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The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins

william
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Due to the controversial nature of this book, I intend to stay neutral and unbiased. I will review this just like all the other books I’ve reviewed.

Religion vs. Atheism is one of the largest arguments today. Richard Dawkins, world renowned biologist and one of the most famous atheists in the world sets out to disprove God (in general), prove that religion hinders society, and to disprove arguments made by the other side.

When I first started reading this book, I was stunned. I have never seen, heard or read anything where religion was attacked so relentlessly and disrespectfully. Richard constantly insults and speaks down to religion. He also goes around debunking religious beliefs in a very harsh manner.

Each chapter Richard would discuss an aspect of the Religion vs. Atheism argument.  Richard would take a religious claim; explain why it’s illogical using examples, wit, irony and his own logic. He would then disprove the claim with scientific evidence. He would also give real life examples to strengthen his claims.

To my surprise, this book was actually quite interesting. I thought I would have to force myself to finish this book. I mean non-fiction? Yuck! But after Chapter 1, I became fascinated; every few pages I would find myself thinking, “Wow, I’ve never thought of things this way.”

Bottom Line – the way I see it, this book is still just a position paper, a very long, very well written, intelligent, funny and interesting position paper, but still just a position paper. Therefore, this book will only be interesting to those who are already interested in this topic. I would recommend this book to theists and atheists who are interested in this argument, and I give it a 4/5.

Meet Kimberlee Becking, Unexpected Philosopher

lisa aka "Mangomaru"
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Indeed the unexpected philosopher, this down to earth and modest individual houses an old and compassionate soul,  rivaling to that of a Jewish rabbi or Buddhist monk. This tech-savvy youth also has an interesting and philosophical take on life, so read on to find out more about this Pearson graduate, Kimberlee Becking, and her inspirational opinions and advice on self discovery, life and success.

YAA: Please provide a quote; inspirational, happy, doesn’t matter.

Kim: Wer nicht hören will, muß fühlen- Which basically translates to ‘Those who won’t listen must feel.’

YAA: Give an adjective that describes you, followed by a characteristic that describes you.

Kim: Unexpected Philosopher

YAA: Describe your involvement in the community and Pearson.

Kim: I am currently most involved in, mainly the Anime, Manga and the Gaming, Cosplay and the flourishing and fantastic art website, Devainart, community.

YAA: Name any notable achievements or awards you have earned.

Kim: I can’t name any material achievements, as I do not believe they define who I truly am, but its making it this far through life with all the awesome friends I’ve gained, and to be blessed with their smiles and support that they have given me.

YAA:  Describe why you believe you are successful.

Kim: The mere thought that I made it this far and am alive today to meet all the wonderful people that have become connected to me.

YAA:  Describe what inspires you to live your lifestyle and why. How did it get this far?

Kim: It’s how I view the world. Your own opinion of yourself and how you look at life is really the resume to your life. Just being able to see others smile or know that they can turn to me with a kept secret with trust really has kept me going till now.

YAA: Share a favourite memory that was at Pearson.

Kim: My most inspiring moments came from my social 30-1 class and teacher. How he has shared history and events to the class really caught my interest to keep digging within the subject and vast areas of history itself.

YAA: Describe some of your hobbies or what you like to do in your spare time.

Kim: I really enjoy photo shoots, photography, amv’s, and many other aspects branching from it.  I also play both flute and bass, tennis, and I’m very widely versed in all genres videos games.

YAA: Provide some advice about life in general, high school or about discovery of one’s self.

Kim: You can’t start something without that first step. You never know what form that step may take but when you take it will open endless roads on your journey. Look to expect the unexpected; life is unexpected you never know what is next but that’s the beauty of it. Take a risk at something since after all life is made from your choices the worst you can do is nothing.

YAA: What is it that you love about life and why?

Kim: I’m able to live my own life in my way. Life is too short to think about every detail, if you do you’ll never see the bright side to the dark.

YAA: Describe your personality.

Kim: It’s that of a person who is shy, but if you take the chance to look at me again you’ll see I can be rather outgoing and alive. First impressions are something but you can’t judge a person by looks alone.

YAA: What or who is it that motivates you, and why? How did it get you this far?

Kim: There are several people that I can credit to this. Each have motivated me, the real me, in ways I didn’t think would. For the people close to me, they know exactly what to tell me, whether I want to hear it or not, as it’s the truth, and I’d have it no other way.

YAA: Do you believe you are a good role model for other youth? If so, why, and do you believe you affect others in a positive way?

Kim: I believe I am, for the fact that I can relate and listen to other quite well.

YAA: If you could change one thing about the world, what would you change?

Kim: I would like to see an improvement on all forms of discrimination. In my life I know many who are unfairly judged by the norms society places on us.

YAA: If you could relive any part of your life, or a moment, what would it have been and why?

Kim: My childhood. I have lost touch with my child side and how my life was back then; you can look at photos but still have no memory come to you, so id at least like to see how random I was back then.

YAA: What do you hope to gain through your pursuing your passions?

Kim: I want to live my life to its fullest so going after something or someone you love to me is one way to really be alive. Since you gain more then you can lose so even if today was your last day you know you’ll die doing something you love.

YAA: Why do you choose to be who you are?

Kim: I choose to be me because if I was someone else I’m no longer me.  I’m loving my life because it’s mine and it’s different from someone else.

YAA: If there are any questions that I have not asked, but you would like to answer, feel free to! And any last words?

Kim: Always keep looking on the bright side. You may think you have it bad, but everyone has a story. So even when you hit rock bottom, you’ll always rise back up, with the support form the people you had some connection to in life. If you’re ever interested in the anime community of Calgary, drop me a line, and in the great words and song by Journey: Don’t Stop Believin’~

Video of the Day: Baby eats his first pop rock

jen
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[youtube VUe4USuqnBM]

SM TOWN 10 is coming to the States

katty
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Are you a fan of K-pop (Korean pop music)? Exciting news – SM Entertainment Company will have a concert every year that includes all of its singers, and for 2010 they are coming to the United States. I am very excited because this kind of opportunity doesn’t come often, and not only is my favorite group Super Junior coming, other singers will be there as well. It’s going to be a big celebration for foreign fans and the singers. Because SM company only focuses in Asia, it is very hard for fans who are out of Asia to see their idol. Now, foreign fans don’t have to envy fans in Asia anymore because on Saturday Sept. 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, we can finally see our idols. KANGTA, BoA, U KNOW, MAX, SUPER JUNIOR, GIRLS’ GENERATION, SHINee, f(x), Zhang Li Yin, Trax and other SM artists will all come and it will become the biggest music festival ever.

[youtube _6of0n6uNy0]

Welcome to the “text-based” video game ZORK!

lisa aka "Mangomaru"
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Resident Evil,  Call of Duty, Pokémon and Legend of Zelda are some of our generation’s favourite graphic, fantasy-based and realistic video games that stimulate our visual perceptions of our imagination. But what was there before graphic designers, before these visual manifestations of our imagination? Books? Well, sure your imagination certainly creates images, but you don’t necessarily choose if Harry Potter dies or not (if I were cynical, maybe). However, for once I think I would like to be in control of my own adventure, where I’M the HERO, and I’ll be the chosen one. First introduced in the thrilling, spy-based television show series, CHUCK (this television show series definitely appeals to the romantic, thrill and espionage seekers in all of us), and later delved into in my computer science class, is the wonderful world of ZORK! With so many versions of Zork, I’m going to focus on the third edition: Zork III: The Underground Empire.

Zork is an interactive, fantasy-based computer game, set in an expansive and mysterious underground labyrinth, leading into the “Great Underground Empire.” You, the nameless hero, adventure into the depths of this menacing and threatening labyrinth, to finish and return with treasure and glory, defeating this perilous journey’s many challenges and monsters.

A basic and familiar plot for most gamers, what distinguishes Zork in terms of the fantasy genre is the fantastic and pragmatic storytelling, appealing to a player’s five senses and humour, the humorous, and unexpectedly sophisticated, text parser, which surprisingly recognizes complicated commands that involve prepositions and conjunctions.

So how exactly does this interactive computer programming work? A small descriptive paragraph or sentences will appear onto your computer screen, the starting paragraph to always begin:

“West of House                                                                                                                                                    You are standing in an open field west of a white house, with a boarded front door.

There is a small mailbox here.”

The amazing interactive ability you have with Zork is that you can ACTUALLY TYPE IN A COMMAND, and Zork WILL RESPOND BASED ON YOUR ANSWER. Pretty cool, huh?

So basically, you could type in “Open mailbox”, which will give you following response:

>open mailbox                                                                                                                                                              “Opening the small mailbox reveals a leaflet.”

and further interaction would be like this:

>take leaflet     “Taken.”

> read leaflet                                                                                                                                                   “ZORK is a game of adventure, danger, and low cunning. In it you will explore some of themos amazing territory ever seen by mortals. No computer should ever be without one!”

Okay, simple commands and simple descriptions. However, if you continue the fascinating gameplay, and manage to enter the house, an extremely descriptive and option-leaded paragraph appears on the screen.

> enter house                                                                                                                                                 “Kitchen                                                                                                                                                                You are in the kitchen of a white house. A table seems to have been used recently for the preparation of food…A dark chimney leads  down  and to the east is a small window which is open. On the table is a elongated brown sack, smelling of hot peppers. The glass bottle contains:

a quantity of water.”

So many options, leading to so many senarios, equals awesome gameplay.

If you wanna try this game, play here

Wanna try your hand at creating a similar interactive program?

Welcome to the world of C++.

Image Credits:

Resident Evil: http://www.twistysdownload.com/forums/games/76993-resident-evil-5-hotfile.html

Modern Warfare: http://news.softpedia.com/newsImage/Call-of-Duty-Modern-Warfare-Mobilized-Reaches-the-DS-This-Fall-2.png/

Legend of Zelda: http://wallpapers.pixxp.com/18__The_Legend_of_Zelda_Twilight_Princess.htm

Pokemon: http://www.bitmob.com/mobfeed?tag=pokemon-heart-goldsoul-silver

Zork II: http://struckus.tripod.com/Legacy_of_zork.htm

West of House display: http://www.myabandonware.com/game/zork-the-great-underground-empire-1j

Grue display: http://www.redbubble.com/search/infocom

Zork Nemesis: http://www.vaxdungeon.com/zork.asp

Trip to Vancouver in Photos – Day 1

Cindy
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The first day of our trip.

We drove past Banff under the cloudy sky.

Then there was sunshine, chasing away all the greyness above us.

We saw the Pacific Rail Way, which is one of the most important transportation railway systems in North America.

After six hours of driving, we finally arrived our first destination, Kamloops, B.C.

This was where we spent the night.

Best Pages to Follow on Facebook

jen
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FacebookWant to be in the know? It’s easier than ever with Facebook, which has evolved into a great social media tool for businesses to share fantastic deals for shops, restaurants, events and more.  We also like Facebook because we can discover local, national and international new projects and innovative ideas.

Here’s our list of the 10 best Calgary pages to “like” on Facebook.

365 Things to Do In Calgary

Fans: 16,170

Why we like them: They post a list of awesome things to do in the city, suggesting activities, shopping, dining and more.

Most recent status update: #10: Stroll through a bit of nature and some great exhibits at the Calgary Zoo! This zoo features an absolutely amazing dinosaurs exhibit as well as six acres of botanical gardens! Stop by and have an adventure! If you go Sundays they have a Safari Brunch as well! What’s your favorite part about the zoo?

Calgary Flight Deals and Travel Specials

Fans: 1,212

Why we like them: We love to travel and this page posts tons of great deals for many airlines and holiday packages.

Most recent status update: Calgary to Chicago – $400 roundtrip after tax in October/November. http://www.ycheap.com/forums/topic/2929-calgary-to-chicago-400-roundtrip-after-tax/

Calgary Inter-faith Food Bank

Fans: 623

Why we like them: They’re a great cause and have put together an equally great Facebook page. Find contest and event information, plus pictures, videos and more.

Most recent status update: Follow us on Twitter for your chance to win a pair of tickets to this Saturday’s CFL game, Winnipeg Blue Bombers vs the Calgary Stampeders! http://www.twitter.com/calgaryfoodbank

Calgary Public Library

Fans: 1,824

Why we like them: The Calgary Public Library’s page is thorough and informative. They post photos, event information and fun facts about the library.

Most recent status update: More people visit the Calgary Public Library each year than attend the zoo, all museums, Heritage Park, Fort Calgary, all theatre performances, Spruce Meadows, all music concerts, the Calgary Stampede, and all professional hockey, football, baseball and soccer games combined!

The Calgary Zoo

Fans: 1,257

Why we like them: The zoo shares information about their animals and events through their Facebook page. It’s also a good way to ask questions and get more information about the zoo’s mandate.

Most recent status update: Check out Safari Sunday Brunch at the zoo for one of the best brunch deals in town! Brunch AND the zoo for one price before noon!

Chinook Centre

Fans: 1,022

Why we like them: With Chinook Centre’s ongoing expansion, this is a very exciting page to follow. We only knew that there’s going to be an Urban Outfitters and an Anthropologie in November because of this page.

Most recent status update: Have you started following Chinook Centre on Twitter yet? The 50 Days of Giveaways is underway and the prizes keep getting bigger and better! A little birdie told me when we reach 1000 there will be a BONUS prize…

Metro Calgary

Fans: 640

Why we like them: Metro Calgary consistently updates their page, giving us quick news headlines without bombarding us with too much information.

Most recent status update: It’s not just smog and haze – a reported 700 people are dying a day in Moscow as wildfire and a heat wave plague the area.

Telus World of Science – Calgary

Fans: 3,270

Why we like them: The Telus World of Science utilizes Facebook to its fullest extent. They have polls, pictures, links to news articles, event listings, hours and more.

Most recent status update: BODY WORLDS & The Brain is entering its final weeks… The exhibit closes on Monday, September 6th. If you are planning on seeing it, see it soon. The last week will be extremely busy!

Youth Are Awesome

Fans: 339

Why we like them: It’s us! On our Facebook page, you’ll find links to current blogs plus discussions on all things youth and Calgary.

Most recent status update: What’s the best way to spend a summer weekend in Calgary? Leave a comment!

Youth Central

Fans: 37 (but it’s new)

Why we like them: Youth Central’s mission is to inspire, engage and celebrate youth through community participation. The Facebook page, while it is new, is a great way to find information on current volunteer projects and photos from past events.

Most recent status update: We’re currently recruiting volunteers for Shakespeare in the Park, the Between Friends Club and more! Check out http://www.cyfc.ca/involve/projects.aspx to get involved.

Video of the Day: Chimpanzee Problem Solving

jen
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[youtube ySMh1mBi3cI]

More about cabbages

admin
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Summer is the best time of year to fly off the rails a little. It’s so much less grounded than the other eight months of the year that the opportunity should not be lost.

I started my summer in an airport. I was traveling home to Calgary. I love airports, unlike most people I tend to be really relaxed waiting at the gate. Also, nine times out of 10 I fly alone so I like to take advantage of the time to myself. I wrote a list of things I wanted to do and accomplish on my baggage receipt paper, some things were even highlighted. Now that I think about it, I also stole a pen that day, whoops.

I lost that paper and pen a few hours after my flight and had forgotten about it until now. I think the list was suppose to focus on ways to be independent this summer, such as getting my driver’s license. After living away from home for so many months the hardest part of coming back is fitting in with the person I was in high school to the very different person I am now. Problem is, it’s not just me that changes during that time… everyone and everything else is completely new too.

The best advice I was given was two years ago, before I left Calgary for the first time. It was to make the most of the time I had left here because nothing would ever be the same again. It’s one of those things I’ve just carried with me, and luckily… I like things a lot better now.

Since my time at the airport, my summer has had a different mood on a daily basis, some days I just want to have fun, other times I want to try new things… in-between those points, I’m not thinking about “summer” at all, just life. Going to the Greek Festival, Turkish Festival and endless pancake breakfasts during Stampede were definitely my “have fun” and “try new things” moods. Those were pretty cool days. Oh, so were working at the Sun & Salsa Fest and Heritage Day.

On the simpler side of things, I learned how to drink a hot chocolate and drive at the same time last week, and I am definitely adding this to my list of accomplishments for the season. It’s definitely right up there next to actually getting my driver’s license.

After that I flew to Whitehorse to visit one of my best friends who is working there for the summer. I’m going to get my nose pierced next (not kidding). This is what I meant when I mentioned flying off the rails a little, doing things you don’t usually do. They don’t have to be this drastic, just so long as they matter to you. The point is to fill up the summer with new experiences and awesome stories to share in the fall. I have full month of movie/lunch dates, road trips and more time with friends planned out to enjoy this last month of summer. =)

My friend Mel and I on a boat in Whitehorse

Ashley Kirilow Hoax

jen
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Back in November, one of our youth bloggers wrote about Ashley Kirilow, the 23-year-old founder of Change for a Cure. She claimed to have cancer and was soliciting money for her charity. It has recently come to our attention that Kirilow allegedly lied about having cancer and that her charity was a hoax. For more information, check out The Star‘s story on Kirilow.

Initially, we found her story very inspiring. We have debated removing the post but have decided to leave it up as an example of what not to do, and promote that youth can accomplish great things – but only if they have good intentions. Youth Are Awesome does not support this behaviour, nor do we condone it.

We support youth that are doing good things with good intentions.

Faking a cause hurts people. There are plenty of organizations in Calgary that are doing wonderful things for good causes. Check out:

Urban Youth Worx

Spread the Love

Inn From the Cold


Weekend Preview

jen
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Welcome to my weekend preview! Look for this blog every Friday, when I’ll be posting a handful of events going on over the weekend. Without further ado, here are my picks.

Starts Saturday Milky Way Nights

Observe the Milky Way next to the University of Calgary’s research scientists at the Rothney Observatory from Saturday until Wednesday, August 11. Throughout this moonless week in August, the darkness provides optimal deep sky viewing of faint, distant objects.  Gates open from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., and the entrance fee is a donation to the U of C’s education programs. Check http://www.ucalgary.ca/rao/ after 6 p.m. to ensure skies are clear for observing.

Backstreet Boys

Sunday Backstreet’s back… again

Okay, perhaps you’re too young to love the Backstreet Boys, but all the ‘90s kids get a little flutter in their stomachs when they hear Backstreet’s back “all right!” Check Ticketmaster for tickets, $50.75 – $87.25.

Sunday Mardi Gras Street Festival

You don’t have to jump on a plane to head to Mardi Gras this weekend, as the community of Marda Loop is bringing New Orleans to you! Experience the culture, cuisine and music from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. along 33 and 34 Avenues SW and between 21 and 19 St SW. There will be street performances, entertainment stages and over 150 vendors.

Bored? Try having a bonfire!

zeeyaan
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At camp, a couple of friends and I bought some marshmallows and graham crackers and had a bonfire. Not only are bonfires a fun way to hang out with your friends, but also require a minimum amount of preparation. Take a look below to see my steps to having a great bonfire!

1) Gather some friends – there isn’t a better way to spend a summer evening than roasting marshmallows and it’s definitely more fun when you share that time with the people you have the most fun with.
2) Make a trip to the grocery store – buy some marshmallows, graham crackers, Nutella (for those of you who are not allergic to peanuts) and roasting sticks. Feel free to add in anything else you may want.
3) Find a spot – whether you have a bonfire pit or are making one, a place for your bonfire is what makes it a bonfire! Click here for some advice on how to make a bonfire.
4) Roast your marshmallows – eat your graham crackers and have fun!
5) Put it out when you’re done – make you put out your fire when you’re done.

Just like that, you have another fun and easy summer event to put on. Have you ever had a bonfire before? Do you think they are fun? Comment and let me know!

Video of the Day: Epic “Wipeout” Scream

jen
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[youtube 3fjYY3oGurM]

WFW (GMH) Update!

eva
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I do quite enjoy acronyms, heh. But hey, do you remember WFW? Alice and I’s Warm Fuzzy Websites (short) saga? ; ) Awesome, now keep remembering…does GMH ring a bell? GivesMeHope was the first of four websites we introduced!

Anyways, I have exciting news to pass along. This fall, you can physically hold some of the GivesMeHope stories in your hands.

GMH Cover

Mmhmm, that’s right, GMH is releasing a book!!! I am so excited. ♥ It will be published by Ulysses Press some time in late fall of this year.

“GivesMeHope: The 127 Most Inspiring Bite-Sized Stories” is a combination of old favorites from the website and brand new, never-before-seen stories – all told artfully through the use of powerful, full-color imagery.”

Curious about this imagery? Check out some samples of them on the photos tab on their Facebook page.

Want something more interesting? You can get printed! If you write on their wall the name of the person who gives you hope, they will print your name along with their name in the book!

But just to make it clear, you’re asked to limit the name to 20 characters. Both your partial names (first name and first letter of last name, if included) will be printed. =]

Now what are you waiting for? Go and let the world know who deserves some recognition! =]

5th Annual Bridges of Hope Refugee Camp Simulation

admin
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This came by our desk today, it sounds like an amazing and informative event:

5th Annual Bridges of Hope Refugee Camp Simulation

When & Where: Saturday, August 7th and Sunday, August 8th
11:00 am – 6:00 pm

Eau Claire Festival Market
200 Barclay Parade SW
Calgary, AB

The fifth annual interagency Bridges of Hope event offers Calgarians a chance to step inside the life of an average refugee. This simulation promotes awareness and understanding of the 42 million people worldwide that have been displaced by conflict and to celebrate the achievement of Calgary’s own refugee population.

Hosted by The Canadian Red Cross, Calgary Catholic Immigration Society, Immigrant Services Calgary, Mennonite Centre Committee and Calgary YMCA, this event is a citizen-driven initiative that helps us understand and appreciate the challenges that face refugees world wide. Designed to raise awareness at the local level, the simulation also serves to inspire creative and effective action in the fight against refugee issues.

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