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Alberta Ballet delivers a dazzling performance of Tchaikovsky’s greatest hits

lisa aka "Mangomaru"
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Photo courtesy of the Alberta Ballet

One of the most beloved composers and masters in Russia is Peter Tchaikovsky, or Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. He has composed beautiful masterpieces in many areas during the Romantic era, including ballet, symphonies, operas and chamber music. He has also written some of  most familiar and popular concert music, among them the ballets Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, and The Black Swan, the 1812 Overture and his First Piano Concerto.

Peter Tchaikovsky

Studying at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory, his Western training separated him from the nationalist movement music had taken in Russia at the time. By the end of the 20th century, despite critical dismissals of his music earlier, position as a influential composer was secured and his reputation was even honoured by that of the Tsar.

Personally, Tchaikovsky is one of my favourite composers, and it seemed to me that the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) and the Alberta Ballet was the perfect feast of sight and sound. The intensely beautiful movements made by the talented Alberta Ballet dancers, their silhouette dancing gracefully overhead the dancer themselves, as brilliant bright spotlights focused on them. The CPO is often the musical ensemble accompanying the ballet dancers regular performances and usually perform in a pit underneath the dancers, but this evening they shared the same stage. They were able to gaze upon the dazzling and breathtaking movements of the ballet dancers as well. It was truly a spectular ‘taste of the arts’ from the special guests.

Tchaikovsky   Selections from The Sleeping Beauty
Tchaikovsky   Selections from The Nutcracker
Tchaikovsky   Serenade for Strings in C Major, Op. 48
Sleeping Beauty, Coutesty of Alberta Ballet
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Lake Louise: Ice Magic Festival

dhruv
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A Song of Reflection

Hamzah
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[youtube RiWPBkJ1VzU]

Whilst hoping from video to video on YouTube, I stumbled upon this song. It was an English-translated and dubbed version of the song, which made it a lot easier to understand; well, not specifically easier – it helped in giving a more profound impact to the video.

One of the things that really stood out was the meaning behind the song, continuous references to the coloring of humans and the earth by humans. To be specific, the lyrics referring to the one-sided parasitic nature of humans in using the Earth really hit hard for me. After thinking about it and applying to the current world, where humans are draining the natural resources of the planet at an ever-increasing rate, the song does really nail the use of the Earth by humans. Images of open pit mines, exhaust from factories, factory runoff, slash and burn logging, oil drilling and more flashed through my mind in my reflection of the song and how true it is. In addition, the lyrics about humans using other humans had massive truth to them. From the presence of unfair, dictatorial regimes to sweatshop labor, to the countless fraudulent people that emerged in the global economic crisis we see examples of humans tainting other humans everywhere. After reflecting about how the lyrics applied to real life I decided to reflect upon how we help the planet and abused humans. We have organizations such as the WWF and our own Environment Clubs that help to return to the Earth in anyway we can. We also have activist such as Amnesty International fighting for equal rights and end of discrimination as well as the countless protesters against the dictatorial regimes in the Middle East and world wide. It made me realize that although we the Earth and other humans more than we can ever dream to imagine, there are still those who try to return and give back. All of that from a song; give it a listen if you will, and afterwards take a moment to reflect.

Website of the Day: Neopets!

Julia
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Neopets.com may seem like a site for little kids, but I believe that it’s for all ages. There are many games; some are indeed for children, but there are games for teenagers and adults too!

Of course, there are more than just games to play. Neopets also offers you the chance to:

– Make and name your own pet (a Neopet) using the many colours and species and customize it with clothes and cool backgrounds

– Explore Neopia and go on faerie quests

– Trade items with other Neopians

– Join a Guild with others that have the same interest as you (it doesn’t have to be Neopets-related, you could join a Guild about Harry Potter if you wanted!)

– Make your own Neohome and your own shop to sell your items

– Bid on Auctions (or auction off your own items!)

– Have discussions or get help on the Boards

If you’re having trouble on Neopets, or are just curious about something, go to the Explore tab and right there you’ve got a Neopian wikipedia, pronunciation, map, tutorial and even a weather report (which gives you special climate AVATARS you can’t get anywhere else!). Travelling to foreign places in Neopia is really exciting and entertaining, because there is so much to do! You can go to concerts, enter lotteries, BATTLE other Neopets, meet Faeries, play special games (in the Haunted Woods you can play games that were deleted), watch Poogle races and even more!

I guarantee you won’t get bored with this website, no matter who you are!

Thoughts for the Week of February 23rd

TheGentlemanScholar
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Things that mattered to me this week.

1. The Copenhagen X Sessions

If you’re a lover of indie music, quiet, melodic music, or just free music in general, check out the Copenhagen X Sessions website! Hosted by Sony, this music exposé is full of bands you have never heard of before, but may really enjoy! The site is in Danish even though most of the music is English, but it’s pretty easy to get around without knowing what all of the words mean. Each artist has their own page with music videos and downloadable songs 🙂

Image courtesy of dpreview.com

2. The Canon Rebel T3i

Otherwise known as the Canon 600D, this is the successor to the Rebel T2i, my camera of choice. Adding features such as a swiveling screen and non-destructive, non-mechanical video zooming make this a more desirable camera than the T2i if you’re just entering the market, but doesn’t really offer enough to give T2i owners reason to upgrade. You can read the dpreview.com review here.

3. Diploma marks

I must say, getting your diploma marks can be a little depressing… Even if they’re neither high nor low. However, I have been hearing that the English diploma was marked pretty harshly. Anyone feel the same way?

4. The iPad 2…

… is supposedly being announced on March 2. We can only wait and see!

Have a great week you guys!

Product of the day: CHAPFIX

sara
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It’s been a long time coming.

[youtube 7fcI4yMaSxE]

Are You a Pirate?

missCarrie
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No, not THAT kind of pirate.

And I don’t mean those guys who wear an eye patch and set sail on a ship. I mean the people who steal things for personal interest or gain, people who choose to download software or products rather than spending money. But the thing is, those kinds of people might not even understand the cost of piracy (click the link to read an article that offers a very insightful look in piracy).

People have different reasons for pirating–some don’t have the money but really want it, others want to try the product before buying it and so forth. But in the end no matter what the reason is, they’re stealing. Unless the software or product was free to download in the first place, people who create hacks and emulators or upload full games, songs, movies and shows are hurting the industry.

So instead of repeating Oliver Chiang, I am here to simply tell you this: hacking your Apple products to get free Apps, downloading emulators when you can buy the consoles, and searching songs instead of buying them all falls under piracy! So enjoy the read (it’s a bit long, so make yourself comfortable) and I hope you learn a thing or two about piracy and rethink your methods of obtaining products.

http://www.gamepro.com/article/features/215976/the-cost-of-piracy/

Seven sentences for when you are feeling down

katty
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Stock photo

1. “People need force to break out.” Everyone has potential, we are all born in peace and die of hardship. So when we are facing pressure, do not be impatient because it is only a little test for you. Believe in yourself that you can handle everything. People will only move forward when there is pressure. As long as there is hope in your heart, there is happiness.

2. “If you are simple, the world is simple to you.” A simple life can be a happy life. People need to be content, tolerant, and don’t think everything too complicated. If your heart is heavy loaded, then you will worry about everything. You have to delete some of your memories regularly, to get rid of the unhappy things in your life.

3. “Life does not have a rehearsal. Every day is life.” Occasionally we think that of life like a video game, where we can restart the game every time we made a bad choice. Then what would life be like? Because time will never rewind, every day cannot be recovered, so we must cherish every moment. Respect your parents, care for your lover, and be good to your friends.

4. “Talent is like pregnancy, it takes a long time to show.” People shouldn’t be so opinionated. Earth will continue rotate no matter who is gone. History shows that the most arrogant people don’t have good endings. So, no matter how talented you are, you have to be modest. Gold will shine no matter where it is.

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GoodGuide

Youth Earth Ambassadors
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Lately, it seems as though many everyday items have the words “natural” or “green” slapped on their labels.  But often these are empty words.  Companies do not need to follow any guidelines or rules in order to place these promises on their product labels.  So how do we really know how healthy, green, or ethical our products are?

Dara O’Rourke has provided us with a solution. Her website, http://goodguide.com, provides ratings for products based on three categories: Health, Environment, and Society.  Check it out!

“Me” to “We”- Catching up with Craig Kielburger

lisa aka "Mangomaru"
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“Imagine waking up every morning believing that your actions can make a significant change in the world.”

Craig Kielburger- What's your calling?

I had the privilege of attending a keynote presentation made by the remarkable Craig Kielburger, an award-winning child rights activist. He inspired the University of Calgary students, staff, faculty and the community on how to take action and become global citizens effectively in our changing world. His speech “Me to We: How University Students Can Create Positive Social Change” explored how social change was more than just donating money- it’s a lifestyle.

“The world has never tried hard enough,” Kielburger exclaimed, with a colour graph of Africa on a slideshow, “42 per cent of all the money donated has been to aid, while only two per cent has been used to build schools and houses.” We will go around from store to store to get the best deals, but when are we donating to a charity, do we know where our dollars and cents goes? That most of the money we actually donate to world charities is given to countries in need to pay off the interest of the debt they owe the same first world countries? We can have to reach out and take action, and at the very least, try.

Youth have the power to create change, and they actually have. Kielburger did. At 12 years of age, Kielburger read the front page of a newspaper with the headline, “Battled Child Labour, Boy 12, Murdered!” A boy of 12 years in Pakistan, Iqbal Masih, had been travelling the world in an attempt to reveal the horrors of child labour to the world, having been freed from being enslaved and shackled to a carpet-weaving loom. He was then later shot, rumoured to be by made by members of the carpet industry who threatened to silence the child activist.

"Moving forward, one step at a time."

Kielburger was shocked and bewildered at the world for allowing such cruel and horrifying things to happen to children, especially when they were the same age as he. Even though public speaking was not Kielburger’s forte at the time, he courageously stood up at the front of his classroom and shared with his fellow classmates the plight of child labour. Asking for voices determined to help him fight for the rights of children, and believing they could change the world, Free the Children was born.

Now Free the Children is an international youth empowerment and child rights organization. Free the Children aims to free children from poverty and exploitation – the key being education. Also, Free the Children inspires young people to explore the notion that they can, in fact, affect positive change.

“We all have a calling and we all have a gift,” Kielburger excitedly conveyed to the students, after stating his equation of Spark + Gift = Better World. “Everyone is born with special talents, and it is our responsibility to help find solutions to problems affecting our world.”

With the T-shirt, "Me" to "We"
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Volunteering at the Calgary Public Library

tommy
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Courtesy of the Calgary Public LibraryThere are many libraries spread out across Calgary, and at each of them they offer numerous volunteer opportunities. I have been a part of a few of the libraries volunteer opportunities and was delighted by the time I spent volunteering with the children there. A couple of the programs the public library offers for the youth are Reading Buddies, Computer Buddies, ESL Teen Talk, and CyberSeniors Connect.

Reading Buddies involves interacting with children, encouraging them to read, and supporting strong literacy skills. Being a volunteer, you are required to provide a safe and friendly environment for children to learn and practice their reading skills. Likewise, you must provide a fun learning experience with reading while increasing the childrens’ awareness with the library environment and it’s resources.
Courtesy of Ulpanor
The Computer Buddy program involves interacting with children and teaching them the in and outs of using the computer. A volunteer must have a strong desire to help children as well as having the basic knowledge of technology on hand. You are given the opportunity to teach your mentee how to use Microsoft Office, Excel, and Powerpoint and their various functionalities. You will teach them the safety of being on the internet, while keeping their positive computer interactions intact.

ESL Teen Talk is a program designed for youth in a variety of grades to be in contact with youth that need practice in their spoken English. As a mentor for ESL Teen Talk you must have a positive attitude, and grasp on conversational and written English.

CyberSeniors Connect is a  program made to educate elderly individuals who lack skills with computers. Possible areas that will be covered are how to use Microsoft Office, email, blog and use other social medias. The library looks for volunteers who are reliable, patient, positive and have strong communication skills.

The library offers a wide range of volunteer opportunities and are very flexible in shifts. I have had great experiences being both a Computer and Reading Buddy. I hope that many people take a look at the volunteer opportunites the library has to offer as you are helping your community in so many aspects.

If you would like to fill out a volunteer application form visit this link

Life In North Korea

june
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[youtube rwwyzpEnK0M]

What, like, started it?

Julia
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Truth is, whether you think you’re a linguistics major or a linguistics minor, everyone, whether you notice or not, uses “like” in sentences where you, like, didn’t need to. Hearing yourself say it, you wince and vow against it, yet most people still say it subconsiously like every five minutes! Using “like” as a slang interjection has actually gone on for longer than you would guess.
The1995 movie "Clueless" was also said to have like, started the Valley Girl trend

Lots believe that the 1982 hit song Valley Girl by Moon Unit Zappa set the trend for this way of saying “like”; at one point in the song Zappa sang, “It’s like, barf me out.” The song represents Southern California Valspeak. Could you guess that the slang use of “like” has dated as far back as 1928 in a newspaper cartoon? The first piece of evidence depicts two women. They said, “What’s he got – an awfice?” “No, he’s got like a loft.”

“Like” is an amazingly multipurposeful word. It can be used as  a verb, a noun, an adjective, an adverb, a preposition, an interjection and a conjunction.
Do you, like, think it’s okay to use “like” as a slang word, or do you hate when people use it like that? Leave a comment below!

The Revolution Unfolds

tonny
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The hubbub in Egypt was nothing but an uprising and civil unrest until Feb. 11, when now former president Mubarak left the capital for his resort in Sharm el-Sheik where a transfer of power from the president to the army occurred, and as of Feb. 14 it consolidated its power. The army promises to hold peace talks with Israel and set up liberal elections by dissolving the parliament and suspending the consititution until such an election in six months.

Wait what?

Yes, I understand perfectly that transitioning into democracy takes a bit longer than a night, but the illiberal acts committed by the army echos a gentle reminder that the revolution has just started and we are still on thin ice. With democracy still quite far in the horizon, what happens in the next few months will not only decide the future of Egypt, but also of international relations in the Middle East.

The military’s neutrality during the times of the riots already drew suspicious looks from the world and it was suggested that the military may be doing so to consolidate its own power in Egypt. Though the military is claiming to only hold temporary power until stability is reached, it is not liable to do anything, especially with the constitution suspended. The military could easy impose martial law indefinitely and slip Egypt into another dictatorship, or it can mismanage issues in Egypt leading to instability and future riots.

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Good stuff at Starbucks

chloe
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Do you know that Starbucks is the largest purchaser of Fair Trade Coffee?

Also, every time you buy a coffee at Starbucks, your money goes not only towards your coffee, but also for the children who need school and other good stuff.

So don’t blame your friends too much about drinking Starbucks. They are donating their money to education =)

[youtube 9hapVwQrL38]

Starbucks is really good company, isn’t it?

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