Gauntlet - About: Nicole Dionne

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Spun: Broken Social Scene
2010-05-20 - Nicole Dionne

Spun - Broken Social Scene is a super group composed of many artists with notable individual sound and skill which enable the group to make each song distinguishable from the next. Trying to describe the sound of their music is like trying to decide what one colour best represents Avengers' costumes.

Their fourth album, Forgiveness Rock Record, is no different. It demonstrates the mastery they have over their distinctive collective niche. Each song bestows such an elaborate and unique feeling that you're likely to get auditory whiplash if you try to anticipate what the next song will bring.
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Graphic exhibit with nothing to hide
Donors' bodies preserved through process of plastination
2010-05-13 - Nicole Dionne, Gauntlet Entertainment

Standing in a dimly lit room, surrounded by the dissected remains of humans sounds like something out of a horror movie and the last way you'd want to spend your afternoon. However, Calgary's Telus World of Science is hosting a world-class exhibit that will make you reconsider that. Body Worlds and the Brain, which opened April 30, is a travelling exhibition that has drawn large crowds around the globe.

Using the revolutionary technique of plastination developed by Gunther von Hagens, the exhibition blends anatomy, physiology and art to elicit a quiet reverence and respect for the human form.
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International conference comes to Calgary
2010-02-11 - Nicole Dionne, Gauntlet News

In a vibrant metropolis like Calgary there are more than a few ideas worth spreading, and a local conference with international roots is planning to make exactly that happen. TED, a non-profit organization which started as a conference bringing visionaries from the fields of technology, entertainment and design, is helping communities organize their own independent conferences. Calgary will host TEDxYYC February 26, 2010.

"We love the TED program and we think that bringing it to Calgary would be a good idea," said Alex Middleton, a co-chair of the event's organizing committee.
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TED breaks ground in Calgary
2009-12-03 - Nicole Dionne, Gauntlet News

Briefs - In 1984, a conference was held bringing together great thinkers from the areas of technology, entertainment and design to talk about their work.

Since then TED has become a nonprofit organization with the goal of giving a stage to "ideas worth spreading."
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The use of complementary and alternative medicine is an increasingly popular, but dangerous trend
2009-12-03 - Nicole Dionne, Gauntlet Features

Alternative medicine consists of products or treatments used for health benefits, but is not always evidence-based. It is often based on cultural and traditional health practices or more recent disproved theories that have remained popular within certain fringe groups. Common types include homeopathy, acupuncture, herbalism and bio-identical hormone therapy.

Generally speaking, complimentary medicine is less regulated, or self-regulated, and should be required to meet the same standards as conventional medicine. Despite little evidence for alternative medicine, public support is growing.
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Spun: The Decemberists
The Hazards of Love
2009-04-09 - Nicole Dionne

Spun - The Hazards of Love is a unique album in both its composition and lyrics. Like predecessor The Crane Wife, the album tells a story reminiscent of something you might hear from a bard while drinking mead at a medieval tavern -- if it was equipped with electric guitars.

The Hazards of Love is the story of two lovers, Margaret (voiced by folk luminary Becky Stark of Lavender Diamond) and William (Decemberists lead singer Colin Meloy). Margaret finds herself pregnant and enters the forest near her city to find William, a shape-shifter who dwells there. The Forest Queen, William's adoptive mother (voiced by Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond) becomes jealous and takes it upon herself to oppose their love. A wicked and murderous villain also gets involved and threatens the couple's happiness.
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As spring comes, so does Wintersleep
2009-03-26 - Nicole Dionne, Gauntlet Entertainment

music - Despite the dreary weather, Wintersleep has opted out of hibernation and has instead been hitting the road. The band has been touring relentlessly to promote the U.K. release of their third album Welcome to the Night Sky.

Though touring has helped the group gain more exposure and bond, vocalist/guitarist Paul Murphy still feels the pull of home.
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Beer, sex and . . . bugs?
2009-02-12 - Nicole Dionne, Gauntlet News

Speakers and Lectures - Nestled in the industrial section of southeast Calgary is a rather conspicuous building that looks much more like a country house than a manufacturing plant or a distributor.

Inside, a group of people get together -- some are new, but most are regulars.
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Gaiman novella fails to translate to big screen
2009-02-05 - Nicole Dionne, Gauntlet Entertainment

movies - Henry Selick's Coraline has all the elements it needs to be a classic, but falls disappointingly short. The film is the first stop-motion animation to be shot stereoscopically and presented in 3D. As you would expect from the director of The Nightmare Before Christmas, this element of production is used to its full creative potential, resulting in an enigmatic and fanciful handcrafted world. Unfortunately, the screenplay is not shaped by the same creative vigour as the visual aspects of the movie.

Based on Neil Gaiman's international best-selling novella of the same name, the movie Coraline is a comparatively watered down and juvenile account of the story of Coraline Jones (voiced by Dakota Fanning), your typical recently-relocated and mildly-spoilt middle class girl. Her mother (Teri Hatcher) and father (John Hodgman) are a bit preoccupied with an important business project and much to Coraline's dissatisfaction, they ask her to entertain herself. The young protagonist explores the grounds of her new home and meets the other tenants of Pink Palace Apartments. Living downstairs are Miss Spink (Jennifer Saunders) and Miss Forcible (Dawn French), two aging former actresses who have an impressive collection of Scottie dogs. Upstairs, a seemingly insane man named Mr. Bobinski (Ian McShane) tells Coraline he's training his circus mice to play music. Much to Coraline's displeasure, Wybie (voiced by Robert Bailey Jr. and a character unique to the movie), the well-meaning but obnoxious grandson of the land lady seems to want to be her friend. Finally, there is a mysterious locked door that reveals a parallel reality. Here, another set of parents and neighbours, each fitted with buttons for eyes, dwell and cater to Coraline's every whim. The gravy train comes to an abrupt stop when the "other mother'' asks to sew buttons onto Coraline's eyes and it becomes apparent that she's some sort of psycho-witch-spider hybrid with a twisted maternal complex.
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Recession leads to campus job losses
Six SU employees told to go home after concerts stop bringing in the dough
2009-01-29 - Nicole Dionne, Gauntlet News

Students' Union - It was a hard goodbye for six Students' Union staff who won't be coming back anytime soon.

An event operations supervisor, two Den and Black Lounge managers, a kitchen staff member, the Student Union Volunteer Services manager and a loading dock shipper/receiver were let go recently.
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