If you’ve ever walked down 14th Street in the southwest of Calgary, you’ve probably seen the ghost of the old Comrad Sound building. What used to be the Commercial Radio Sound building was for a brief time the most interesting all-ages venue in the city. Seeing it the other day reminded me of an Old Ugly rap show I saw there. Fortunately, I wrote the details of the evening down.
EDIT: As of April 15, 2011, Tubby Dog is open and slinging hot dogs again.
It’s a sad day in the city of Calgary as the local hot dog institution Tubby Dog appears to be closed for an indeterminate time, depriving hipsters and bar hoppers of tasty hot dogs with unusual toppings. According to the sign on their front window and their Facebook page, it sounds like their water is cut off and they can’t get anyone at the city to tell them when it’s getting turned back on (or even just pick up the phone).
The Grape Escape has made yet another visit to the city of Calgary, where a $50 dollar ticket gets you access to two halls in the BMO Centre full of liquor distributors all trying to win mind share through free drink samples.
“Free samples?,” you’re thinking. “Why would you pay $50 to get free samples?” It’s a matter of scale - over 100 tables, all with several kinds of alcohol to give away.
When I started this blog several years ago, my life was pretty aimless. I had moved to Calgary for the worst reasons, I didn’t have a job, and I had no ambition beyond getting to the next day. Things have improved drastically over the years, and my life seems to be heading towards its apex. Looking at my bucket list, I’ve managed to accomplish a great deal of the things I’ve wanted to do since making it.
Ever find yourself sitting on the couch and feeling totally lost? You know there are things to do, places to be, but there you are, on the couch. It’s so easy to lose track of what it is you want to do with your life. We’ve all had that moment where we’ve had to ask what am I doing?
Most people will go through their days with only the loosest of ideas what they want to do with their life.
The air was pounded out of my lungs as I was thrown to the concrete floor, which was covered by a thin blue mat. The man who had done the throwing proceeded to choke me out, and I could only feebly tap out. The jiu jitsu instructor had undoubtedly proven how effective his martial art technique was against tall, lanky men with bad balance. As I struggled to get off the floor, my friends talked with the instructor, who was positively beaming after another victory.
UPDATE: The Roughnecks have been saved by the organization that runs the Calgary Flames. Looking forward to the next season!
They say the swan sings its sweetest just before its death. The Calgary Roughnecks, the city’s National Lacrosse League team, is closing up shop after 10 years due to lack of funds. They’ve been unsuccessful getting a large advertiser or a partner, and so the team, with 2 championships in 7 years, is going out swinging.
My friend Heidi sent me a link to a writing assignment where you describe the feeling of being trapped in 300 words or less. This is my attempt at the assignment.
He forgets the chain of events that led him here, but it doesn’t matter now. He is inside a large white room, and looking up, he can only see fluorescent lights hanging above, no ceiling that he can see. The floors are industrial grey berber carpet, the walls whitewashed cinderblock, and a faint smell of formaldehyde hangs in the room.
Update - the survey has finished. Thanks to all who participated!
Since becoming president of the Calgary Linux User Group, I’ve wondered what makes for a successful Linux user group. I’ve made a survey for Linux User Group members across North America. I would like to get the pulse of different groups and see what’s working so that all LUG’s can improve the experience. This data will be published on the Calgary Linux User Group website on August, 2011.
Tannis and I felt we needed a full day of relaxation, so as our Christmas present we went to Calgary’s Fairmont Palliser, a swanky hotel in the downtown. Our expectations of the place paled in comparison to the real thing - it’s a real class act.
We got a suite with an adjoining sitting room and a king size bed. With the exception of the flat screen TV’s and the digital clock, it looked like an upscale 1920’s room.