Can You Clap 14 Times Per Second? Meet the World’s Fastest Clapper
Urban Exposure Project 2011
Love for all, hatred for none.
That’s what the word “community” means to many Calgarians, thanks largely to an initiative called the Urban Exposure Project by the Calgary United Way.
For months, volunteer photographers (including my friend Irene Seto) have been taken to non-profit and community organizations around the city, including the Mustard Seed, the Drop-in Centre, the Boys and Girls Club, the Baitun Noor Mosque, a Hindu temple, a Sikh temple, churches, art galleries and many other local groups.
Tomorrow (Thursday, June 2) these experiences will culminate at the Gerry Thomas Art Gallery, where their photos will be on display. The event is free, but donations will be accepted to help offset costs. Free appetizers will be served and a cash bar will be made available for those over 18.
This will be the third year of the project, but the first year Irene has been involved.
“Throughout this process, we have have documented our experiences and learnings through photography, and have gained a deeper understanding of how the issue of community affects not only ourselves but fellow Calgarians,” Irene said.
“Now is the opportunity for us to share our experience with our friends, family and the public about what we have learned about Community in Calgary by showing off some of the best photos we have taken.”
If you want to learn more about the project, check out Irene’s blog at www.ireneseto.wordpress.com.
Details:
Thursday, June 2
Gerry Thomas Art Gallery
602, 11th Avenue SW
Calgary, AB
6 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Website of the Day: 1000 Awesome Things
Hola amigos! In the past week, I was introduced to a simply miraculous website designed to cheer up even the most desolate individual. I present to you 1000 awesome things. Check it out at http://1000awesomethings.com/.
I actually stumbled onto this website on my daily strolls down Ted.com/talks. The man with the brains behind the entire operation was inspired to cheer himself up in one of the desolate periods of his life. He was going through a tough divorce and experienced difficulties with his career. In the depth of his depression, he began to write notes about life that he appreciated. He started with tiny things: having a friend to support you at midnight and the hilarious broccoflower. Seriously, the broccoflower.
Within the modern negativity caused by the sensualizingmedia and the pitfalls associated with the chronic recession, the blog was an instant hit. Hits shot up to tens of thousands then hundreds of thousands and then even millions of visitors. Before long, the website was voted the top blog in the world and the founder, Neil Pasricha, has now wrote a best-selling book called the Book of Awesome.
I guess my point is to check out this website. There are plenty of awesome and great things in this world for all of us to enjoy and appreciate. There is no reason to lament in the past and soak in our regrets. I hate ending on a sentimental note. So I guess I would like to draw your attention to the extremely colourful book covers on the website banner. We should get a banner like that.
Video of the Day: Make Your Own Pore Strips
Pore strips can get really expensive when it comes to purchasing them individually in stores. Here is a wallet-friendly and effective way to make your own!
[youtube -bjOB4zS0uE]Budget TV: Calgary City Budget from the Mayor’s Youth Council
A Calgarian Collaboration between Hip Hop and Pop
Local hip hop artist Dan Bennett, more commonly recognized as Transit, has recently produced a single with acclaimed Calgarian songwriter Jann Arden. Fittingly, the name of the single is called “Calgary.”
The song represents the music scene in the city of Calgary, showing that “we are not all cowboys” and that this city is more than capable of being major in the music industry. The lyrics portray the undiscovered artistic side of Calgary, where a city known for cowboy hats and polished belt buckles finally reveals itself; a musical unearthing of indie music and inspiration.
Arden interviewed Bennett on her CBC radio show after his “8 Hour Challenge” project on YouTube went viral. And as the talk went on, the topic of a collaboration emerged and things just laid itself out from there. Working with Arden, this song truly recognizes the diversity of the music that comes from Calgary; when would you see a young rapper work with an adult contemporary artist? Yet it has happened. That just goes to show what kind of music Calgary really has to offer.
Though Bennett may be a native of Victoria BC, this song shows where his heart belongs. He has a mission to develop and drive the movement, not only for hip hop but for the entire art scene of Calgary. Let that mission be approved by no other than our mayor Naheed Nenshi. Being the trendy mayor that he is, it was not surprising when Bennett was able to contact Nenshi via Twitter, ultimately leading to a cameo of the mayor in the music video for “Calgary.”
A song made by an indie rapper that features Jann Arden, as well as the mayor of Calgary; that alone is impressive. But more importantly, the music video for the song is comprised of even more cameos made by all of the local bands that Bennett mentions in this track. Eighteen of the 29 bands cleverly incorporated into the lyrics appear in the video. This video purely represents the unification of music in Calgary, the coming together of local artists to show the world that Calgary is ready to and is going to make an impact.
Check out the video below and feel free to stay updated with Transit on Facebook.
[youtube LuMzeZBKMEQ]Restaurant Spotlight: Dolce Sapori
Recently, I dined at the Italian restaurant known as Dolce Sapori. Located directly above Ristorante Pulcinella, known for their authentic Napolentana pizza, Dolce Sapori provides fine Italian dining. Appetizers, salads, authentic pastas, and savory entrées are just the beginning of treasures to be found here. Food ranging from Tuscan Bruschetta to Gamberone in Aqua Pazzo, as well as Linguine con Vongole – a linguine in a clam sauce with pancetta and cubed potato, served on a bed of pesto, are just a few of the pleasantries to be discovered.
Most importantly are the entrées. Succulent rack of lamb and tender veal chop are simply the highlights of what’s available. For those not so interested in exotic flavours held within the Italian cuisine, an amazing two pound steak is available. The food at Dolce Sapori is simply to die for, however, that is not all that complements the restaurant.
Chic, classy, and clean. Just a few words to describe the lavish interior of Dolce Sapori. The arrangement and setting of the restaurant provide a fresh and extremely modern feeling. Not only do the hues of the cerise tables complement the dark surroundings of the shadowy walls, a simple ambiance is created with the variable lighting. Chairs are considerably larger than the convention (most likely to accommodate for the enormous portion sizing), as well as having the ability to swivel a full 360 degrees. The restaurant is also equipped with a full sized deck, providing a magnificent view of the Kensington area. Also, should one find them self in need of entertainment, a projection television is available for use.
Finally, the excellent use of highly qualified waiters, ready to create an unforgettable dining experience, paired with lavish interior and of course food fit for the royals, define Dolce Sapori as a rather unique restaurant. The relatively small menu allows the diner to focus more so on the flavours contained with in the dishes themselves, rather than worry about if they made the correct choice. However, the prices for each dish are on the higher end. With the most inexpensive entrée being $22.95, patrons may consider this as a restaurant reserved for special occasions, again making the experience there more special. All in all, if you ever have the opportunity to taste the excellence of Dolce Sapori’s rack of lamb, I highly recommend it.
Life of Pi Book Review
I had heard from others that this book was great; in fact, I’d even heard it being described as a masterpiece. So there was really not choice in the matter, I had to read this book. But then I found out that this would be one of the books assigned for English class, so I procrastinated until last week.
Basically, the story follows an Indian boy named Piscine Molitor Patel. His family decides to immigrate to Canada but their ship sinks and Piscine (Pi) finds himself stranded in the middle of the Pacific Ocean on a lifeboat with a tiger, a zebra, an orangutan and a hyena.
I’ve always had a problem with novels that lack in plot and try to make up for it by adding in a bunch of pointless imagery and metaphors. I am glad that this book was not one of them. “Life of Pi” is truly a deep novel. The story is very abstract and presents metaphors and symbolism that I’m still trying to understand.
Bottom Line – Yann Martel shows us metaphors done right. “Life of Pi” definitely scores high on the deepness scale. But was it entertaining? Was it a page turner? Unfortunately the answer is no, so I give it a 7.5/10
TV Spotlight of the Week: Doctor Who
Recently I fell in love with a TV series called Doctor Who. This TV series is actually with the British TV network(s) and is often called the best and most popular British TV series. This TV series originally began in 1963 and ended in 1989, but in 2005, a newer version of the series began, which was more adept towards the social culture of that year.
“Doctor Who” is a story about a mysterious and very strange character who refers to himself as “The Doctor.” He is an alien called a Time Lord and is the last of his kind, which is described as a once beautiful and magnificent race. The Doctor travels in a time machine called a TARDIS (Time and Relative Dimensions in Space). Often known as the best and most creative science fiction series of all time, The Doctor travels to many different worlds and saves many different civilizations from aliens and other evil things.
Some monsters or aliens that the doctor fights are Daleks – mechanized robots internally controlled by aliens, who are the doctor’s strongest enemies; Cybermen – emotionless, human created robots bent on converting all humans into them; Sontarans – bent on converting Earth into their breeding ground; Slevines – family of an Alien race trying to convert Earth into a wasteland to sell to intergalactic sources; and the Master – the only other Time Lord left who is bent on destroying and ruling the human race and destroying the doctor. However, there are many more enemies than this. The Doctor is also hindered in his path many times by the institute and museum of alien technologies called Torchwood.
I especially love this series due to its creative and ingenuitive stories. I like this series because instead of being like a normal fighting or adventurous science fiction story, the story of the Doctor is what puts it apart from everything else. I also like how the Doctor also has several companions along the way, which helps increase the dynamism of the story and prevents it from being simply an action science fiction show. I strongly recommend science fiction lovers watch this show. It may seem a bit corny in the beginning but it will draw you in.
[youtube 9vIsQ25Krq8]Tech Highlights Week 5: Use your iPhone music for your Alarm Clock
Hi all, today I’ll show you a quick way to get your iPhone/iPod to use music from your library as your alarm clock wake-up tone. Later this week, I’ll show you how to customize your desktop with Rainmeter! (Note, some of the screenshots are outdated, but the idea is the same)
1. Go to the iTunes store and download a free app called iHome + Sleep
2. Open it up and go to Alarms on the bottom toolbar
3. Tap the cross on the top right and add a new alarm
4. Tap on your new alarm to open up the settings
5. Scroll down to the “Wake-to” option
6. Choose “iPod Library“, pick your song(s) and hit Done
7. Navigate to Home on the bottom bar
You’ll now see a screen with a clock, a weather display, and a little slider that says bedtime. Drag the “bedtime” slider across the screen when you’re ready to go to sleep. When the alarm goes off, it will play the song you chose!
There’s something unusual about “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”
-A Vertigo Mystery Theatre Production-
Here’s a question: what if you had more than one personality?
I will let you ponder that question for a moment, and while you are doing that, I’d like to carefully describe what happened on a recent Thursday night.
-BACKGROUND-
When I heard that I was able to attend a production of “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” at the Vertigo Mystery Theatre, I was ecstatic. What can I say? I am a sucker for live theatre. The last time I attended a live theatre production was at Rosebud Theatre in 2006, where I saw a Christmas special. I gained a sudden interest in acting after watching the beautiful performance. Of course, ever since then, I haven’t had a single opportunity to go to a theatre. Something changed in me that day. What draws me closer to attending live theatre more than watching movies at a cinema is that raw appeal, making connections with the actors slowly getting into their characters. What happened on Thursday night was truly remarkable. Not only did it bring back my appetite for live productions, it made me develop a keen perspective on human nature.
In case you didn’t know, the play “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” was adapted from the novella “A Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” by Robert Louis Stevenson, who also wrote “Treasure Island.” When the book first came out it was an immediate success, and playwrights grabbed the opportunity to adapt the book and put it on stage. The first play was a smashing success, and soon became a phenomenon.
-THE PLAY-
The play centers on well-known themes, such as good vs. evil and man vs. himself. There are six actors that play multiple roles, and they play their characters so well that each time a new character is introduced you are not aware that they are the exact same actor/actress. The play is an interesting twist from the original work, as Mr. Edward Hyde, Dr. Henry Jekyll’s darker half, is split into four different actors. This change creates a deeper outlook on the many aspects of evil. The play thoroughly explores the violent conflict between Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and at times, touches on the importance of love. A chambermaid by the name of Elizabeth falls in love with Mr. Hyde, acknowledging there’s something more to Hyde than being evil. As the romantic relationship between Elizabeth and Mr. Hyde begins to unfold, I found myself compelled by Elizabeth’s courage and strength to overcome her fears of Mr. Hyde and find his loving side.
Choose Your Side – Canucks or Bruins
With only days left from the Stanley Cup decision, fans across the country wait anxiously for the historic moment! For Vancouver fans, bringing the cup would mean first time win since 1970. On the other side, Boston fans have been waiting for the cup since the Bobby Orr era!
Be sure to tune in and witness the action starting Wednesday, June 1 followed by-
Game 2: Sat., June 4th: Boston at Vancouver, 8pm ET
Game 3: Mon., June 6th: Vancouver at Boston, 8pm ET
Game 4: Wed., June 8th: Vancouver at Boston, 8pm ET
Game 5: Fri., June 10th: Boston at Vancouver, 8pm ET
Game 6: Mon., June 13th: Vancouver at Boston, 8pm ET
Game 7: Wed., June 15th: Boston at Vancouver, 8pm ET
Halt to Calgary Rain for Lilac Festival 2011
Contrary to beliefs of most Calgarians, on Sunday, May 29 the weather proved to be sunny and perfect for a day out! Vendors were set up all along 13 blocks of Calgary downtown running along 4th St SW. Everywhere you turned was something worth watching. The streets were packed with entertainment, food, drinks, mini games, vendors dedicated to animal rescue and selling all sorts of goods. The day began with an attention-grabbing parade, then later on many other exciting events took place, including comedy magic, martial arts, variety of cultural dance, artists, bands and so much more! Volunteers of the Youth Volunteer Corps supervised the Kids’ Zone where children could play in a bouncy castle or slide. Not long after the festival began, the blocks were crowded with people, their kids and even their dogs! We were really fortunate that the weather cooperated.
DID YOU KNOW? The Lilac Festival has been Calgary’s best free festival for 13 consecutive years now!
One other thing, I got to touch a real live boa at one of the vendors! I bet not a lot of you could say you’ve done that, hey?
Explosion in Canadian School
The headlines are haunting. An 18-year-old student with a bright future is now dead. Eric Leighton from Mother Teresa Catholic High School was in the twelfth grade and scheduled to attend prom last night (Thursday night). Yet now he is fated to be remembered by a devastating tragedy and through a lonesome memorial.
Based on the latest information uncovered by journalists, Eric was in the auto shop building barbecues when a 55-gallon oil drum containing an unconfirmed substance ignited and blew up. This hazardous material probably did not belong in an auto shop and is likely the result of neglect. Five people, including the male teacher, suffered from minor injuries while Eric was not breathing and had no pulse when the paramedics arrived. Although Eric was resuscitated, he later succumbed to his injuries and died. Those who suffered minor injuries are still being examined medically but so far seem healthy.
The tragedy raises some important yet troubling questions about the Canadian education system even though the accident occurred in the suburb of Barrhaven in the southwest end of Ottawa. Investigations are being conducted to pinpoint the cause of the accident and find those who are responsible. Although it would be too far to conclude public high schools are generally unsafe, it is necessary to reevaluate the safety of our schools.
There is a touching photo on the web of Eric’s prom date paying her respects just days before the actual prom. It is important that Eric’s death be a wakeup call for us to consider our own safety measures.
Poetry: Graduation!
So it’s that time of year again….Grade 12 Graduation! Words like: ‘diplomas’
and ‘prom’ are just some of the things on the minds of Grade 12 students across the city. Ok, I can’t really speak from experience as I won’t be graduating for another couple of years. My concert band however, has the honour of playing for our school’s graduating class. In school, the energy radiating off the Grade 12s is infectious enough though – just walking through the halls gives me that OMG-there’s- really-less-then-two-weeks-left-of-school feeling! In commemoration of this special time, here is a poem I wrote, in the fictional perspective of a Grade 12 Student:
In the cover of darkness with the wind whispering their lonely words,
And the dark like a cloak hiding me from the real world,
I pause, breathe in the night storing every fragment of it into my memory,
Cramming and stuffing the my world as it is now, into my brain
And tonight which is yet to come.
I see everything around me through the eyes of the child
That I have been for the past years and years and years…
Everything important in its blatant honesty
Like the lock of hair, carefully curled framing the side of my face,
The shimmering fabric of my magenta dress,
The glaring light shining from my kitchen window
And the eerie stillness of the abandoned farmhouse,
On the other side of the road with its blank staring windows
Like the eyes of one that sees nothing but what is directly in front of it,
And its forlorn little porch.
I remember the previous afternoon at the auditorium,
An afternoon of smiles and tears and everything in-between
And the feeling of immense satisfaction simply for wearing
The black cap and gown and from the simple sheet of paper
I clutched in my hands like a lifeline.
How I had waited for that moment for years and years and years,
The way it came and went and the magic of the moment as it was;
Was something I would never forget.
It was as if I had reached one of the biggest milestones, an epoch in my life
And I had simply stepped over, as if it was simply a pebble.
But it wasn’t and I knew I would wake up tomorrow and be headed into
The real world,
With no direction at all,
Like a map with no compass to guide it.
One, two, ten minutes passed.
There was my knight who had pulled up,
right in front of my house,
beckoning with the beep of the car horn.
And I tried to re-think every thought,
That had just gone through in my head but stopped.
Why not just enjoy my last night of high school; the big celebration party?
Finally, as I closed my front door,
It seemed to understand the finality of everything,
For I really was closing a door in my life and opening a new one.