Partial Eclipse of the Capital

 You can probably hear Bonnie Tyler’s 1983 hit “Total Eclipse of the Heart” on a radio station somewhere on the planet at least once a day but today’s total solar eclipse is a much rarer event (at least in our neck of the orb). It’s a fair bet that most

Volvo V60 is a Wagon for the Driving Enthusiast

 It appears we’ve forgotten how to travel lightly. I have nothing against SUVs and crossovers, but with nearly two-thirds of today’s vehicle purchases being some form of truck, it begs the question: do most of us really need this much vehicle? I’m not sure how many hockey bags today’s smallish

Five of the Most Innovative Engagement Shoot Ideas

 Getting engaged is a very important step in a couple’s relationship. Usually, the engagement period gives a couple time to plan their future together, iron out any major disagreements and discuss dreams and hopes. It offers them a chance to get to know one another even more and marks an

Boobyball Giveaway: 2 Tickets to Canada’s most out-of-this-world fundraiser

 The final countdown is on for Ottawa’s first Boobyball fundraiser in support of Rethink Breast Cancer. This years event, Planet Booby, is one of the most coveted and high profile fundraising events and will take over Ottawa on Friday, November 13th beginning at 8PM. Fashion Editor, Alexandra Gunn has tickets

Arthaus – Ottawa’s Uber-Cool Condo Project

 The condo building topping off the future Ottawa Art Gallery and Groupe Germain hotel will be named ‘Arthaus,’ the building’s developers announced October 2. The new structure will stand just beside the old arts court, on the corner of Daly Avenue and Waller Street, and should offer nearly 100 condos beginning at

From Dreary to Dramatic

 The mission: Transform a fully accessible kitchen and bathroom. The results are improvements to both form and functionality. A call to action put forth by the Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation was presented to local contractors to update an older apartment unit located in the Byward Market area. The goal was to

Astounding Soundwaves

 Above: An example of how sound waves expand from a central point. Photo credit. Sound is something most people experience almost every minute of every day, and so it is easy to take for granted. However, even something as simple as sound can be used to create powerful tools when

A Guide to Feng Shui in Your Office

 Photo courtesy of Bri Anderson-Jackson When Jana Mitchell, CEO of Wheels for the Wise, wanted to revamp her office space, she went to Brandelyn Cameron. Below Brandelyn discusses the inspiration behind the plan. Feng Shui is the ancient art of channeling energy flow, or Chi, in a room or space

Ontario’s Newest Folk Star

 Fiddler, singer, and step dancer April Verch is emerging into Ontario’s music spotlight! Recognized for her blissful voice, lively dancing and striking performances, her upcoming appearance at the National Arts Centre (NAC) is not one to miss! With impressive reviews coming from newspapers like the Huffington Post and Toronto Star, there

Building Outside the Box

 After hours of walking through the furniture store, picking out pieces you like, loading them into your car and heaving them into your house, would you say you are excited about following the directions and building your new desk/closet/shelving unit? Julian of Outside the Box Thank goodness Outside the Box

BBQ Buying Tips from Weber

 When the sun is shining on a hot summer day, what could be better than a BBQ with friends and family? To please a crowd of BBQ-lovers, you need a grill that works for you, not against you. Grills are not complex machines, but understanding the basics of grill construction

3D Printing the Future

 Photo credit: www.decisionsdurables.com It has been over a year since I talked about 3D printers on this blog, but the innovators who are focusing on this technology have been far from idle. Progress is constantly being made in this field and some recent headlines have perfectly highlighted some of the

Drab to Fab–Six Easy Steps

 1. Select a Monochromatic Colour Scheme  Select a light, monochromatic colour scheme of cool hues. It will make the space appear more expansive while incorporating an element of serenity. Painting everything a unifying colour will make the space visually expand. This reduces the number of transitions, creating a more expansive feel

The DIY Backsplash

 There are several affordable ways you can incorporate some design wow into your interior space. One of those ways is with the kitchen backsplash. Not only will this protect your walls and add visual appeal, but it will also add architectural depth to the space. I still remember the completion

DesignerDIY: Spotlight on Scandinavian Style

 Understanding the key elements of the style being contemplated for any space are just as important as the final selections for that space.  Over the next several weeks, we are going to feature the 9 distinct themes that Bouclair’s newest collection {Atelier Bouclair} boasts.  These styles include Scandinavian, Industrial Chic,

Putting the “Science” in “Science Fiction” – Kang the Conqueror

  Kang the Conqueror is a character from the Marvel Comics universe who hails from the 30th century. He is a genius with machinery and military tactics, and has access to the most advanced military technology that his age offers. Of all the devices at Kang's disposal, perhaps the most impressive

Putting the “Science” in “Science Fiction”: The Stargate

 In my last blog, I discussed the ideas of teleportation, and some of the issues that are preventing that much desired technology from becoming feasible. Although there are many hurdles that would need to be overcome before teleportation becomes possible, if it ever does, science fiction offers another idea of

Putting the "Science" in "Science Fiction" – Space Travel 4: Artificial Gravity

 Science fiction is so filled with starship crews walking and running around their vessels… it is easy to forget that in reality astronauts spend their time in space weightless. Although floating around inside a spacecraft may be enjoyable, long-term weightlessness has many negative effects on human health. Long periods of

Putting the “Science” in “Science Fiction” – Space Travel 3: Other Potential Engines

 In the previous two blogs in this series, I examined ion engines and plasma engines – two technologies that have a great deal of potential for powering the spacecraft of the future. Although these two engine types attract a great deal of attention and research, a wide range of other

Putting the “Science” in “Science Fiction” – Space Travel 2: Plasma Engine

 In my previous blog, I wrote about the ion engine, one of the main avenues of research into alternative methods of space flight. There has been a great deal of research into ion engines, but scientists are examining other technologies that would allow “warp drive” interplanetary and interstellar travel. One

Putting the “Science” in “Science Fiction” – Space Travel 1: Ion Engine

 Science fiction is filled with high-tech spacecraft that soar through space and battle each other at high speeds. The advanced engines used in science-fiction allow these spaceships to maneuver like modern aircraft in space, changing direction quickly and even performing complex combat maneuvers. The reality of space travel is currently

Putting the “Science” in “Science Fiction” – Railguns

 The railgun is a weapon commonly shown or described in science fiction, and works by using an electromagnetic force to launch a projectile down a pair of conductive rails, rather than relying on gunpowder. Although films, like the Arnold Schwarzenegger film Eraser, and novels often refer to all projectile weapons