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Do we have what it takes to be the best?

MJ
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0

Here are some of the results of this year’s Best of Calgary poll, as provided by Fast Forward Weekly.

Best new trend:

  1. Cycling / Bike commuting
  2. Mayor Naheed Nenshi
  3. Civic engagement

Worst new trend:

  1. Jeggings
  2. Hipsters
  3. Dubstep

Best place to waste an entire day

  1. Prince’s Island Park
  2. 17th Avenue S.W.
  3. The Ship & Anchor

Best free event

  1. Lilac Festival
  2. Stampede breakfasts
  3. Sun and Salsa Festival

Best festival

  1. Calgary Folk Music Festival
  2. Sled Island
  3. Lilac Festival

Most beloved Calgarian

  1. Mayor Naheed Nenshi
  2. Jarome Iginla
  3. Lanny McDonald

Most embarrassing Calgarian

  1. Stephen Harper
  2. Rob Anders
  3. Ralph Klein

Best local band

  1. The Dudes
  2. Zoo Lion
  3. Braids and Woodpigeon at a tie

Best shopping district

  1. 17th Avenue S.W.
  2. The Core
  3. Kensington

Best ice cream/gelato

  1. My Favorite Ice Cream Shoppe
  2. Amato Gelato Cafe
  3. Fiasco Gelato

Best restaurant for a first date

  1. Una Pizza
  2. Tubby Dog
  3. The Coup

Best place to feed a sweet tooth

  1. Crave Cookies & Cakes
  2. Chocolaterie Bernard Callebaut
  3. The Chocolate Bar

And finally…

Best local blog:

  1. mikesbloggityblog.com
  2. calgaryisawesome.com
  3. happyurbanist.blogspot.com

Did I expet to see YAA on this list? Possibly. But regardless, we should give a big round of applause for all of this year’s winners (and losers as well). Just a side note, it seems that Nenshi is on a roll (Sexiest man, best local Twitter personality, hardest working, most beloved, best new trend… did I miss any?!) And on a final note, let’s keep it up Calgary!

To read more, go to http://www.ffwdweekly.com/article/life-style/best-calgary/the-best-and-worst-of-calgary-7627/

Tech Highlights Week 6 – Crossing the line between the digital world and the physical one!

ali
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Hi all! I recently stumbled upon this video and just had to share, this man makes living in a dream world possible! See for yourselves:

[youtube YrtANPtnhyg]

Better in Britain?

vicky
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Shopping in Chester: walking from store to store on sheltered walkways to avoid the rain. Photo credit: Vicky Price

Despite past trips to various parts of America and the Caribbean, I was happy to finally visit a country with some cultural difference. Don’t get me wrong; Montana is a beautiful tax-free haven for campers and fans of Wrangler jeans, and only in the Bahamas would you expect to yield to “Island Time,” which means that everyone and everything moves ten times slower than it really should.

However, I must say, my recent trip to the UK took my breath away. The last time I visited I was four years old, so naturally I remember almost nothing. I took in everything about my trip with wide eyes, eager to see a world beyond my own.

Having lived in Calgary my entire life, it was impossible for me not to make comparisons between the places I visited in Britain and my hometown. First of all, the roads are tiny. Countless drives down country roads in Wales which were barely the width of one lane back home were obviously nerve-wracking. Apparently locals develop a “sixth sense” for when a car is coming in the opposite direction; unfortunately, I lacked this skill severely. What’s worse is that if you thought cities were exempt from this undoubtedly dangerous system, think again. People have tendencies to park randomly on the side of the road, completely blocking the lane. Oh, and let’s not forget that all of this is done on the “wrong” side of the road.
I’ll admit, driving in the UK is not something that I ever wish to do, even if roundabouts do look insanely fun. Nevertheless, I easily appreciated the history behind every single building we passed. In a city that is barely 100 years old, seeing castles from the 13th century was incredibly humbling. Just thinking about what went on behind those walls hundreds of years ago is mindblowing when you consider that Calgary’s history is largely captured by Heritage Park.

The inner courtyard of Caernarfon Castle, Caernarfon, Wales. (Photo credit: Vicky Price)

"Bedyddwyr, 1860". This building would be considered "moderately aged". (Photo credit: Vicky Price)

Frozen Grand Central

lisa aka "Mangomaru"
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How I love spontaneous and lively inspirations of imaginations =)

Please enjoy the following clip of random stillness.

[youtube jwMj3PJDxuo]

Poetry: The Blues

sarena
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"One can't complain. I have my friends. Someone spoke to me only yesterday." ~Eeyore~
"One can't complain. I have my friends. Someone spoke to me only yesterday." ~Eeyore~

Letting pre-exam stress get to you? Maybe you’re stuck in a job you can’t stand when you’d rather be out enjoying the sunshine. Perhaps you’re missing the cold, snowy, winter days (*cough*, that was a joke).

Or maybe you’re like me and are starting out the summer season with the flu. On one hand, you can probably relate to the adorable Winnie the Pooh character Eeyore. Whatever it is that has got you down, you can probably also relate to this:

When I wake up with the morning dull and grey,

The river a sheet of slippery shimmery ice

And I can’t see out my window because it’s all frosted up

And the piano sits and mocks me to come and coax the notes out of it.

When it knows I’m to tired to even lift an eyebrow,

And the songs on the radio are not the ones I like

Even if you do.

But I cannot change the station for I’ve already forgotten,

I hear the bass drum out of time by a second – what a grievance.

I hate it when I can’t hear myself think,

Just because everyone else wants to think aloud.

Why would you want to hear the sound of your own voice

Unless it’s as melodious as the whispering leaves in autumn?

I hate how I love autumn which leads to something I despise more

Than life itself – winter

Back to those shiny black and white keys that

Laugh because I cannot play them.

Video of the Day: Northern Lights

Syed
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I was stumbling online the other day when I came across this awesome video of the fabled Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) in Norway. If you’re like me, you enjoy finding out how things like the Aurora Borealis work. Pretty much what happens is the sun releases streams of charged particles known as solar winds. These particles include electrons, which follow a path created by the Earth’s magnetic field and eventually enter the magnetosphere. Once the electrons enter the upper atmosphere, they begin making contact with atoms of oxygen and nitrogen at varying altitudes. The kinetic energy gained from the electron striking the atom excites the atom, leading it to emit light.
The element and the altitude determine the colour of lights that are emitted – if the electron excites an oxygen atom at any height up to 250 km, we would see green light. Anything over 250 km, and we would see red light. On the other hand, if the electrons make contact with nitrogen atoms up to 100 km, we would observe blue light, whereas anything over 100 km would result in violet light. Usually, we see some combination of these 4 colours, as the electrons strike many atoms in the atmosphere – up to 20 million per second!
If you aren’t particularly interested by the science, I hope that you at least enjoy the video! 😀
[vimeo 21419634]

Choose Your Side- Cellphones v/s Brain Problems

sarthak
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With a lot of fundamental research supporting the fact that cellphones damage your brain, it is now further hypothesised that cell phones could potentially be responsible for cancer. As the new era of technology and wireless communication emerges, it remains important to remember that “our creations can turn against us”.  To primarily avoid exposure, 2 recommended practices include-

1) Limit Cell Phone Usage

2) Use a Hands Free Device (to avoid making contact with your cell phone for long durations.)

[youtube R5GXLKHBxrI]

Photo of the Day: Waterton, Alberta

sarena
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This is a shot I took in Waterton, AB a couple Springs ago.  It is taken at the top of the “Bear’s Hump Hike.”  If you are ever in Waterton, I really recommend this hike simply for the amazing views it provides at the top.  You can also capture a stunning shot of the entire town as well as spot Waterton’s popular: Prince of Wales Hotel from this vantage point.  Hopefully this will inspire you to visit sometime in the near future!

View from atop Waterton, Alberta's 'Bear's Hump' Hike

A Story Involving Mahjong

missCarrie
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After finishing my Chemistry IB exam way back in May, our class of 11 Chemistry geeks had the opportunity to learn a bunch of games. It was our little relaxation period after a stressful review period of Chemistry, and boy did we love it. During this period, we played a bunch of games–one in particular that became the class’ favorite: Mahjong.

I’m not talking about the tile matching game where you play on the computer. I’m talking about the one that originated in China and you’re trying to make hands with 14 tiles. Imagine an Asian version of poker, but instead of cards they’re tiles that look like this and the ones that can read Chinese characters will have an advantage in winning. This game becomes very addictive as you can steal tiles to help yourself win, and there are dozens of hands to choose from.

I would love to explain this game to you, but I think this website does a very good job of it, plus it’s a well-made online version of the game! If you want to play it, or even try to master it, I suggest you brush up on your Chinese and get ready to win!

Website of the Day: BestPlanking.com

jen
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Planking is a new trend that involves stiffly laying face down in an unusual setting. The photos that come out of it are pretty funny and some can be found on http://bestplanking.com/. There are photos in Vegas, Australia, New Zealand, on the news and more.

Summer Hairstyles Using No Heat

stephanie
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1

With Summer coming up, it is not only great to protect your skin from the sun, it is also important to help protect your hair from heat. This can be done by using special products with SPF, wearing hats, and limiting the amount of heat used on your hair when you style it. Here are a few easy methods in achieving cute hairstyles without heat!
[youtube D9FZMTt0X5E]

Short Update on PlayStation Network

missCarrie
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If you haven’t heard already, the PSN was hacked and Sony decided to tell the public on April 26, 2011. Private information was susceptible to theft amongst horrendous things a gamer would never expect to happen. So why did this happen? Well, Sony decided to take action against a hacker and of course, revenge was sought out. Despite Sony’s claims that the PSN would go up throughout May, it took them far too many days to get PSN working again. Of course the obsessive gamers complained and cried–what else were they to do? Seek out Osama? That was a joke by the way.

And on June 3, they decided to initiate the Welcome Back program, which is pretty good. But it wouldn’t be much of a great program if you already have all the games that they’re giving out. People are saying that the security epicly failed on Sony’s part, but it just turned out that their company was targeted first. This is a warning to all of you other companies that are planning to sue against hackers and whatnot: BEWARE! There are black hats everywhere!

Leaving the nest…

steven
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It’s been forever since I’ve made a YAA post, however, I thought I’d take some time and write an opinion blog about something that is quite near and dear to my person right now. For most Grade 12s this year, September will mark a change, a change from the dreary monotony of high school. For most Grade 12s, September will mark a new school, new faces, new friends, new haunting grounds…

It was a weird thing to reflect on at the Sir Winston Churchill High School grad (May 31). The thought that in about 15 days, the 681 other graduates will be dispersing around the world;  a few to the US, some to England, a scattering to Hong Kong. For many, May 31 would be the last time that they would meet. Personally, I have friends going to Scotland, the US and China for their post-secondary education. I know that in a few years, we’ll all change to a degree that we would almost be unrecognizable.

Now I know plenty of you are rolling your eyes and probably scrolling to the next story, but I need to make a quick point. Leaving your old life at high school is SCARY – especially if you are moving to a different province for your future education/work. It isn’t until you have decided on a university/college/tradeschool and thought about what you needed to do that you realize life is actually pretty brutal. The thought of having to pay big money for your education (~20k/year in tuition/residence fees+ancillary costs), the thought of having to look for roommates, COOK, clean, live without a car… it’s pretty overwhelming.

Finally, I’ve come to realize that the distinction between universities is really quite small. There is no “best” university, there is no “top” university (okay… maybe Harvard :P) but especially for your undergraduate studies, the university does not make that big of a difference. It all comes down to where YOU want to be, and where YOU think you will find success. If you are thinking of going to a college or trade school, that’s cool too. Many degrees offered by institutions like SAIT, ACAD etc. have better job opportunities than university degrees.

So I know many of you will dismiss this as the mad ramblings of an 18 year old kid (and it really is), but please, remember that every person chooses their own path in life. So sit down, talk with your parents, talk with your councilors and think about the future. The sooner you do so, the easier the eventual decision will be.

Be Inspired. Be Involved. Be Hungry. 30 Hour Famine.

kevin
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0
[youtube Fue4uQufBKo]

Recently I had the privilege of taking part in the 30 Hour Famine at my church, and I can tell you that not consuming anything solid for 30 hours is not a pleasant thing to experience.  I decided to take part in this event because I felt the need to support a starving child in a country where people live with just $1 per day, an amount so miniscule that in a country like Canada it doesn’t seem possible. When I heard that an amount of $20 could have the potential of feeding a hungry child for weeks, I decided that the $20 in my wallet should not go anywhere but into supporting a greater cause. Mother Theresa once said, “If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.” I may not have enough money to support as many as hundred people, but if could at least help one I know that I have helped that one person have hope.

There are nearly 8,000 children that die each day because of hunger, and there are currently 1 billion people that don’t have enough to eat and have scarce resources. These are staggering numbers that become an eye-opener for all of us. We take everything for granted, and to see other people around the world starve is really an unfortunate thing. Thankfully, it is youths like us that help bring change. Thousands of youths are willing to donate their time and money to fight and defeat hunger once and for all, and by experiencing hunger for themselves they realize how difficult it can be.

After completing the 30 Hour Famine, I knew I had to do it again next year. What you get out of it is a truly special feeling, one that lasts in your heart for a very long time. We as youths have the power and the ability to make a difference, and it is an event like the 30 Hour Famine that challenges and brings us together.

I encourage you to be inspired, be involved, and be hungry.

Please visit the 30 Hour Famine website at http://www.30hourfamine.org/ for more information on how to get involved. You can learn more about the 30 Hour Famine event itself and some shocking facts about hunger.

Serving0fNerd: Geeky Father’s Day Cards

SaM
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0

With Father’s Day just around the corner, it’s time to buy and hide those presents before the night before! While ordering stuff online any later could be pushing time boundaries a bit too fine, the wonderful ThinkGeek.com has the perfect solution to getting your lovely paternal figure a card that truly expresses your love and appreciation. You can download and print the .PDF file, fold it, sign it, hide it, and present it to your FAtHEr on the Day of celebrating his awesomeness 😀 (which is Sunday, June 19 BTW).

Click here to select your favourite card for dad!

Spelling with elements is all the rage these days.
^My personal favourite way of adding awesomeness to cards 🙂 I usually do this on birthday cards.

Live Long and Prosper \\// ♥

Follow ThinkGeek on Twitter: @thinkgeek
Follow me! (SaM) on Twitter: @Serving0fNeRd

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