March 17, 2008

With the closing of McNally Robinson bookstore publishers are desperately searching for other independent Calgary bookstores
to help promote their authors.

Some worry Calgary is running out of independent bookstores but Brent Beatty, manager of the University of Calgary bookstore, says his bookstore is independent and ready to help. Beatty has been contacted by a number of publishers already.

Since April of 2007 the bookstore has participated in over 60 conference and author events on campus and around southern Alberta. The bookstore is one of Calgary's largest with approximately 30,000 titles on hand and over 175,000 titles on their database. In addition to providing required course materials to students, the bookstore has one of the city's largest selections of general reading and reference books, a complete selection of stationery products and art supplies.

Brent Beatty, manager, University of Calgary bookstore
bbeatty@ucalgary.ca
403-220-6980
www.calgarybookstore.ca

March is nutrition month so try a cabbage, carrot, orange
and banana shake for breakfast.

How about gathering your family together for at least three meals a week?  According to the Dietitians of Canada, these are ways to get more nutrition into your diet and establish healthy eating patterns that can last a lifetime.  The Faculty of Nursing's Dr. Cynthia Mannion can speak about the top ten tips consumers need to know to get started on healthier habits around diet and weight.

Cynthia Mannion, researcher, Faculty of Nursing
cmannion@ucalgary.ca
403-210 3848

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March 6, 2008

Ontario has made it illegal to smoke in vehicles while transporting children.

Dr. Karen Then, smoking risks expert, Faculty of Nursing
Contact Karen Cook, senior communications manager, Faculty of Nursing at 403-220-4361 or kcook@ucalgary.ca to arrange an interview.

Dr. Ian Mitchell, pediatrician and respiratory specialist, Faculty of Medicine.
Available for interviews starting at 3 p.m. today
Contact Meghan Sired, media relations advisory, at 403-220-4756 or mssired@ucalgary.ca to arrange an interview.

Dutch politician, Geert Wilders, will post a short film (at www.fitnathemovie.com) this month called Fitna, in which he links verses from the Koran to violence. The film has sparked protests in Pakistan, Iran and Indonesia, and threats from the Taliban to step up attacks on Dutch and other NATO troops in Afghanistan.

Dr. Malek Khouri, film studies professor, Faculty of Communication and Culture
Phone: 403-220-7339 Email: khouri@ucalgary.ca
Contact Jennifer Myers, senior communications manager, Faculty of Communication and Culture, at 403-220-4117 or myers@ucalgary.ca to arrange an interview.

Venezuela and Ecuador ordered troops to close in on neighboring Colombia after Colombian soldiers entered Ecuadorean territory on Saturday and killed a leftist rebel leader.

Stephen James Randall, professor, Department of History.
Areas of expertise: Randall is the Canadian specialist on Colombian affairs and the official biographer of former Colombian president Alfonso Lopez Michelsen. Randall is the author of two other books on US-Colombian relations and has worked and lived in Colombia off and on since the 1960s.
Phone: 403-220-8152  Email: srandall@ucalgary.ca