This may be the last post on THE TOP 7

It has been almost a year since we started The TOP 7.  During the past months we have had nearly 40,000 hits and 400 comments.   We have a faithful following but we still are faced with a difficult decision.

It is time to shut THE TOP 7 down.

Jeff and I have loved this adventure.  We have enjoyed writing the posts and reviews.  Making stupid videos has been great.  However, when we started, we knew that this project was temporary and would one day be put on the shelf.

Here are 7 reasons why we are finished with THE TOP 7

1. Our subscription expired

We lose our .net soon and are too cheap to renew.  Anyone want to purchase a really great blog?  Cheap.

2.  There are no more lists to be listed

Actually, that is not true.  We might have missed a couple of obscure lists.

3.  We needed to free up some time

It is amazing how much time is needed to keep up a blog.  With our decision to shut down THE TOP 7 we no longer have to use our coffee breaks to write and research.

4.  We made enough $ to retire

Not true.  Not even close.  We made nothing.  Other than a few cool donations we are taking nothing from our blog adventure.

5.  This “Internet” thing is not going to last

Steve Jobs passed away.  Blackberry is tanking.  I can see where this is going…

Grey Cup Facts

It is time.  On November 27 At 4:00 pm MST, the 99th Grey Cup will be played in Vancouver, BC.

After an 18 game season, the top two teams in the Canadian Football League will face off to in a final match to determine the winner of Lord Grey’s Cup.  The BC Lions are favoured to win this years contest against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.   After a disasterous start to the 2012 season, the Lions have won their way to play in the Grey Cup game in BC.  The Blue Bombers’ solid defence brought them to this game.

You bet that I’ll be watching.

I had the opportunity to attend the 88th Grey Cup in Calgary, but I decided that I didn’t want to pay the price of a season’s ticket just for the opportunity to freeze outside at the game in the cold  Canadian November.  Although I watched the game from my warm couch at home, I venture out to attend the parade and other Grey Cup functions.

As we prepare for Sunday’s game, the Top 7 presents to you some facts about the Canadian Football League’s Big Game:

1.  The first Grey Cup was played in 1909 in Toronto between the University of Toronto and the Parkdale Canoe Club.  Toronto won 26-6.

2.  The Grey Cup was named after Lord Earl Grey, a former Governor General of Canada.

3.  The highest scoring Grey Cup Game was in 1989 when Saskatchewan beat Hamiltion 43-40.

What to do: Signaling an Airplane

I read a really good book on my KOBO ereader last week.

It was called Left for Dead: How I Survived 71 days in the Australian Outback.  It is the story of Ricky MeGee and his struggle to survive in harsh back country of the land down-under.  Having been left for dead by local thiefs, McGee wanders for 71 days with no water, food or even shoes.  It truly is an amazing story of survival.

There was a part in the book where McGee sees airplanes flying overhead.  With no source of fire to light a sinal fire, Ricky had to watch helplessly as hope for a rescue flew oblivious to the man wandering around the outback.  As I read this story I was forced to wonder if McGee’s times in the desert would have been shortened if he had known how to signal an Airplane.

There are different ways to signal an airplane.  A signal fire or a signal mirror are the first to come to mind.  However, when mirrors and matches are not available, it is an understanding of the International Ground to Air Signal Codes that could save your life when attempting to communicate with an overhead airplane.   The only materials needed to build the 8 foot in length symbols are some wood, rocks or fabric.  You just need to know what to write on the ground for your rescuers to read.

Inspired from this story of survival, out list today presents 7 Ground to Air Signals that could save your life.

1.  Serious Injury

2.  Need Compass and a Map

3.  Need Food and Water

4.  It is believed to be safe to land here

What to do: Falling through ICE

The winter season is upon us and with it brings sub-zero temperatures.

For some Canadians, their plan on how to deal with the cold dark season is to run from it and head to warmer weather.  For the rest of us, we are stuck shoveling the sidewalks, wearing 6 layers of clothing and running from one warm place to the next.

Actually, winter in Canada is not that bad.  As your body acclimates to the colder weather you begin to realize that there are plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy.  Skiing, sledding and hiking can all be enjoyed in below freezing weather.

A favorite for many is ice skating.  All you need to enjoy this pleasant activity is a pair of skates and a sheet of frozen water.  A pond, lake or slow moving river will do just  fine.  Just make sure the ice is at least 4-5 inches thick and you will be soon gliding effortlessly across the slippery surface.

Be aware that activities that take place of frozen lakes or rivers can be dangerous.  Ice does not freeze evenly.  There is always the chance, albeit slight, that just because the ice was 5 inches thick in one location, it might only be 2 inches thick in another.  Always be aware that falling through the ice could happen to you.

Do you know what to do if you fell through the ice?

Here are 7 steps to save your life if you fall through the ice

1.  Stay Calm

If you fall through the ice you will be tempted to panic. The water is cold and it will take your breath away.  However it is essential that you stay calm.  Your body can only survive for a short time in freezing water.

2.  Drop any heavy items

If you are wearing a backpack, get rid of it.  If you leave it on your body it will weigh you down and make your self-rescue much harder than it needs to be.

3.  Turn towards the STRONG ICE

Ice is usually stronger towards the shore.  As you prepare to lift yourself up out of the water, it would be wise to climb onto the sturdiest part of the hole you created.

Movember and Top Mustache Styles

In case you have not noticed, Movember is half over.

The days are getting noticeably shorter.  The weather has become much cooler.  The malls are starting to see  shoppers looking for Christmas deals.

And, the Movember Mustaches are filling in nicely.

In case you missed it, here is the deal.

Every November men all over Canada and the world put the razors away and, much to their wives disfavor, grow a mustache.  The reason for this sudden desire to refrain from cutting facial hair comes as a reminder to bring awareness to Men’s health, particularly prostate cancer.

This annual practice is called Movember.

Back to the purpose of this post.

With the month of Movember half over, participating men will be forced to make some hard and real decisions. The quesition on the top of the list for those growing their stach for cancer is, “how am I going to style this baby?”

We are here to help answer that question.  Today we want to give you some of the Top Mustache styles to choose from.  The list today is not just a mere 7 styles as that was much too limiting.  Instead we present to you 13 wonderful Mustache styles to help with your grooming needs.

The New 7 Wonders of Nature

The Top 7 always attempts to bring you the best lists of 7 from around the world.

Recently, we were planning something really BIG.  We thought about doing a worldwide poll to determine what were the Top 7 Wonders of the World.  We planned on starting a 7 year campaign lead by former UNESCO staff and architects to collect over 100,000,000 votes from the public on what we would name the New 7 Wonders of the World.

But, just before our big launch, we discovered that the World of New 7 Wonders did just that in 2007.   I encourage you to check out their list.

The N7W is currently finalizing their latest project.  This last weekend, the New 7 Wonders posted their provisional list of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.

Wow, what a list!  I must, however, point out the glaring omission of the Bay of Fundy in Newfoundland, Canada.  But, this list is not a list that was put together by Jeff or Kent, but a list generated by a world-wide poll.  Please remember, that the N7W advises that this list is provisional with the final results being announced in 2012.

It is a great honour to give you the New 7 Wonders’ list of the New 7 Wonders of Nature in alphabetical order.

1.  Amazon – The largest rainforest AND the largest river. 

2.  Halong Bay – This Vietnam paradise has islands that are hollow. 

3.  Iguaza Falls – These dazzelling waterfalls extend over 2,700 meters.

Remembrance Day – In Flanders Field

Tomorrow, on November 11, we will observe Remembrance Day. This is a special day in which we take the time to honour members of our armed forces who have died in the line of duty.

This year I am reminded of Master Cpl. Byron Garth Greff who died on October 29 in Afganistan. Greff is from Alberta and was 28 years old when a suicide bomber detonated explosives that killed 18 people. He left behind a wife and 2 very young children.

The first Remembrance Day was first observed on November 11, 1919. At that time, King George V created the event to coincide with the anniversary of the official end of the Great War in 1918 on the “11^th hour of the 11^th day of the 11^th month”.

Remembrance Day is celebrated by member countries of the Commonwealth. However, other countries also observe similar events. Armistice Day (France & Belgium), Volkstrauertag (Germany), Independence Day (Poland), and Veterans Day (United States) all commemorate the end of World War 1 and the honouring of the fallen soldiers.

Canadian John McCrae penned the famous poem “In Flanders Field”. The poem is well known throughout the world. Today’s Top 7, in honour of Remembrance Day, is the recitation of this solemn writing.

In Flanders Field

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,