so be sure to get your cowboy/cowgirl attitude on along with your shiny boots. So what are you waiting for? Click here to get access to the tickets for the big events and package deals.

Ways to Wear it: Harem Pants

stephanie
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Runway Harem Pants
What is seen on the runways

What are Harem Pants?

Harem pants are commonly referred to as “parachute pants” that were worn in the 80s and made famous by MC Hammer. They are qualified by being baggy at the thighs, and tapered at the ankles. They are normally made in a lightweight material and sit high on the waist. They were brought in as a trend during the spring season, but will definitely carry through into summer because of it’s lightweight material and comfort.

How to Wear Harem Pants:

Harem pants may be a little bit tricky to pair off because of their baggy nature and structure. This may be a reason why not a lot of people have incorporated this style into their wardrobe. Here are a few tips on the ways to wear them:

  • With harem pants, you want to make sure to tuck your shirt in.
  • Try rolling up the bottoms of the pants giving them a cropped appearance. This makes them perfect for summer while looking polished.
  • Because the pants are baggy, you might be interested in wearing a tighter fitting top as a contrast. This will prevent you from looking like a big melon walking around.
  • If you have a slim body figure, you may be able to pull off wearing a baggier top, such as one with butterfly sleeves, tucked into the pants. This is because your waistline is generally small, so if it is accented  and cinched with a belt, you will still look slim.
  • Any sort of shoes would look great with harem pants. The only restriction would be tucking them into long boots. This is because it loses the effect of the tapered pant, and gives it the look of sweatpants tucked into boots… not very appealing.
  • These pants can be dressed up or dressed down. You can wear them casually with a plain top, or pair it with a blazer.
  • AVOID wearing a hoodie (zip up, or pullover) with harem pants. Yes, they can be worn casually, but they are definitely not as casual as jeans, and will look extremely awkward with a hoodie. Because they require a little bit of thought when wearing them, it is not a good idea to treat them as sweatpants, especially because they convey a more polished look.
  • My only warning, based on experience, is to avoid ones made of linen. They crease easily which makes it lose its put-together look.

My Outfit of the Day Featuring Harem Pants:

I’m wearing a tight-fitting v-neck sweater in navy, paired off with pinstriped harem pants in oatmeal that are rolled up at the bottom. I cinched my waist with a brown belt, and wore lace-up flats. My favourite colour combination for this summer is navy and beige/oatmeal. They compliment each other in a way that is unexpected yet easy on the eyes. Harem pants are probably one of my favourite types on pants to wear excluding denim. They look dressy and polished, while still giving me the comfort of skinnies because of the tapered ankle.

On a Final Note:

Harem pants can be found at stores such as Artizia, H&M, American Apparel, and Forever 21. They can sometimes be pricey but, in my opinion, are worth it because of its multipurpose quality and the look it conveys. They may take a little while to get used to. I mean, who could imagine wearing parachute pants? However, these are not as poofy as parachute pants once were, so they are easily accepted. Since they are normally made in a lightweight material, it’s a great trend to try out this summer!

TV Spotlight of the Week: Everybody Loves Raymond

dhruv
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This week’s TV Spotlight of the Week is on another classic cancelled TV show called Everybody Loves Raymond. This show was cancelled on May 16, 2005. The show revolves around the family interactions and real life personalities of Raymond Romano and the creator, Philip Rosenthal.

The main protagonists of this popular TV series are Ray Barone, a sportswriter living with in a suburban neighbourhood with his wife, children and his parents living uncomfortably close. Ray Barone is shown as very much a “momma’s boy” and is constantly trying be the better son in the eyes of his mother, Marie Barone, as compared to his brother, Robert Barone. Debra Barone is Ray’s wife and is shown to constantly complain about house work and taking care of their children and to top it off, she is constantly complaining to Ray about the daily intrusion of Marie. Marie Barone manipulates and controls Ray’s life and her criticism of Debra’s cooking is also an interesting element in the show. Frank Barone is Marie’s husband and is shown as an excessively masculine character. Ray’s brother in the series, Robert Barone, always tries to get Marie’s approval and get commended on his achievements but Marie constantly considers Ray as the “favourite” which I think is the reason for the name “Everybody Loves Raymond.” The relationship between Marie and Frank is similar to that of Frank and Estelle Costanza in Seinfeld.

[youtube Xw9bca0Kjpo]

One of my favourite episodes is when Debra finds that Ray taped over their wedding video for a Superbowl, and Debra’s reactions and Ray’s flustered responses are just hilarious. One of my favorite lines are when Marie says, “I have opinions too! I’m not just some trophy wife!” and Frank responds, “Trophy Wife? What contest in hell did I win?” Another favorite episode is when Marie intentionally burns Robert’s suit in order to prevent him from taking a job at the FBI and then later embarrasses Robert and costs him the job by writing a long apology letter to his interviewer. Another favorite set of quotes are from an episode when Frank and Ray become competitive in ping pong and there are some “burns” that Frank dishes out like, “Zero serving zero, Ray can kiss my rearo,” “One serving zip, I see a quivering lower lip,” and “Two serving nada, I’m ashamed to be his fadda.”

I strongly recommend this show to any person interested in comedy or fond of comedy.

The best Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows trailer

missCarrie
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[youtube MahTKZDHXaA]

No need for an introduction. Click and be amused!

Antihydrogen Trapped For 1000 Seconds

william
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A physicist at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland managed to trap Antihydrogen for over 16 minutes.

[youtube cA-GbqcDzpE]

What is antimatter?

[youtube 8XufjtmEe5w]

What is CERN?

[youtube SARgkwczvAE]
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