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YOUTH ARE AWESOME

Youth Are Awesome, commonly referred to as YAA, is a blog written by youth for youth. YAA provides the youth of Calgary a place to amplify their voices and perspectives on what is happening around them. Youth Are Awesome is a program of Youth Central.

Any views or opinions expressed on this blog belong solely to the author and do not represent those of people or organizations that the blog may be associated with, unless explicitly stated. All content is for informational purposes only.

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YAA Holiday Countdown 2018: Eid al-Fitr Celebration!

Muhammad Saim
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The time of year, the Muslims of the world unite to celebrate the end of Ramadan! Ramadan is a monthly commemoration of the first disclosure of the (Holy Book) Quran to Muhammad (Prophet). This is seen as one of the Five Pillars of Islam.  In the month of Ramadan Muslims around the world, fast (Fasting is the conservation food for an extensive period of time at their own will) for 29 to 30 days. Many people celebrate this holiday (celebration) in different ways because of the various Islamic groups (Sunni, Shia, Kharijite…). Though there are different groups that make each celebration different, there are still similarities in our Eid al-Fitr Celebrations. The day of Eid al-Fitr is the moment when we are allowed to breakfast on this special occasion.

Date

Eid al-Fitr usually occurs around the month of June to May, but to be more precise this celebration occurs right after Ramadan. Eid begins by the new moon’s crescent, it is shown of the starting of each lunar month in the Islamic calendar. The next Eid al-Fitr in 2019 will occur approximately on Tuesday, June 4th and end in the evening of Wednesday, June 5th.

Praying

One of the most important things you do during this celebration is praying. On the day of Eid, there is a special prayer. The prayer helps you give thanks to God for all he has done. On the day of Eid we perform a special prayer because as you know, this day is not like any other. My family and I always go early in the morning to pray, because of the importance of this day.

 

Gifts!

 

Usually as gifts, my family and I donate to local charities, and generally to poverty like families. Eid al-Fitr is the day we can focus on improving and increased devotion and worship to god (Allah). On this occasion my parents provide my brothers and me somewhat of a reward (usually money) for our fast.

Greeting Someone

Often when we finish the first prayer, most Muslims would use the phrase “Eid Mubarak” , Eid meaning “celebration” and Mubarak meaning “blessing”. This ultimately portrays that Eid al-Fitr is to focus on the celebration of the blessing of what God has given us, and to remind us of our spiritual connection. While saying “Eid Mubarak” to someone, the simpler meaning would be “Happy Eid to you”.

 

 

 

 

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YAA Holiday Countdown 2018: Holiday Spending Tips

keanna woodrow
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As we near the holiday season, people start to stress about saving money during this time. And as a fourteen year old, buying presents for people is hard since I don’t quite make my own money yet. With the help of a few people, I’ve managed to make a list of a few ways to save money this holiday season.

  1.  The easiest of course, is baking things. Everyone loves getting cookies and little cakes, so I think that holiday treats are honestly the best way to go. Yes, you might have to spend a little on ingredients for whatever it is you decide to bake, but all together, you end up saving money as well.
  2.  Going with the theme of baking, making homemade crafts is a fun way to save money. You get to make adorable little gifts for people, and the actual activity is quite fun as well!
  3.  Lots of people love to do go out to do activities with their friends and family, and often times those cost money. So maybe, this year try doing something that’s free and outside, such as skating or sledding.
  4.  A good place to shop for gifts is, surprisingly, thrift stores. They’re always full of adorable little things, and you never know what you might find. You could end up with a unique gift for someone, at a pretty reasonable price might I add.
  5.  Doing a Secret Santa is also a fantastic way to not buy tons of costly gifts. You only have to buy one present and you can make it as personal as you’d like. And besides, there’s always the added fun of playing the game of who got who.
  6.  Try making your decorations this year. I know how expensive it can be to go out and buy decoration after decoration, so have some fun with some arts and crafts! It’s a great activity that you can do with friends, and you end up with some pretty cute original decorations.

These are just a few ideas I’ve found, I’d love to hear of some more! Happy Holidays!

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YAA Holiday Countdown 2018: Holiday Events in YYC

Shaak
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Christmas Events 2018

Places to Enjoy Christmas Holiday Lights

 

CORE Christmas Tree Lighting and Fireworks

Trees on Display: Until December 19

Where: Downtown CORE Shopping Centre

Cost: Free!

Zoo Lights at Calgary Zoo

More than 2 million lights, 200 displays, fire pits, and fun-activity zones.

Cost: $19.95 for adults, $14.95 for children.

Lion’s Festival of Lights

Largest free drive-by Christmas lights showcase in Calgary.

When: December 1 2018 – January 8 2019, from 6:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Where: Confederation Park in NW Calgary

Cost: Free!

Parades and Holiday Theatres

Mahogany Parade of Lights

A 1.3 km long parade, led by Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus and other surprise guests.

When: Saturday, December 8, 2018, at 5:00 p.m.

Where: Starts at Divine Mercy Catholic Elementary and ends at Masters Boulevard, Calgary

Cost: Free!

Lougheed House

Enjoy 20 rooms, 11 fireplaces, and 30 stained glass windows at the Lougheed House, all included with regular admission.

When: November 16 – December 30

Where: 707 – 13 Ave. SW Calgary

Cost: Regular Admission

Once Upon a Christmas

Enjoy a scenic horse-driven wagon around the park, a live historical theatre, and visit Saint Nick and his reindeer!

When: Weekends up to December 23

Where: Heritage Park, Calgary

Cost: Regular Winter Admission

Carols and Holiday Concerts

One Voice Chorus Concert: Sugar

Sweet musical concessions from One Voice Concert.

Where: 1121 14 Ave. SW, Calgary

When: December 8, 2018

Cost: $36 – $265

Fa La Land

Join Jubilee Auditorium for Youth Singers of Calgary Christmas Spectacular

When: December 9, 2018

Where: 1415 14 Ave. NW, Calgary

Cost: $35 – $52

Home for the Holidays with Johnny Reid

Join Jubilee Auditorium for stories and music from Multi Award-Winning singer and songwriter Johnny Reid.

When: December 11, 2018

Where: 1415 14 Ave. NW, Calgary

Cost: $45 – $100

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YAA Holiday Countdown 2018: Learnt Lessons

Albert Cheng
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The New Year is just around the corner, which means New Year’s Resolutions are also coming up! But let’s face it, no matter how determined we are to see our resolutions through, we’ll all inevitably fail within a few weeks. But that doesn’t mean we can’t reflect on 2018 and learn some lessons from our mistakes (which hopefully will last longer than our resolutions) that we can all take into the New Year!

Lesson 1: Stop trying to impress others

Now, I know you have probably heard this one many times by now, but I just had to include it because no matter how many times it’s said, people will still go out of their way to try and impress other people. When I say “stop trying to impress others”, I don’t mean stop being a good person, or stop being a friend. I mean stop pretending to be someone you are not so others will like you. Stop doing things you don’t want to do just because others are doing it. It’s fine to do things that happen to impress others, but don’t do things you don’t want to because you feel the need to impress someone else. If you are ever in a situation where you feel pressured to do something you don’t want to do, chances are whatever relationship you’re trying to establish won’t be a very good one. So just be yourself, and if anyone dislikes you for it, let them, because I promise it is better than you disliking yourself for doing something you didn’t want to.

Related image

Lesson 2: Care less

It’s hard to go into specifics for this one because we are all different people with different problems. But in general this lesson is still a very important one that we should all try to work on. So what do I mean by “care less”?  I mean, care only about what you need to care about. There are so many “problems” in our lives that don’t even need to be problems, yet we still treat them like they are. We devote so much time and effort to fix something so trivial that it doesn’t even require fixing. Again, it’s hard to find specific examples because we are all different people, but think about the times you got frustrated or offended and try to determine if it was actually worth your time to fixate on it. Some things are only problems if you decide to let them be problems so stop allowing them to be. Just remember that you only have 24 hours in a day, and it’s not worth letting something that happened over the course of a minute ruin it.

Lesson 3: All People Are Different

This is perhaps the most important lesson on this list. The reason I say it is so important is because if you keep this lesson in mind when communicating with other people, you will have a much better time talking to them. Every person is a product of their experiences, the people they have met, and the challenges they have overcome. This all contributes to who they are. This concept should be obvious, but the truth is that it is something that is always forgotten. A lot of the time, when we talk to other people, we are speaking from our experiences, and we expect our listeners to understand where we are coming from. However, a lot of the time they do not, or maybe they disagree, because they have not had the same experiences as us. This disagreement can be frustrating, and this frustration can lead to arguments or even fights. So the next time you feel like disagreeing with someone, think that you are speaking from your perspective, and they are speaking from theirs. Sometimes disagreements will happen and it’s not wrong to do so, but if you keep this in mind, you should be able to reduce the amount of arguments you have.

Image result for different perspective

 

 

These lessons may seem obvious when they are being read, but in practice, they may be difficult to uphold. These three lessons are the three main lessons that I have been working on this past year, and I do think I see some positive changes in my life. You may already follow these three lessons and that is great! I encourage you you keep finding ways to improve yourself and make yourself better. If you don’t have these lessons in mind, you should try to think about them because I promise it will be in your best interest to do so. No matter who you are, these three lessons are some great ones to take into the New Year.

 

Sources: Featured/1/2

YAA Holiday Countdown 2018: Holiday cookies

youthareawesome
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Recipes

 

Chocolate Crinkles II

Source

  1. In a bowl, mix together cocoa, white sugar, and vegetable oil. Beat in eggs, and then add the vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt; stir into the cocoa mixture. Cover dough, and chill for at least 4 hours.
  2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Roll dough into one inch balls. Coat each ball in confectioners’ sugar before placing onto prepared cookie sheets.
  3. Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes. 

Coconut Macaroons III

Source

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
  2. In a bowl, stir together the flour, coconut and salt. Stir in the sweetened condensed milk and vanilla using your hands until well blended. Use an ice cream scooper to scoop dough onto the cookie sheets. 
  3. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until coconut is toasted.

Soft Ginger Cookies

Source

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Sift together the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Set aside.
  2. In a bowl, cream together the margarine and sugar until fluffy. Beat in the egg, then stir in the water and molasses. Stir the sifted ingredients into the molasses mixture. Shape dough into 1 inch balls, and roll them in 2 tablespoons of sugar. Place the cookies on cookie sheet.
  3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. 

Raspberry and Almond Shortbread Thumbprints

Source

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. In a bowl, mix together butter and white sugar until smooth. Mix in the almond extract and flour until dough comes together. Roll dough into 1 inch balls, and place on cookie sheets. Make a small hole in the center of each ball, using your thumb, and fill the hole with preserves.
  3. Bake for 14 to 18 minutes in preheated oven, or until lightly browned. 
  4. In a bowl, mix together the confectioners’ sugar, another 3/4 teaspoon of almond extract, and milk until smooth. Drizzle lightly over cookies.

Peppermint Meringues

Source

  1. Preheat oven to 225 degrees F (110 degrees C). Line cookie sheets with parchment.
  2. In a bowl, beat egg whites, salt, and cream of tartar to soft peaks. Gradually add sugar, beat until whites form a soft creamy mixture. Drop spoonfuls of mixture on cookie sheets. Sprinkle crushed peppermint candy over the cookies.
  3. Bake for 1 1/2 hours in preheated oven.

Featured Image

YAA Holiday Countdown 2018: Alex’s Sugar Cookies

youthareawesome
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The holidays can be a stressful time of year for everyone, and it’s important to find ways to relax. Some people do this by taking a bath, or watching a movie, or baking! If you’re someone who finds baking relaxing, here’s a great sugar cookie recipe for you! Cookies are also a great small gift for family and friends at any time of year.

Ingredients:

2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon baking powder

1 cup softened butter

1 ½ cups white sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Any decorations you want to add!

This recipe gives around 48 cookies, so if you had a smaller batch in mind, here’s a recipe converter you can use: https://www.free-online-calculator-use.com/recipe-conversion-calculator.html

Before you start, make sure you wash your hands thoroughly and put on an apron if you’re worried about your clothes. If your oven takes a while to preheat, now is a good time to start preheating to 375 degrees, but if your oven is pretty quick, I would recommend waiting until your ingredients are fully combined to start preheating.

The first step is to combine the dry ingredients into a bowl, so this would be your 2 ¾ cups of flour, your 1 teaspoon baking soda, and your ½ teaspoon baking powder. Lightly mix the ingredients together, and then put your bowl to the side for a moment.

Next, take a mixing bowl (or, if you don’t have one, a large bowl and a whisk) and cream together the 1 cup of butter and the 1 ½ cups of sugar, then mix in the egg and the 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Once that’s done, you want to slowly mix in your dry ingredients a little bit at a time until they’re all smoothly combined.

At this point, if your oven isn’t preheating, now is a good time to turn it on. Get out a baking sheet and some parchment paper or nonstick cooking spray and set that out in a convenient place. If you just want round cookies, roll the dough into a circle about the size of a teaspoon and place them onto the sheet.

If you want shapes, clean your counter, thoroughly dry it, and then sprinkle a generous amount of flour over it to prevent the cookie dough from sticking to the counter. Set out your dough for the first round of cookies, and bring out a rolling pin. You should also coat the rolling pin and the top of the dough with flour to prevent sticking. Now, roll out your dough to your desired thickness, and stamp out all the shapes you want with cookie cutters.

Carefully peel away the unused dough and stick it back into the bowl. If you have one available, using a spatula or a butter knife to lift the cookies will help protect them against separating into different pieces. Lay them all out on your tray, being sure to leave a good amount of room between each cookie, and if you wanted to add any oven-safe decorations, now is the time.

Now, place the tray in the oven for around 8 to 10 minutes, being sure to check on them often. Once you’re happy with them, take them out and leave them to cool on the tray for a few minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack to cool entirely. Once they’re completely cool, you can add frosting, sprinkles, or any other toppings you want. And they’re done! Enjoy them yourself or with family and friends, and have a great holiday season!

Alex

Featured image source:

rawpixel

 

YAA Holiday Countdown 2018: Austria’s Demon of Christmas

Elaine Han
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Whereas kids in North America hope they’ve been nice enough for a present from Santa this year, children in Austria have a little more to worry about. If you’ve been naughty, you’re getting more than coals in your stockings.

 

A 1900’s greeting card reading ‘Greetings from Krampus!’

During Christmas in the Austria, Santa has a not-so-jolly sidekick. Krampus, your anti-Santa is the Christmas nightmare: he is half demon, half goat; a horned beast wearing black rags, with a long red tongue, fangs, and wild dark hair. If someone has been  naughty – Krampus comes for them. The demon whips and beats unruly youngsters with bundles of birch sticks, and sometimes hauls them back to his dark lair in a sack to be tortured or eaten.

Despite his role in Christmas tradition, the legend of Krampus originates in pagan folklore, far before Christianity and the legend of Santa. In that era, stories of Krampus roaming the mountains kept children of the European Alpines in line throughout the year. His name comes from the German word krampen, meaning “claw,” and tradition says that he is the son of the Norse god of the underworld, Hel.

Nikolaus and Krampus (Austria, early 20th century)

As the centuries passed, Christianity and a new myth arised: Saint Nicholas, who rewarded good children with gifts. People began to adopt the story of Santa and his reindeer, however, the old traditions and the legend of Krampus were not lost.

As it happens, the two legends fused. Krampus became part of the Christmas tradition in the Alps, where celebrations begin in early December. He was given a new role: not as the sole enforcer of naughty children, but a not-so-jolly sidekick to Saint Nicholas. He is the bad cop to Santa’s good cop. Santa leaves coal for naughty kids, whereas Krampus gives them punishment and misery. According to folklore, Krampus appears the night of December 5, known as Krampus Night, or Krampusnacht (equivalent to our Christmas eve).  That night, Santa delivers presents in his sleigh, and Krampus roams the streets, scouting out all the naughty children and punishing them. The day after, December 6, is St. Nicholas Day (Nikolaustag) (equivalent to our Christmas Day), where children check if they received candy (for the nice) or birch twigs (for the naughty) from St. Nicholas in the shoe or boot they’d left out the night before.

 

 

Krampuslauf Parade in Mariazell, Austria (2017)

 

Krampuslauf in Graz, Austria (2013) (video)

These days, Austrians celebrate the legend of Krampus by keeping alive a centuries-old pagan tradition, the Krampuslauf, or Krampus Run. Formerly an pagan ritual meant to disperse ghosts of winter, today, it is a magnificent nocturnal parade of horrifyingly costumed men dressed as Krampus figures, often accompanied by heavy alcohol consumption. On the evening of December 5th (Krampusnacht) , young men dressed up in fur suits, horns and demonic masks parade through the streets scaring spectators with chains and whips and cowbells. Some of the marchers are acrobatic, tumbling through the air, some juggle their torches. Krampus festivals attract thousands of people in each city, with participants and spectators coming in from all over the nation to take part in the terror. (Here is a video, of Krampuslauf in Graz, Austria 2013)

 

 

For those of us who live in North America, consider ourselves lucky: we haven’t got a demon with a fondness for physical violence and kidnap to worry about during the holidays. But for kids in Austria, the legend of Krampus serves as a warning: that if you’re naughty this year, a goat-demon just might come beat you with bundles of birch sticks.

 

Sources:

Featured Image: (source)

Image Sources: source source source

Billock, Jennifer. “The Origin of Krampus, Europe’s Evil Twist on Santa.” Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 4 Dec. 2015, www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/krampus-could-come-you-holiday-season-180957438/.

Charles, Megan. “Krampus: Austria’s Terrifying Christmas Tradition.” The Telegraph, Telegraph Media Group, 30 Nov. 2016, www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/11/27/krampus-austrias-terrifying-christmas-tradition/.

“Who Is Krampus? Explaining the Horrific Christmas Devil.” National Geographic, National Geographic Society, 1 Dec. 2017, news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/12/131217-krampus-christmas-santa-devil/.

“Your Guide to The 2017 Krampus Parade: Europe’s Creepiest, Coolest Festival.” TripSavvy, TripSavvy, www.tripsavvy.com/krampus-parade-in-austria-tyrolean-christmas-festival-4154986.

 

YAA Holiday Countdown 2018: Gift Ideas

Dana Desamparado
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With Christmas only 25 days away and approaching you soon, you may be excited to enjoy the holidays. However, you might also feel anxious or sceptical about what presents to get for your relatives or friends. Here is a list of gifts that might get inspire you or relieve you off of some stress.

Homemade (DIY) Gifts:

  1. Bake Goods or Cook a Meal:Image result for baked cookies christmas
    • who doesn’t love food?! Whether you create something sweet or savoury make sure the recipient isn’t allergic to anything in it.
  2. A Sentimental Card:
    • there are loads of things you can do with a card. You can easily tell someone how much you appreciate or care about them with a card.
  3. Homemade Coupons:
    • with this option, you have the freedom to dictate what these coupons could be for. For example, if you are giving this to your parents you can have a coupon that says, “I will do the dishes and not complain about”. If you are giving a coupon to a friend, it could say “free meal on me”.
  4. Homemade Beauty Products:
    • natural or homemade lip balms, bath bombs, and body scrubs are few examples of these gifts. They are often fun to create and serve as great presents to those who love to know what exactly is in their beauty products.
  5. Knit or Swen Crafts:
    • there is a range of objects that can be fabricated from fabric or yarn. You can create pillowcases, clothes, blankets and even more.
  6. Edible Arrangements or Gift Basket:
    • candy bouquets, “box of sunshine “(gift basket with either the person’s favourite things or things that make people happy and relaxed i.e. candles), or fruit bouquets or just one of the many options of making a gift basket. The items in these arrangements are relatively cheap or can be homemade.

Cheap Gifts:

  1. Candy and Chocolate:
    • yasss! Sweets are such affordable gifts! Everyone loves their sugar!
  2. Candles:
    • either for relaxing purposes or for the aesthetic, people enjoy candles. Scented candles would act as the perfect gift for people who love fragrances or practice aromatherapy.
  3. Lip Balm:
    • winter is here, which means chapped lips. If you know a person who likes to moisturize or is always loosing their lip balm, this gift is ideal!
  4. Bath Bombs:Image result for christmas themed mugs tumblr
    • who doesn’t love a warm bath? Spice, it up with a bath bomb! Bath bombs make great gifts especially, for those who love taking baths, enjoy using beauty products, or love the artistic masterpiece their bathtub becomes after using one.
  5. PopSockets:
    • if you know an individual who has a hard time holding their phone whether it is too big or they are just really clumsy a popSocket would be useful to them. This is an item that can be attached to a phone or phone case and has many uses such as a phone stand, easier gripping area to hold the phone, cord wrap, etc. A popSocket can also upgrade the aesthetic or appearance of a phone.
  6. Mugs:
    • tea, coffee, and hot chocolate lovers all use one thing in common, MUGS! You either buy a plain mug and specialize or decorate it or find a mug that is themed or has a funny saying.
  7. Phone Cases:
    • clear phone cases can be bought for cheap. Most people like having a clear case because they can either put a picture between the phone and the case or they have the freedom to design/alter the case to their own desires.

Pricey Gifts:

  1. Board Games:
    • a board game can either strengthen a friendship or destroy one but, let’s admit they are pretty fun. I’d recommend buying Cards Against Humanity as a gift or a classic game like The Game of Life. 
  2. Phone Charger:
    • every person has experienced either losing or breaking their phone charger. This is the perfect gift for individuals who are on their phone always and everywhere (charger can be used for on the go or as a backup) or for those who break everything they or have broken their charger.
  3. Gift Cards:
    • if you are unsure of what to get someone or you know they are the type of person who enjoys picking out their own gift, giving them a gift card is a way to go. Gift cards can be from their favourite store, used to the movies, a restaurant, Indigo, a toy store, electronics store, or to Amazon.
  4. Clothes:Image result for ugly christmas sweater funny
    • sizing and taste make buying this gift a little hard to nail but, when you do the recipient will either be surprised or feel special. They may feel honoured that you are aware of their correct size and style of clothing
  5. Video Games:
    • video games are surprising very expensive, however, there are many people who enjoy online and console gaming. Getting a person a highly anticipated game or a game they have not yet to acquire is a great idea. Many people love videos games for either the plotline, characters, gameplay, or the graphics of the game. I am personally attached to the Uncharted Game series for its storyline and top-notch graphics.
  6. Headphones :
    • if you know a person who is constantly breaking their headphones or just loves music, this present is a really good idea.

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YAA Holiday Countdown 2018 : Christmas Poems

Steven Dong
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It’s almost Christmas, so here are some short little Christmas Poems! I had lots of fun writing them so enjoy!

 

Holidays are Coming

It’s everyone’s favourite time of the year,

Because the Holidays are so very near!

Carols sung for all to hear

Adults, please don’t drink too much beer

Cheers!

Snowman

Winter is coming, there’s lots of snow,

I have to put something up for show!

Make a tall snowman and put a carrot for his nose,

Unfortunately, I’m too short to do so.

Hot Chocolate

Heat some milk in a pot

Until it gets nice and hot

Add the cocoa mix to the milk

The texture as smooth as a garment of silk

Wrap yourself nice and snug

Drink hot chocolate out of a mug

Hooray for this marvelous day!

 

Image Sources: 1/2/3/4

 

 

How To Study/Work More Effectively

Nayena Sen
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Everyone needs to study or work whether it’s for an assignment or a report. Knowing these tips on how to work more efficiently will greatly improve how you study.

1. Stay Organized

By staying organized you can reduce the stress of needing to find things, which often wastes valuable time. Staying organized is vital and there are several ways to stay organized such as:

  1. Keeping everything in folders/binders
  2. Place all work with work that is similar to it
  3. Have all the materials that you need in a space near you
  4. Keep reminders stating when tests or assignments are due
  5. Develop a study routine for each day
  6. Work on one task at a time
  7. Declutter whenever possible

2. Ask Questions

Asking questions is really important because being unsure of things will make it tough to understand later. That might mean asking a teacher or a peer for help. This improves how effectively you can work by not having to stop and question what the answer might be or get stuck on an issue that comes across your work.

3. Review Notes

Keeping notes is quite helpful when you study for anything as you can look back and check whenever you need to. Taking notes has been proven to be helpful and can impact the way you work greatly. By doing this you can expand on it and create questions for yourself. This also helps with a quick review before a test or a presentation.

4. Study In Short Periods Of Time

Studying for short periods of time at a time stimulates brain activity and keeps you more focused on a task. Short study sessions over a long period of time have been proven to be more successful than long study sessions over a short period of time. By taking a break every 25-30 minutes it can make you more focused and energetic. This method can make you remember more information and can help you be more effective. An ideal study session is 30 minutes studying/practicing and then a 15-minute break.

5. Stay Away From Distractions

Even one distraction can make you lose focus completely this is why it is crucial to stay away from as many distractions as possible. Some examples of distractions are:

  1. Noise
  2. Technology
  3. Interruptions
  4. Multi-tasking
  5. Clutter

6. Switch It Up

Don’t keep focusing on one topic as that can cause you to become tired, impatient and bored. By switching things up, you can remember things easier and can help you to study several topics in one session.

7. Practice

Practice is essential as you can test your knowledge on a topic and see how you did. Doing this every time you study for a test will make you more proficient at tests and make you more confident on the topic. It also helps you get more focused, so its worth the time it takes.

8. Find Something That Motivates You

Studying can be boring to many people, so try adding things that will motivate you to study more. A common practice for many people is adding in a reward after a certain checkpoint. This causes you to go through your topics faster and makes you more proficient at reading/reviewing. A typical example of a reward is food.

9. Use Memory Games

Memory games are highly effective when you need to remember something long or complicated. Using a song or a rhyme can cause your brain to start automatically putting together words. Even just an abbreviation of a sentence/word can help as well.

10. See What Works

Everyone is different and has different methods for everything. By finding and trying what works on you is great, because when you find the method that works best for you then it can help you again in the future. Experimenting to find what works to make you more efficient is definitely worth the try.

 

Source: Click On Images

16 Quotes for 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence

Asha Nenshi Nathoo
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16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is an international campaign supported by the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women to challenge violence against not only women and girls but also, diverse populations including Indigenous people, LGBTQ people, people with disabilities, children, and seniors. It takes place every year from November 25th (The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) to December 10th (International Human Rights Day). December 6th, which falls right in the middle of this campaign is also the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. This initiative originated from the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute coordinated by the Centre for Women’s Global Leadership in 1991.

This year, the Canadian theme is #MyActionsMatter. It is a call to action to encourage everyone to take concrete steps to question, call out, and speak up against gender-based violence.  Women around the world and even in our own country continue to face violence every single day. The United Nations has reported that 35% of women worldwide have experienced either physical or sexual violence at some point in their lives and approximately every six days, a woman in Canada is killed by her intimate partner. (As an aside, click here to read an excellent BBC article published a few days ago regarding the stories and unreported cases behind the statistics of gender-based violence.)

In the past year, the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements along with the issue of sexism have been at the front of public discussion. Survivors and their families have been encouraged to shine a spotlight on their own experiences to advocate for the prevention of sexual violence. I believe, that along with the sharing of these stories, it is important to raise public awareness that gender-based violence not only stems from sexual harassment but also from one’s words, actions, and beliefs; from sexist jokes to the language we use to rigid gender norms that are imposed on children.

Whatever one’s opinions on the recent discussion regarding this topic may be, I think it is important to recognize that strong female role models have existed ever since the beginning of time.  As such, I have compiled a list of 16 females from diverse backgrounds, fields and time periods throughout history who I believe have been some of the most influential figures either because of their success, ability to bring about change to the norm, or small tidbits of wisdom they have shared. Not only have their words and teachings been instrumental in inspiring generations of young girls, but are also very relevant to the changing climate of gender-based beliefs we live amidst today. 

  1. “I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.” – Rosa Parks 

  2. “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou 

  3. “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” –Anne Frank

  4. “Never explain, never retract, never apologize. Just get the thing done and let them howl.” – Nellie McClung

  5. “Let us leave the life free to develop within the limits of the good, and let us observe this inner life developing. This is the whole of our mission.” – Maria Montessori 

  6. “Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.” – Mother Teresa

  7. “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.” – Hellen Keller

  8. “Fashion fades, only style remains the same.” – Coco Chanel

  9. “Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” – Oprah Winfrey 

  10. “You have just one life to live. It is yours. Own it, claim it, live it, do the best you can with it.” – Hillary Clinton

  11. There are still many causes worth sacrificing for, so much history yet to be made.” – Michelle Obama

  12. “We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better.” – J.K. Rowling 

  13. “What makes you different or weird, that’s your strength.” – Meryl Streep

  14. “It’s not the absence of fear, it’s overcoming it. Sometimes you’ve got to blast through and have faith.” – Emma Watson

  15. “It’s our challenges and obstacles that give us layers of depth and make us interesting. Are they fun when they happen? No. But they are what make us unique.” – Ellen Degeneres

  16.  We realize the importance of our voices only when we are silenced.” – Malala Yousafzai

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New Flagship Central Library

Alex Dong
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New Flagship Central Library

On November 1st, 2018, the new installment of the Calgary Public Library (CPL) system just opened: the new Central Library. This library has been under construction since 2013, and 5 years later, it is the flagship branch of the CPL. Its address is 800 3 Street SE, but it is hard to miss if you’re passing by. However, the unique and remarkable architecture is only one of the things that makes this library so special. Here are some photos I captured last weekend.

An outside view

 

Bustling 4-level building

 

Rows upon rows upon rows…

 

Live performances

 

Lots of study spaces

 

Free meeting rooms and quiet spaces

 

Thousands of books…

 

…and it’s all free!

 

Beautiful architecture

 

Artwork everywhere!

 

 

Now, go see for yourself and enjoy!

 

Shot on Canon

What movies to watch on a snowy day

keanna woodrow
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We’re slowly getting more and more snow, and the weather is hinting at a cozy day inside with a hot cup of cocoa and a good movie. Though often times, it’s hard to decide on a movie that you haven’t seen. So below I’ve listed my top 10 movie recommendations.

10. The Martian

I think I’ve seen this movie at least three times. It’s about an astronaut (Matt Damon) trying to survive on Mars alone after his whole team assumes him to be dead. It’s a really intriguing movie, with a lore more humour than you’d expect.

Rated: PG-13

 

9. The Aristocats

This movie is most certainly one of my favourite Disney movies. It’s a cute story about a family of cats trying to find their way home. If you’re looking for a wholesome animated movie, look no further than this movie.

Rated: G

 

8. Pitch Perfect

This movie came out years ago (they’ve made three movies in the series but nothing tops the first one) It’s about an acapella singing group and their journey in an acapella competition. Personally, I think it’s one of the best movies ever. There’s so much good music and it’s hilarious.

Rated: PG-13

 

7. The Sound of Music

I’m sure that nearly every person ever has seen this movie, but if you haven’t, please go watch it. It’s lovely musical about a woman going to be a governess for a quite rich family and it’s just so good. And Julie Andrews is in it, so it’s definitely worth seeing it for her.

Rated: G

 

6. Kill your Darlings

I’ve only seen this movie once, but dear god it was so good. It’s set in 1944 and it’s about the poet Allen Ginsburg (I’ve read some of his poetry, which is really good) and a murder that him and a few other poets are involved in. It’s a pretty intense movie but I liked it a lot.

Rated: R

 

5. Christopher Robin

This came out pretty recently and it’s an adorable movie about the characters of Winnie the Pooh, and the now grown up Christopher Robin. I cried so hard. I grew up watching Winnie the Pooh and this live action movie exceeded all my expectations.

Rated: PG

 

4. The Notebook

I hate to admit that this movie is on my top ten list, but it’s my guilty pleasure.  It’s a cliché love story between a poor boy and a rich girl (I can’t really go into much without spoiling anything) and I remember sobbing by the end. It’s a lovely movie, featuring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams might I add.

Rated PG-13

3. The Imitation Game

I haven’t seen this movie in a good few years, but it’s actually spectacular. It’s about an english mathematician in WW2 trying to crack the German Enigma code. Now, this movie is definitely not light hearted, but it’s very good. The acting as well, is just spot on.

Rated: PG-13

 

2. Call Me By Your Name

Okay, so I read the book that this movie is based on (it’s such lovely writing I definitely suggest it) last year, and then this summer I watched the movie. And it was so beautiful. For one, the actors are fantastic and then the actual camera work was amazing as well. I loved it. The story is about a boy in Italy falling for a man staying with him and his family. I cannot stress enough how beautiful this movie is.

Rated: R

 

Before I do my #1 movie, I’d like to mention a few runners up. They’re all wonderful movies, just not my top ones.

  • The Miseducation of Cameron Post
  • The Breakfast Club
  • A Single Man
  • Ocean’s 11
  • Heathers
  • The Princess Bride
  • Deadpool
  • and Holding the Man

 

Last but not least,

1. La La Land

I know for some this was probably anticlimactic, but this movie is honestly a work of art. I’m probably exaggerating just a little but I’ve seen this movie four times and every time I cry so hard. It’s about a young woman trying to make it as an actress in Hollywood, all whilst falling in love with a jazz obsessed pianist. I don’t know how to put into words just how much I love this movie. It’s also a musical, which really made it for me. I just love it so much, it’s gorgeous and whimsical and definitely deserves to be top of my list.

 

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Some restaurants you should try!

Lucas Ion
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I love trying new restaurants and discovering new food. I do however also have some time-honored restaurants that I consistently come back to, and, they consistently serve up great food with great flavour!

Viet Hai

Viet Hai is a fantastic Vietnamese restaurant in southwest Calgary. I have been going to this restaurant for a few years now and I can say that it has some great food. I recommend the rare beef noodle Pho, as it is a great meal to warm up to on a cold winter’s day.

Image result for viet hai calgary

Earls

Earls is a very classic restaurant which serves a large variety of dishes. It offers numerous locations throughout Calgary so it is quite easy to access. I recommend the Penne Alfredo as it is one of my favourite dishes of all time!

 

Image result for earls calgary

I love pizza and it is one of my favourite foods- all the styles of pizza as well, ranging from Neopolitan to Greek to American Style. Here are a few of my favourite places to get pizza:

Famoso

Famoso is a very popular restaurant. Like Earls, Famoso offers a variety of locations around Calgary making it easily accessible. I recommend the classic margarita pizza, however, all the items on the menu are great and you cannot go wrong with any dish!

 

Image result for famoso calgary

 

Without Papers Pizzeria

Without Papers is another great pizzeria in Inglewood. It is easily identifiable by its trademark red door. Without Papers is a great spot to pick up inventive takes on Neopolitan Pizza in a laid back and warm environment!

Image result for without papers pizzeria

Bella Roma

This is probably one of my favourite places to get Greek style pizzas. The crust is fluffy, the pizza is topped with a plethora of ingredients and the sauce is amazing. I recommend the Hawaiian pizza, as it is one of the best pizzas I ever had. Bella Roma also delivers within a certain radius so if you want pizza but do not feel like leaving your house this should be your go-to spot.

Image result for bella roma pizza calgary

 

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Top 6 Kinds Of People That Comment On YouTube

Kassidy Thompson
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To be honest, all of these 6 kinds of people can be labelled as ‘Haters’, even though they aren’t totally mean. They just try really hard to be mean. Anyway, this post is about the top ten people I always see in the comment sections on YouTube. Let’s get right into the list:

  1.  The ‘Hater’: This group of people are in all YouTube comment sections. They’re everywhere! We just can’t escape them. I can click on a cooking video and I’ll see the following comments: “Do you see how her hands are!? They are so ugly, I just lost my appetite! #SorryNotSorry” Then when you reply to them with ” Says the person with a waffle popping out of a toaster as a profile picture.” They get butt-hurt and start swearing at you! But the thing is, they’re so coward that they put asterisk’s and hashtags. I just ignore these type of people, they’re just a complete waste of time.
  2. The “Trolls”: These are the people that do these: ” What did the librarian say to the boy? Read More” Then you click ‘read more’ thinking that it’s actually the ‘read more’ sign. The other one is: ” 1. There is a hig bole, 2. You that read wrong, 4. You read that wrong too, You didn’t realise that I skipped the no. 3, You went to check and now you are  laughing’ No, No I’m not laughing, I’m upset that I have been fooled by so many of these comments.
  3. The “Percentage”: If you don’t know what I mean, here is an example: ” 75% about the video. 20% random. 5% these things.” I don’t get upset by these people, I just find these oddly satisfying. Well of course, unless they don’t add up the percentages correctly. Then I’m just angry.
  4. The “Funny Lists”: These are the comments that make me laugh sometimes and like them. The comments that go like this: ” 1.  I hate lists. 2. I hate people who asks for likes. 3. Like if you agree.” These are unoriginal comments. But YouTube is full of unoriginal comments, so what can I say?
  5. The “Up-Suck”: This person is always sticking up for this creator. That’s not a bad thing, but when they are doing something wrong you just can’t say ” I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! I DON’T CARE WHAT YOU DO! YOU DO YOU! NO THAT’S NOT WRONG THESE PEOPLE ARE JUST HATERS! <3″ No…just stop.
  6. The “Supporter”: I am this person. I’m pretty sure many people are, when someone needs someone to be there for them. Many people will be. These aren’t the only supporters though, there is the aggressive supporter. You can say ” My favorite color is pink” and they would respond with ” You noob. We all know that mature people don’t HAVE a favorite color.” I’m just shocked when I see this type of people.
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Youth Are Awesome, commonly referred to as YAA, is a blog written by youth for youth. YAA provides the youth of Calgary a place to amplify their voices and perspectives on what is happening around them. Youth Are Awesome is a program of Youth Central.

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