April 2007
You are currently browsing the articles from Review and Things written in the month of April 2007.
I was in the market for a couple of running shoes, and because I never really ran before, a friend of ours told us that we should go to the Running Room.
So we decided to visit the Running Room closest to us, the one in Crowfoot Village here in Calgary.It was a busy Sunday afternoon and there were only two store associates on shift. That said, I was impressed with how the two ladies were able to help all their customers at the same time and still give each customer the right advice and time they needed.
As you may already know from reading my other reviews, I am a bit picky 
and this time was no different. Because I have a bad ankle, I’ve always been happy with the Nike air cushioning principle, but because the Nike models in this store didn’t feel right or were not in the right size, I needed to have a broader look. I was kinda happy with an Asics shoe but still not sure. The lady associate offered to check if other Running Room locations had different Nike models in stock in my size. They didn’t, so she advised me to go to the competition on the other side of the street (just because we wanted to start running today).
That store didn’t give any real service, but I finally got my hands on the Nike model I wanted to try and it was not what I wanted.
For me that meant going back to the Running Room. After all that, I ended up with a nice pair of Asics shoes and will start running later today.
I would say to the girl who helped me, thanks for all the help and good luck with the pregnancy.
For all of you out there who need some new running gear, go check out the Running Room. The one I like is:
Running Room Crowfoot Village
20 Crowfoot Crescent, NW, Calgary, AB T3G 2P6p>
Written by George on April 30th, 2007 with no comments.
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Yesterday evening around 7 I walked in to Rona in Calgary (90 Crowfoot Way NW) looking for a power tool 
Ok finding the power tool section is not hard but then……. you need some advice to what you need. And that is where it all starts where is all the personnel??????
I see one but that is the one kid that is doing the till (yes only one till is open with a huge line behind it).
hmmmm. after walking through the store i finally find somebody that seems to work there, but of course he doesn’t know about power tools but he will page one for me.
Unfortunately nobody with knowledge shows up. But there is another Rona person walking in the power tools section. So i asked him for advices. We talk for 5 minutes or so and my final conclusion was that he also didn’t know what i needed 
so i went with the product that I thought was the right one.
Rona I really like your stores and the products you carry. I could go to Home Depot that is much closer to my house but they never seem to have what I need. But please try to get some staffing in on the busy hours of the day and maybe train a couple more for power tools so that people like me don’t have to buy the wrong product (I bought the right one) there where at least 5 more people in the power tool section looking for help when i was there.
Written by George on April 25th, 2007 with no comments.
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This movie by Deepa Mehta is going to be known and watched for a long time. Its a very simple, and subtle movie, yet with a powerful thread throughout.
The story is set in the 1930’s in Varanasi in India, when Mahatma Gandhi was was imprisoned by the British who didnt want to free India. The plot revolves around a little girl named Chuhiya who becomes a widow at age 7 and is dumped in an Ashram-a refuge for widowed women by her family (touching on issues such as child marriage). There, as Chuhiya copes and learns to survive, she befriends a young widow named Kalyani (Lisa Ray). Kalyani falls in love with a young man Narayan (John Abraham) who hails from an influencial family in the village. Everyone is opposed to this love affair, and the plot thickens. I highly recommend this movie, the characters will touch your heart and the injustice and helplessness present throughout will make your soul weep.
Written by Smriti on April 16th, 2007 with no comments.
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Last Saturday was a beautiful day in Calgary so after a long walk in downtown Calgary we where ready for some food.
The Barley Mill in next to the Eau Claire market was the perfect spot. They have a nice terrace outside so that you can enjoy the weather and the view.
As you may have guest is the Location of the Barley Mill perfect the building is also not of those typical restaurants. Barley Mill seems to be an “old” building and that gives it a curtain extra.
I ordered the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich with fries and my wife ordered the Salmon Burger with a fruit salad. It took a while before the food came but it looked very nice. But then it started. The fruit Salad was OLD and therefore didn’t taste right. After a quick complained about it the fruit salad was quickly replaced with a normal salad.
The rest of the food tasted good BUT didn’t treat us right either. Till now (Monday morning) i still suffer from stomach pains and the diarrhea is just done My wife had a bit more luck but also her food didn’t go down well.
After visiting the toilet and seeing that they sell Tums in the condom machine there i should have got the hint.
So my advise is if you want a nice terrace to sit on go to the Barley Mill but stay away from the food!!!
Barley Mill
201 Barclay Parade SW
Calgary
www.Barleymill.net
Written by George on April 16th, 2007 with 2 comments.
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Remember our post about the Sandisk Sansa 8.0gb MP3 player?
The MP3 player got damaged ok it was our mistake we droped something on it and the casing cracked
But then we contacted the insurance and it was not covered but ok I called Sandisk and asked what it would cost to get a new housing and they said that they don’t have it and that they don’t have spare parts. So i asked him what to do and there answer was short and simple “buy a new one” but this mp3 player was just a little bit older then 1 month and it still worked fine.
After not being very impressed with the way Sandisk helped us i wrote the head office of Sandisk a letter (a real paper letter) and that is almost 2.5 months ago. And they didn’t have the decency to even reply to it.
To me a long time Sandisk customer this means that this of course was the last time i ever bought something with the Sandisk name on it and i would advice you all to do the same. If customers are this important to you then i guess you don’t need us at all.
So if i was you all i would say first look for another brand and if there is no other option………
Written by George on April 13th, 2007 with 2 comments.
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I was used to painting my Easter eggs but this year we did it a little bit different.
At our local dollar store they sold Egg Wraps from Twin Seven. These wraps have nice Easter prints on them and are easy to get on the egg.
We used them on Boiled eggs and didn’t try it any other way.
We boiled the eggs and let them cool down a bit. The you put the wrap over the egg (like a shell) and then you need to put the egg in boiling water, they say for 3 seconds but you can immediately see it work and i guess that we didn’t put the egg in the water for more then a second.
When the wrap comes in contact to the hot water it shrinks and becomes a tight shell around the egg. And that means that now your egg is decorated and ready for you Easter breakfast
One piece of advice let the eggs cool down a bit other wise it could happen that your wrap doesn’t fit over the egg.
Written by George on April 10th, 2007 with no comments.
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Did you know that your Gasoline gulping lawnmower is Mega BAD for the environment?
1 hour of using your lawnmower creates as much air pollution as driving you car for 1300 km.
Maybe think about one of those old fashion hand mowers. It is a lot better for you (extra exercise) and much much better for the environment.
Written by George on April 9th, 2007 with no comments.
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The new Mira Nair movie Namesake, was simply great. Its a very well made movie, with a simple theme, and simple story. I really enjoyed the way it was projected, it was not spoon fed, and left the viewer with space for their own thoughts.
Its a story set in New York, where a young Bengali couple from Calcutta have moved and decided to live. As time goes on, they have a couple of kids, and their son “Gogol” especially hates his name, and wants to change it. However after hearing from his father why he was given that name, he has many doubts.
For anyone who has moved to another country and has tried to fit in, yet keep up with their own culture, this movie will hit home; otherwise, anyone who has had any kind of relationship with their parents will also strike a chord with characters in this movie.
If you can wait, I would recommend you rent this movie, the movie theater doesnt add any special effects, oh yeah and bring lots of “kleenex”.
Written by Smriti on April 3rd, 2007 with 1 comment.
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“Why we want you to be Rich” is the newest book from Donald Trump and Rober Kiyosaki and I have to say it is not there best book.
I really like both authors a lot and I have several books from them and read even more but this one is not their best work.
To me it seems like they talk about everything they already told us in other books. OK maybe there is nothing more to say but still try to make it a bit more original i would say.
I would advise you not to buy this book if you already have read some of Donald’s and Roberts books if not then this book could be nice to read.
Another thing is that the book is build that first Robert Kiyosaki and then Donald Trump tell there opinion on a subject and that doesn’t read that well.
My conclusion is it is a nice looking book that doesn’t hold to much new information.
Check out Why We Want You to be Rich at Amazon and see what other think.
Written by George on April 2nd, 2007 with no comments.
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We went to see a Movie in the movie Theater in Eau Claire Market in Calgary. It is situated in Downtown Calgary and still has good and affordable parking.
And the Eau Claire Theater is the cheapest in Calgary.
This Cineplex Movie Theater is a smaller then most of the other theaters in town it only has 6 theaters and they are a bit smaller to.
The nice thing is that it is downtown.
The downside of this theater is the smaller setting and this means less leg room and another bad thing we found where the cup holders, they are place on an angel on the chair in front of you. So i you are unlucky (like us) you drink will start leaking out before you can even start drinking it.
And then I have to say that i was VERY disappointed with the food sales. first of all they don’t have much and second and more importantly the personal is not very useful.
I was helped by a young lady called “Thiera” and she was so busy talking to her co workers that she forgot half of our order. So my advise to you Thierra is focus on one thing at a time, you can focus on your coworker or your customer but not really two at a time.
Conclusion:
The Eau Claire Market Cineplex Odeon movie theater is nice and in downtown Calgary. It is not my first choice of theaters in Calgary but still nice enough to go for a quick movie. My advise bring you own drink and food it will be a lot cheaper and the service will be better to
Written by George on April 1st, 2007 with 1 comment.
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