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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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The Libyan Slave Trade (And What You Need To Know To Help)

Julieanne Acosta
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The majority of us believe, or like to believe, that slavery was a thing of the past. Many would claim that slavery is no longer ongoing.

Terrifyingly, this statement is completely false.

After a disturbing video surfaced on the Internet of a man being auctioned off, it’s been confirmed that humans are for sale in Libya. People’s lives are being sold at a starting price of $400. When something like this is happening, you’d expect to see it all over the news with journalists covering every part of the story. The sad truth of it is that this crisis is getting little to no awareness. In fact, not a lot of people even know it’s happening.  The Libyan slave trade is taking place in nine locations throughout the country. Migrants are being held by smugglers to be sold at an auction. In November 2017, CNN released a report on the slave trade and handed over evidence to the International Criminal Court.

Many migrants, like the ones pictured above in a UN-operated camp, end up in the hands of illegal slave dealers.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, stated that the footage shows “egregious abuses of human rights”. On November 22, France’s president, Emmanuel Macron called the issue a crime against humanity (meaning a deliberate act that causes human suffering or death on a large scale) and called upon the UN Security Council to deliberate the human trafficking crisis in Libya.

The slave trade is something that needs international help and awareness. This is an imperative issue to educate people on! Too much of what happens beyond North America never gets enough coverage by popular media, and this makes crises less known by the rest of the world, resulting in fewer people trying to help. A growing international awareness is important to help combat this return of slavery.

5 Ways We Can Help

  1. Bring awareness! This crisis has been under wraps and not a lot of people know what’s going on. Do your research, know what you’re talking about and spread the facts!
  2. Contact your representatives! Contact @UN using Twitter and urge them to make discussing Libya a priority.
  3. Supporting anti-slavery efforts! Donate to Free the Slaves, Anti-Slavery International, and Save The Children!
  4. The International Organization For Migration! Support them as they fight for human rights of migrants in Libya.
  5. Shop Slave-Free! Shop smart. Use this guide from End Slavery Now to identify some companies that aren’t participating in the use of slave labour to advance their sales.

 

Images: FI 1

A Playlist for Quiet Evenings

Madina Shaykhutdinova
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Our lives are constantly buzzing with action. Our days are filled with social interactions and hectic environments, the world around us being loud and impatient. There are so many things to do and so many places to be that sometimes we end up forgetting that we also need to rest. Press pause on the commotion of life, take some time to ponder, and take some time to wonder. While big events can be important, the little things are also meaningful. Here is a playlist for those evenings when you just want to dim the lights, curl up in a ball, and reflect.

  1. When the Night Feels My Song – Bedouin Soundclash
  2. Mi Ancla – Mindy Gledhill
  3. Emmylou – First Aid Kit
  4. Emerald Isle – Whitehorse
  5. I Don’t Have Time to be in Love – Priscilla Ahn
  6. Oh Dear – Brandi Carlile
  7. Somewhere Only We Know – Keane, cover by Lily Allen
  8. 12:59 Lullaby – Bedouin Soundclash
  9. Road Trippin’ – Red Hot Chili Peppers
  10. Bleeding Love – Leona Lewis, cover by Rachelle Spring
  11. Yellow – Coldplay, cover by Kina Grannis
  12. Hotel California – Eagles
  13. Besame Mucho – Consuelo Velasquez, cover by Cesaria Evora
  14. Chasing Cars – Snow Patrol
  15. I Will Follow You Into the Dark – Death Cab for Cutie
  16. Mismatched Eyes (Boat Song) – Whitehorse

Image source: 1

2017 Tech year in review

Lucas Ion
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2017 was a landmark year for technology, consumers were bombarded with products from top companies such as Apple, Samsung, and Google. However amidst all of the of the large flagship products which were released this year, some other companies also cemented their claim as a real competitor with the big name brands. This is the 2017 tech year in review…

Samsung started off the year by releasing the new Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 plus. Samsung’s newest flagship phones revitalized last year’s S7 which sold 77 million units as of May 1st, 2017. The newest flagship phone from Samsung featured a new bezel-less design which Samsung dubbed the “infinity display”. The S8 featured a major redesign from the previous Samsung phones, eliminating the fingerprint sensor and settling for an on-screen navigation system.

At WWDC 2017 Apple announced it’s homepod which was its platform that aimed to get it involved in the smart home sector. Apple dubbed it the “homepod”, and it featured a 6.8” x 5.6” canvas like frame and aimed to provide premium audio with a high excursion woofer and a custom amplifier.

Also in June, Shenzhen technology company One Plus, released its newest phone named the Oneplus 5. Their newest flagship phone, featured a new design, upgraded camera and a plethora of new internals which boosted performance and functionality.

In August Samsung released the Galaxy Note 8. It newest premium phone replaced the Galaxy Note 7 which was riddled with a major problem…an battery which sometimes caught fire and also exploded. This problem affected more than 100 people in the United States in 2016. The new Note 8 followed in the steps of its galaxy family featuring a new Infinity Display, an upgraded camera, and a new processor, and also addressing the battery problem.

 

In Late September Apple announced the iPhone 8, 8 plus, and its new iPhone X. All three smartphones featured wireless charging, new colours and improved processors.

In October Google released the second version of its flagship phone: the Google Pixel 2. Their newest phone featured a brand new camera, water resistance, and a fast Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor.

Also in October Google added the Google Home Mini to its google home lineup.

Finally, in November of 2017, Apple released its brand new iPhone X. The newest phone by Apple featured its A11 Bionic chip, Retina HD display, water resistance and a new bezel-less design.

 

Image Source 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/

Featured Image Source :

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/57988065/2017_in_review.0.png

Information Sources:

https://www.androidauthority.com/sales-samsung-galaxy-s7-cross-55-million-units-768359/

https://www.apple.com/homepod/

https://oneplus.net/5

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Home

https://store.google.com/product/pixel_2

https://oneplus.net/5/specs

https://www.androidcentral.com/samsung-galaxy-note-7

https://store.google.com/product/pixel_2_specs

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsung_Galaxy_Note_8

Hero

Madina Shaykhutdinova
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Who is a hero?

Maybe you think of

A firefighter, those who

Help the helpless.

No doubt they’re heroes, right?

Their courageous acts and

Admirable qualities

Make them such good people.

But what about those acts that go unnoticed?

If somebody is heroic

But nobody is there to witness

Are they still a hero?

And what if

That person isn’t admirable?

What if

They do not act suitably

For the role of the hero?

Are they still a hero?

What if they’re mean and selfish

But commit a heroic act?

Are they still a hero?

Probably not.

People are more likely to believe

That someone is a hero

If that person has positive and admirable qualities

Regardless if they have actually exhibited

Heroism.

Because everything is a lie.

As long as someone is considered admirable

And people believe that they are heroic

That person will be a hero

Because perception is all that matters

Since we are all so sure

That our vision of the world

Is the truth

When it could be

Only a lie.

Because perceived truth and

Actual truth are two different things

That people often forget

Are not the same.

While heroic actions may be real

They don’t always make heroes

Because perception is all that matters.

 

Image source: 1

Post-Youth Depression: An Interview with Joe Russell-Brown

Emily Donville
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Honest is the best way I can describe 19 year old musician Joe Russell-Brown. Hailing from a small industrial town located in the UK, Joe doesn’t let the confines of his ordinary town squash his aspirations as so many suburban communities do, but rather uses it as inspiration for a collection of songs that emanate nostalgic  and youthful sentiments. He calls his music “Dream-Pop-Power-Flop” and he talks with an unpretentious sincerity that makes anyone who crosses his path feel right at home when talking to him. It’s this evident candor that made approaching him so easy. Over the course of several days and multiple emails, Joe found the time to talk to me about his upbringing in Scunthorpe, how he got into music and his latest EP, Post-Youth Depression. I’m so glad I was able to talk to him and before I stall any longer, let’s dive in.

YAA: Can you talk a bit about growing up in the UK?

Joe: “Growing up in the UK, specifically where I’m from, can be quite a grim experience. Some days can be hard and numb but then others can be fairly romantic and bearable. The older I get the more I realize it’s what you make of it.”

YAA: “How have your surroundings affected you as a person and more specifically, as a musician?”

Joe: “My hometown is a little industrial town called Scunthorpe. I’m not sure whether the place itself is that inspiring at all. The people make it. You find in little towns like this there’s no room for pretense, they’re very honest places. So, as far as writings are concerned, I always try to tell it as it is, no matter how it makes me look or how it makes other people look. If I didn’t do that people would see right through it.”

YAA: “Who/what inspired you to pursue music?”

Joe: “I wanted to be a footballer when I was younger, for years. I wasn’t very good though. When I was about 11, my music teacher asked me if I wanted to do drum lessons, it was like, “Why not, let’s see what the fuss is about”. That kind of opened up this door and tapped into something. My cousin introduced me to The Beatles then it kind of went from there.”

YAA: “You released your debut EP, Post-Youth Depression, back on December 1st 2017. Now that it’s out, how do you feel?”

Joe: “I’m quite proud of Post-Youth Depression. I’ve said everything I set out to say. Every lyric has been studied and perfected, there’s not a second on that EP that I haven’t stressed out about and worked on for days, so it’s a miracle really that I’m happy with it all.”

YAA: “Where did you record it?”

Joe: “I record all my songs in a bungalow my Dad built for my Grandma. It’s a great space to work in but also a great space to sit and do absolutely nothing in.”

YAA: “During the production of the EP, you got to work with Pete Maher (produced music for The Rolling Stones, The Killers, U2, Lana Del Rey,  The 1975…). What was that like?”

“Yeah, it was cool working with Pete. It was a brief encounter, he did his thing with the tracks, I thanked him and told him that I loved what he did then that was kind of it. He did an amazing job. It was insane to have someone who’s worked with my favorite bands like what I was doing and be involved. Respect to him!”

YAA: How long did the album take to finish?

This EP took a long, long time. It took about a year to finish, which is pretty insane to say there’s only four songs. Being a very anxious person, I had to try all avenues before I could settle on a mix or a lyric and so that was very time consuming. I produced about 50 songs all together, you will never hear the other 46, which is quite sad. I would get down about the progress, I think the problem was I would mistake my anxieties for a lack of confidence which I would then need to justify, so I found myself looking for things to get down about a lot of the time when really I should have been turning the anxieties into a positive energy. Anxieties can be what you make of them.

YAA: “How would you describe your music to somebody who’s never heard it?”

Joe: “I call it Dream-Pop-Power-Flop, no idea what it means but it rolls off the tongue nice.”

YAA: “What inspired the song Post-Youth Depression?”

Joe: “The song Post-Youth Depression came about because I wanted to write an honest, non-generic song about youth. I got sick of hearing really cheesy, over done songs about being young. I just wanted to write one I could relate to and my friends could relate to – it’s nice to see so many other people relating to it too.”

YAA: “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”

Joe: “I’m not sure where I see myself in 5 years, I don’t really think about the future much. The future scares me. I don’t know where I’ll be tomorrow, never mind in a year’s time or another year after that. As long as I’ve still got my health I could be literally anywhere in 5 years’ time, I’ll let you know when I get there.”

YAA: “If you could collaborate with anybody on a song (dead or alive), who would you work with and why?”

Joe: “Good question. I have a few. I’d love to sit down with David Byrne and talk about music, I imagine his record collection is pretty intense. I’d love Debbie Harry to sing one of my tracks, I would ask for her hand in marriage – she would kindly reject the offer. I would also like to have a cigarette with Bowie. But I guess most of all I’d like to work with a guy called Bill Ryder-Jones – I’ve mentioned him in a few interviews. I’m worried he might think of me as a stalker but I’m so obsessed with his last release ‘West Kirby County Primary’, beautiful songs, genius lyrics, a classic.”

YAA: “Lastly, what’s next for you?”

Joe: “I have another release coming early 2018 I think, there’s no real details yet but there will hopefully be some news very soon.”

Huge thanks to Joe Russell-Brown for sparing some time to share some of his thoughts with me. Interested in his music? Keep up to date with his latest ventures by following him on social media.

Facebook

Twitter

Bandcamp

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(All photos received besides the thumbnail image are from the artist’s Facebook. NOT our own)

How the iPhone revolutionized, and will continue to revolutionize our lives

Lucas Ion
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When Steve Jobs took to the stage at Macworld in 2007, he later on announced a product which fundamentally changed our world, our lives, and technology as we know it. The announcement of the iPhone revolutionized many of the daily tasks which we now regard as common practice. The iPhone changed technology in our lives for decades to come.

Back in early 2007, data usage on phones was significantly lower compared to voice calling. Up until 2007 the “smartphone” served its original purpose of being a communication device for most users and really nothing more. During the keynote at Macworld, Steve Jobs set out to change that. He claimed that the iPhone would be three main things, firstly a “new iPod with touch controls”, “a revolutionary mobile phone”, and a “breakthrough internet communicator.” These visions set a foundation for cell phones in the years to come.

However, another area that the iPhone completely changed amongst the main three purposes which Steve Jobs addressed was handheld photography. With the release of the original iPhone, the ability for someone to take photos became as simple as taking their phone out of their pocket and taking a picture. In the following years, the traditional DSLR camera became less popular for taking photos compared to standard smartphones, and, over time the simplicity of taking photos on the smartphone resulted in 85% of digital photos in 2017 being taken on smartphones versus traditional cameras. All in all, the accessibility of everyday tasks which we take for granted every day such as taking photos were originally streamlined by the iPhone.Image result for taking a photo on a iphone

Now here we are today, ten years after the release of the original iPhone, and Apple has once again attempted to reinvigorate and redefine cell phones for the next ten years. The iPhone X has become Apple’s ambitious flagship phone which aims to introduce AR in a streamlined fashion, reshape the power that a cell phone can have, and show the seamless transition between hardware and software. Apple’s new phone has polarized many people, on one half many believe it is one of the greatest phones of all time, whereas others believe that it is a strong case of a good idea but bad execution. However, among those divided lie those who wonder whether or not the new iPhone X will truly change phones as we know them once again, and to figure out the answer to that question, only time will tell.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source Images 1/2/3

Information Sources:

https://www.recode.net/2017/6/26/15821652/iphone-apple-10-year-anniversary-launch-mobile-stats-smart-phone-steve-jobs

https://www.forbes.com/sites/bizcarson/2017/09/12/tim-cook-isnt-wrong-why-the-iphone-x-could-change-how-we-use-phones-forever/#4a3785524620

 

 

The Future of AI Technology?

Jesse Lee
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The digital world is coming, whether we want it or not. Every minute we have close to millions of Google searches or Facebook posts. Soon, everything around us including our microwaves or even our clothing will be connected to the internet. Everything will be intelligent. We will not only have smart phones, but smart homes and smart cities. However, one thing is clear, in the near future the way we organize the economy and society will be changing. There are many options to implement AI technology into a political setting, such as China’s “citizen score”. However, ensuring a safe and effective transition to AI that will benefit many sectors of society will be difficult.

One of the largest concerns for AI is the jobs that it will take. It is predicted that by 2030, machines will have surpassed humans in all areas. Technology visionaries, such as Elon Musk from Tesla Motors, Bill Gates from Microsoft and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, are warning that super-intelligence is a serious danger for humanity. Recently, Google’s DeepMind algorithm taught itself how to walk. Who knows what AI can learn next? We must always ensure that Ai is under our thumb, and not the reverse, as the world would be quite boring if all humans were trained from birth to be a AI programmer. Once AI is let loose, policy makers must make sure our freedom is intact. Once AI takes over, we will have restricted freedom over what we can do or what we can change. I agree that AI is definitely helpful, but it may be too helpful. The idea of being able to lay back all day and not do any work sounds great, but work is what gives life meaning and purpose. Allowing AI to take care of everything sounds exactly like the plot of WALL-E. AI must be restricted towards only things that are dangerous towards humans like coal mining, or small things like driving as the most important thing about this is the right to keep our jobs.

 

Politicians can use AI to “nudge” people. The state of the internet as of right now gives you a sense of freedom, but in reality, Google and Facebook are collecting loads of metadata to target their ads towards you. For example, if they knew that you really liked McDonald’s from your searches, your ads will be more burger deals. Eventually, this leads to not the computer that is programmed, but instead more of a programmed person. Politicians can use ads or a series of internet “lures” to nudge you in the direction they think that the society should go. This is neither a good or bad thing, as it could come to a very peaceful and law abiding population without the sense that you are controlling them. It could however, be used in the wrong way when politicians use it to their own personal benefit, to use this to shift the attention to perhaps their campaign page. The fact is, whoever controls technology in an election is destined to win, as they have control over the internet and therefore people. The “nudging” could also create negative outcomes that are unpredictable. For example, during the German swine flu outbreak in 2009, people were encouraged to be vaccinated to prevent infection. However, an unexpected consequence was that a percentage of people who received the vaccine were affected by a new disease. Terrorists as well will try to obtain this technology, if AI is so talented, it can teach itself to hack into government programs and large corporations, causing widespread panic. It looks as if AI is not a good thing for us at the moment, but if we can find a good way to implement such a program without such consequences, then it will be revolutionary.

One of the hardest things to get past about AI is to align it with society’s core values. Technology that is uncontrolled is just to lead us down the path to a totalitarian world, where we do not govern technology, but instead technology governs us. We should not improve AI for them to be beyond our assistants. Limiting innovation for AI in this scenario would be the optimal solution. The fact that something could be just as good if not better at something that humans are, is incomprehensible to us as of right now. For example, surgeons and therapists were thought to be irreplaceable, but recently, advancements in technology made robots so precise that they could sew a grape skin back onto a grape. In order to have safe use of AI, we must have a very transparent way of implementing it. Where the people vote on whether or not AI is useful or not. For AI to work in our society, it must promote social and economic diversity and it must also promote responsible behavior of citizens in our new digital world.

So what does AI ultimately come down to? It comes down to how we use it, as AI can make or break us. Even if AI is better than us at doing things, should we really accept that and allow it to happen? AI is useful in the right hands, as described earlier, AI in the wrong hands could lead to skewed political results, unforeseeable consequences, cyber warfare, and more dangers still yet to be discovered. If we do not promote responsible use of AI, then visionaries like Elon Musk would be correct in saying that AI could plague our society. We have yet to understand the secrets that AI could be hiding, which is why we must take careful precautions when handling it. AI is a leap forward towards prosperity and innovation, but only if it is wielded by the worthy people.

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Citations

Knight, Will. “There’s a big problem with AI: even its creators can’t explain how it works.” MIT Technology Review. May 12, 2017. Accessed November 09, 2017. https://www.technologyreview.com/s/604087/the-dark-secret-at-the-heart-of-ai/.

Dirk Helbing, Bruno S. Frey, Gerd Gigerenzer, Ernst Hafen, Michael Hagner, Yvonne Hofstetter, Jeroen van den Hoven, Roberto V. Zicari, Andrej Zwitter. “Will Democracy Survive Big Data and Artificial Intelligence?” Scientific American. February 25, 2017. Accessed November 09, 2017. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/will-democracy-survive-big-data-and-artificial-intelligence/.

Ford, Paul. “Are We Smart Enough to Control Artificial Intelligence?” MIT Technology Review. February 01, 2016. Accessed November 09, 2017. https://www.technologyreview.com/s/534871/our-fear-of-artificial-intelligence/.   

Slam Poem: I am Not Black, You Are Not White

Asha Nenshi Nathoo
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As we take some time to sit down and reflect on this past year, I wanted to share with you a video I came across that contains what I feel is a very powerful message in what some call our broken world.

I am Not Black, You Are Not White is a slam poem written by Richard Williams. The author, more commonly known as Prince Ea, is an African American poet who is known for motivational messages that inspire through spoken word.

In this poem, Prince conveys the important message that our exterior is of little relevance to who we are as human beings, it is our interior that shows our true personality.

In a world where we seem to see increasing division, separation, and hatred of the other, perhaps the way forward is to recognize that we need to focus less on our external differences and more on our internal similarities.

Sadly, Canada is not immune from these global trends and all of us are seeing this everyday. I personally have friends right here in Calgary who are Muslim and who wear the hijab. They are fearful to go out into public because of the things people have been saying to them. This breaks my heart. This needs to change.

Let’s take this opportunity to remind ourselves of the common love inside that brings humanity together.

In the theme of reflection & contemplation, I’ll keep this post fairly short. So take a few minutes, to watch, and as Prince puts it, ask yourself the question, “Who would you be if the world never gave you a label?”

[Feature image source]

Best of 2017

Alice Choi
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Now that 2017 is coming to a close, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge all of its treasures that I have discovered throughout the course of the year. Here is my Best of 2017. 

Best Restaurants

NOTaBLE

NOTaBLE is an immensely praised and highly rated restaurant in Calgary. Seriously, one visit will let you realize why. From delicious food to great service, NOTaBLE is the perfect restaurant to celebrate any special occasion or t0 simply share a lovely meal with friends and family.

Find out more on their website.

Una Pizza

Una Pizza is situated on 17th Avenue, directly across from Western Canada High School. As a Western student, Una has been my go-to restaurant for years. From the selections of appetizers to salads to pizzas, there is sure to be an item that satisfies your cravings and is also guaranteed to be absolutely delicious. When you split the cost with friends, the price of the high-quality meal is often quite affordable on a high school student budget. 

Find out more on their website.

Best Cafés

Alforno

Classy yet casual, Alforno offers a beautiful and open atmosphere with its rooftop windows and unique decorations. It is the ideal spot for brunch or the place to go to share cup of coffee with freshly baked goods. 

Find out more on their website.

Vendome Café

Compared to Alforno, Vendome has a more cozy vibe but offers an equally mouth-watering selection of meals and pastries. From egg benedicts, waffles, to breakfast paninis, Vendome also makes a great breakfast/brunch location that is sure to quickly become one of your favourites.

Find out more on their website.

Best Albums

Flor- come out. you’re hiding

This album is the definition of the word “bop.” This has been my go-to album for all my musical needs this year from road trips to working out to studying.

Listen here.

Daniel Caesar- Freudian

I recently saw Daniel Caesar in concert in November, and his live performance was just as good as his album. Daniel Caesar’s music falls under the R&B/ soul genre and “Freudian” is the perfect album to listen to during a relaxed friend hang out or alone on an evening to wind down.

Listen here.

Ed Sheeran- Divide

Ed Sheeran released a highly anticipated album this year and he, once again, does not disappoint. With both upbeat to emotional songs, this album quickly became loved by many worldwide.  (Note: The “Perfect Duet with Beyoncé” that was released in November is everything I have always wanted in a song.)

Listen here.

Best Place to Study

Springborough Waves Coffee

With the spacious area, numerous seats, and comforting smell of coffee, the Springborough Waves Coffee has become one of my staple study spots.

Aspen Landing Good Earth

During the last semester of grade 11, I spent every day of exam break studying at the Aspen Landing Good Earth. It is welcoming, clean, comfortable, and directly next to numerous food places for whenever you get hungry after all that studying. For those living in or near the Aspen area, I highly recommend spending a study session or two at this location.

 

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10 Reasons Why Being Broken Up With Sucks

Julieanne Acosta
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I mean there’s a lot more but these ten are the most apparent :

  1. Closure : It sucks. A part of you thinks that certain someone will wanna give it another shot. Take it from me, if you build all your courage to ask for closure (ex. knowing if there’s still a chance, if they still have feelings for you, etc.) be ready for it to not go the way you probably wanted it to.
  2.  Mood Swings: Realizing how much you don’t need them one second to sobbing the next. It’s as if you’re never going to find a good medium. Thinking that maybe, just maybe, they’ll change their mind and come back and it’ll be fine. 
  3. Getting back together: Unless it’s genuine and wholesome and it works out for the better! If you’re anything like me though, your luck fell through the roof with this: got back together the next day, just to be dumped the same day the following week.
  4.  The Physical Pain: Not wanting to eat? Not wanting to go out? No sleeping? Constant crying? Headaches? Stomach growling? Having a pit in your stomach while your throats on fire? If this is what you’re looking for, step right up to a break up! 
  5. Having to deal with the stuff they gave you: Their shirt you never wore. The bracelet and necklace they gave to you. The letters they wrote to you. Figure something out because they all need to go.
  6. Being reminded about them: Going grocery shopping or driving somewhere and realizing the last time you did that small little thing was with them. Big Yikes.

 

7. Fighting the urges to text them and plead with them to take you back: I mean this is pretty self explanatory but it happens… a lot. But know that loving yourself is important. If they broke up with you? Their loss, not yours. 

 

8. Having to explain to people  you’re not dating anymore and fight back the tears all while pretending it’s all good : Honestly, especially if the relationship was fairly long and everyone knew about it, this happens once a day and it sucks a little less each time. Own it.

 

9. Watching other couples: Glaring at them as they walk down the hall holding hands, laughing, and thinking to yourself it’s a trap you should probably warn them about it. 

 

10. The start of moving on: Arguably also the best part. You’re on the road to feeling good but for now it sucks and it’s all apart of the process(or so I’ve heard so many times). In a few months it’s said that you’ll be okay. 

 

A message for those who are also newly dumped: As a conclusion, learn to love yourself without loving them. Heartbreaks suck but know that you don’t deserve this pain. However that doesn’t make your pain silly or invalid, what you’re feeling is normal and it’ll get better with time. I know that’s not what you want to hear but you’ll see that it’ll be okay.

For those who read this who actually haven’t been dumped: It’s a trap, be careful out there and I hoped you enjoyed the added break up memes for the sake of my humor.

Images : FI 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

What To See In YYC: December 22-24, 2017

Asha Nenshi Nathoo
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Slightly jealous of those taking extravagant vacations to Mexico or Hawaii to lounge on sandy beaches amidst palm tress. Don’t worry! The times of stressing over exams, projects, and deadlines have finally ended – school’s out! And, the white fluff is finally beginning to fall – it’s snowing! It sure is beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Take this perfect weekend to enjoy some of the festivities & events happening around Calgary as you kick off the holiday season with family and friends!

1) Northern Reflections Window Exhibition

A group of artists have painted street level windows in the holiday theme along Stephan Avenue. But.. wait – it gets way more exciting! This exhibition incorporates augmented reality technology so if you look at them through your smartphone, you will see a surprise animation. So head down, take a look and let your jaw drop!

When: All of December

Where: Calgary’s Downtown Core

Cost: Free!

 

2) Once Upon a Christmas

Don’t miss this chance to spend a magical day in the Heritage Park Historical Village and Gasoline Alley Museum. Along with being able to see how families spent Christmas during pioneer times, you will be able to enjoy wagon rides, carol singing, gingerbread cookie decorating, and a train display. The shops on Haskayne Mercantile Block and in the village are also perfect stops for some last minute holiday shopping.

When: December 23 – 24, 9;30am – 4pm

Where: Heritage Park (1900 Heritage Dr SW)

Cost: Adults – $10.95 and Children – $8.75

 

3) ZooLights

This is the 20th year of the zoo being lit in dozens of light displays comprised of more than 1.5 million lights. At the same time as looking at these breathtaking lights, you’ll be able to skate, play some carnival games, create crafts, take your picture with Santa, and help support Wildlife Conservation. Head down to see this local attraction in an entirely new light.

When: Every evening until January 6th (except Christmas Day), 6 – 9pm

Where: Calgary Zoo (1300 Zoo Rd. NE)

Cost: Adults – $14.95 and Children –  $11.95

4) Christmas in Kensignton

Head to Kensignton to enjoy complimentary tea, coffee & hot chocolate, selfies with Santa, horse & wagon rides, a petting zoo and more! The movie, Die Hard, will also be showing at the Plaza Theatre (1133 Kensington Rd NW) starting at 3:30pm on Saturday.

When: Saturday December 23rd, 12 – 4 pm & Sunday December 24th, 1 – 3 pm

Where: Kensignton Road and 10th Street NW

Cost: Admission to the movie by donation

5) The Polar Express Train Ride

Only a short drive from Calgary, you can climb aboard The Polar Express Train Ride for a magical journey to the North Pole! Once onboard hot chocolate and treats are served as passengers read along the classic story, The Polar Express, by Chris Van Allsburg

When: December 22 – 24. Click here for specific timings.

Where: Aspen Crossing, 1 km west of Mossleigh on Highway #24

Cost: $60/ticket

 

6) Theatre in YYC

The theatre season is going strong in Calgary! Theatre Calgary presents A Christmas Carol, the staging of Charles Dickens’ classic novel taking you on the journey of Scrooge with the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Future. The Nutcracker put on by Alberta Ballet tells the story of a young girl names Clara whose wooden nutcracker magically comes to life on Christmas Eve. And, if you’re looking for something the little ones would enjoy, Alberta Theatre Project is performing the family friendly show, Charlotte’s Web. Click on the above tittles for specific information regarding showtimes, ticket availability, and prices.

When: Daily matinee and evening shows

Where: Max Bell Theatre, Jubilee Auditorium and Martha Cohen Theatre

Cost: Varies from $30 and up

 

Wishing everyone a warm, safe, and relaxing holiday season! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 

 

Image Sources: 1/2/3/4/5/6/7

 

Some Facts About Tea

Madina Shaykhutdinova
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Did you know that tea is the second-most popular beverage in the world, with water in first place? The plant that tea comes from is the Camellia sinensis, which is native to Asia. A tropical or subtropical climate is required for its cultivation. There are thousands of different varieties of tea.

The Camellia sinensis may have come from areas around southwest China, Tibet, and northern India. During the Tang dynasty (618 – 907), tea became popular in China and was established as the national drink. The Buddhist monk Lu Yu wrote the Ch’a Ching (Classic of Tea treatise), a book about the different types of tea, their methods of preparation, their health benefits, and referenced spirituality that reflected religious thoughts of that time. In the 9th century, a Japanese Buddhist monk introduced tea to Japan after he brought back seeds from the plant. Eventually, tea became an important part of Japanese culture.

In North America, black tea is the most commonly used tea in tea bags. In order to make black tea, the leaves are withered. As the water evaporates, oxygen is absorbed by the leaf in a process known as oxidation. The leaves usually undergo full oxidation for black tea. Earl Grey, Darjeeling, and Ceylon tea are all varieties of black tea. Ceylon tea comes from Sri Lanka, which used to be called “Ceylon”.

The leaves of Oolong tea are partially oxidized. This allows the tea to be very fragrant. The flavour qualities of this tea combine the qualities of black tea and green tea.

Oolong tea leaves

Green tea is allowed to wither for only a short while. It is quickly steamed or heated to stop the oxidation. This results in green tea having less caffeine than black tea. One variety of green tea is Matcha. For this type of tea, the leaves are not rolled but are stone-ground. Green tea is the most popular tea in Japan.

Matcha

White tea is hand-picked and uses the youngest shoots of the tea plant before they are open. It is not oxidized at all. This results in a mild and naturally sweet flavour to the tea.

Image sources: 1 / 2 / 3

Standardized Testing

Nikoo Givehchian
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As the most common method of determining an individual’s aptitude or skill, standardized tests are nothing new. This simple method of choosing the best from the worst has been used for generations, and despite some flaws, the method is sound enough to have been used for this long.

But lately, there have been doubts expressed about these methods.

And now the question is, should we continue to use standardized testing? Recently, there has been some controversy over the use of standardized tests in the classroom among other places, where some claim their abilities are degraded or they are otherwise impaired by this method of testing. Personally, I’m not sure how much I agree with this- they do seem to do their job, even though they’re no fun- and so I decided to investigate.

Standardized vs. Non-Standardized Tests

Before deciding on the advantages or otherwise, it’s probably best to clearly define what is being investigated first. Standardized tests are essentially examinations given to large groups of people (or anything that is to be ranked, really) who all go through virtually the same test under the same conditions. It is meant to be equal for all, and to provide each test-taker with an equal opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge in a certain field.

A non-standardized test is more flexible by definition, as it allows each test-taker to undergo potentially different examinations in different conditions. The most clear drawback to this method is the difficulty in comparing different individual’s test results, yet many find they are able to most clearly demonstrate their knowledge in conditions that are not the strict ones of a standardized test, but rather the more relaxed and accommodating environment of the non-standardized test. Even so, there are still a few drawbacks to this testing system that make it not as equal as one might expect.

Perhaps it’s easiest to break it down…

Standardized Testing

PROS CONS
  • generally quick results
  • consistent interpretations
  • comparable results due to everyone receiving the same test (equality)
  • easier and more convenient to make and distribute on a large scale
  • fair grading, fair conditions, no one given any advantage over others
  • limited to testing only a few things (rote memorization, etc.)
  • what is being tested, really: one’s ability to perform what is being asked, or simply one’s ability to take a standardized test?
  • test-anxiety limiting the performance of some students

 

Non-Standardized Testing

PROS CONS
  • more suitable tests for some students to more fully express what they know
  • allows a more broad range of knowledge and skill to be demonstrated
  • those with test anxiety can better their performance
  • can be seen as unfair, since some aren’t given as many benefits as others
  • more difficult to distribute and evaluate- less time efficient
  • how does one compare the results of completely different tests? and how in a timely manner?
  • highly inconvenient to distribute these tests among large groups

My verdict

The reality is, it’s a lot more efficient for education systems to employ the use of standardized tests rather than unstandardized tests. After all, there are many students and only so many staff who can sit down and regulate different tests for each student, and fairly comparing their results among that of other students would be another time-consuming issue. In this world of ever-increasing competition, skill in performing standardized tests is becoming essential for success in schooling and life in general, and despite the drawbacks, we have to realize that the benefits and overall practicality of standardized testing makes it the prevalent method of assessing people’s knowledge.

However, it is becoming more and more widely recognized that while standardized testing is useful in many aspects, it does have its limitations. For this reason, a lot of professional organizations examine individuals not only in their standardized test results, but also by conducting interviews and allowing people to express their knowledge by other testing methods. This is highly beneficial in allowing all a chance to demonstrate what they know, and I believe these accommodations within a society that uses standardized tests for the most part is useful.

Even schools are beginning to take this idea into consideration, and have evolved over time to incorporate more methods of testing than just the multiple-choice exams with which we are all familiar. For example, there has been a recent change to offer extra time to all students who feel they need it in their high school examinations (as they are doing this year for not only grade 10 and 11 finals, but also for diplomas). These sorts of adaptations show that society isn’t as judgemental as some might think when it comes to testing, and I personally feel these flexibilities combined with the standardized testing method yield the most efficient, most fair evaluations that could realistically work within the current education system.

In the end, each method seems to have its place. Sometimes, the efficiency and fairness of a standardized test is required in order to realistically compare vast numbers of test-takers, and a non-standardized test would only create unfairness and chaos in sorting the results. On the other hand, there are times when a test-taker’s creativity or other abstract idea is to be tested, and to create a solid standardized test for this would not only be difficult, but its results would virtually be meaningless. In this sort of situation, it is best to allow each test-taker to present what it is they can do by their own means, and as long as there isn’t a vast amount of test-takers to go through, the non-standardized testing method is far more realistic and effective in determining creativity. In the end, we need both types of tests, and as long as society is willing to be fair in accommodating individuals’ needs while using standardized tests in order to be efficient, I believe these testing methods will continue to be used in future generations.

 

This article was inspired by this TEDEd video. If you haven’t already, definitely give it a watch!

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The Best Memes of 2017

Bhavana Vel
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A lot of things happened in 2017, but one one of the constants of the year were the undeniably hilarious memes.

Some may have found the memes downright confusing, but for some, these memes were the only thing that kept them going this year.

Well, this is inevitably going to be a long post, so sit back, relax, and enjoy.

JANUARY

1. Salt Bae

Salt bae is the nickname given to a Turkish chef who went viral after a video was posted of him flamboyantly sprinkling salt on a slab of meat.

2. Cash Me Outside

“Cash me outside, how bow dah?” or, in English: “Catch me outside, how about that?”. This simply iconic phrase was said by 13 year old Danielle Bregoli on the Dr. Phil Show, after she got tired of the audience continously laughing at her. The phrase basically means to “catch her outside” for a fight.

3. Michelle Obama at Trump’s Inauguration

This refers to the series of pictures taken of Michelle Obama at President Trump’s inauguration, where she receives a box from Melania Trump and clearly does not know what to do with it.

Slow motion- even better.

What a queen. Michelle, if you’re reading this: just like you and that box, we also have no idea what to do with the fact that out of all people, Donald Trump is the American president.

FEBRUARY

1. Roll Safe

Roll Safe is the reaction picture of the man tapping his head that went viral this year- I know you know what I’m talking about.

This then escalated into hilarious variations.

2. What in Tarnation?

This became a meme after the online community began to poke fun at the common Southern American saying.

3. Drew Scanlon

This meme is actually known as the “blinking white guy” meme, which the Twitter community made popular by using it as a reaction GIF. It’s honestly my reaction to everything.

MARCH

1. Meryl Streep Yelling

I love this meme, mainly because I love Meryl Streep.

https://twitter.com/RynoOstar/status/843498722982006784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fmashable.com%2F2017%2F12%2F09%2Fbest-memes-of-2017%2F

2. Student Athletes

This is a dialogue meme that mocked stereotypical student athletes on social media who constantly talk about their “grind”, their dreams, and how they never stop working.

Quick vocabulary session.

Grind:When an individual pushes his/herself to attain a goal. (Urban Dictionary)

APRIL

1. The Expanding Brain

This was one of the most ironic and longest memes to stay around this year. The meme is basically a series of images which compare tasks to brain size, but actually imply the opposite (the task with the largest expanded brain is actually something very foolish).

As with all memes, this one also came with its own variations. Here’s one directed towards dogs.

MAY

1. Fidget Spinners

We all know what fidget spinners are. You know, the toy designed to keep kids from fidgeting. Quite self explanatory. But after the craze took over the world, literally, the meme did too.

2. Mocking Spongebob

We’ve all done it or heard it before. Where we’re in an argument, and we don’t have anything to say back, so we just mock whatever the other person just said in a weird voice. This meme is basically the visual embodiment of that.

JUNE

1. Boneless Pizza

Boneless pizza is the somewhat confusing, what even meme of this year. It went viral after someone videotaped themselves prank calling a pizza place and accidentally asking for “boneless pizza”.

 

2. The Floor Is Lava

This meme is basically mocking the childhood game most of us have played, where we pretend the floor is lava.

This meme also had variations, in which people said “the floor is ____” with a picture of a jumping man, basically saying they’re avoiding it.

JULY

1. Hotdog Man

Over the summer, Snapchat released a new filter in which you could flip your camera away from your face and position a dancing hotdog-man on your screen, making it look like you’re taking a video of it. This in turn became a meme.

2. 3017

This meme originated on Twitter, where people would showcase others solving issues in weird and often irrational ways, captioning it based off of the original- “Y’all living in 2017, but this guy already in 3017.”

AUGUST

1. Trump and the Solar Eclipse

When the solar eclipse happened this year, the one thing we were all strongly advised to do was to never look at the eclipse directly unless using a pair of eclipse glasses, and even then, you shouldn’t look at it for prolonged amounts of time.

Obviously, Trump did the exact opposite. Memes followed.

SEPTEMBER

1. Distracted Boyfriend

This stock photo of a disloyal guy looking at another woman while with his girlfriend went viral because of the thousands (literally thousands of hilarious and relatable variations).

OCTOBER

1. Monkey Haircut

This meme is literally what it sounds like- a monkey getting a haircut. I for one, found it hilarious for some reason.

But then, people realized this picture can be photoshopped into any situation, so they took advantage of that.

NOVEMBER

1. Big Shaq, “Mans Not Hot”

This infamous song became popular after a verse of the song, called “The ting goes” verse went viral on Twitter. In that verse, Big Shaq makes odd gun noises with his mouth.

Then, people began putting it over footage, like this person, who put it over Big Ben’s final chimes.

And that’s all, folks! Now, let’s get to hoping 2018 brings us memes as funny and absurd as the ones of this year.

Sources:

x, x, x, x, x, x, x, x, x, x, x, x, x, x, x, x, x, x, x, x, x, x, x, x, x, x, x, x

Unusual Christmas Songs for the Holiday Season

James Zhou
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The holiday season is right around the corner and with that comes, naturally, Christmas music! Besides your usual Christmas carols and songs, here are a few unorthodox Christmas songs that will be sure to brighten your mood this holiday season (in no particular order):

“Dominick the Donkey” by Lou Monte

The song describes Dominick, who is an Italian Christmas Donkey that helps Santa pulls his sled and bring presents to children because “the reindeer cannot climb the hills of Italy”. Overall, the song is extremely lively and catchy, and even includes its fair share of donkey noises.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYlvfX3nwlc

“The Twelve Days of Christmas” by Bob and Doug McKenzie

Bob and Doug McKenzie are two fictional characters in “Great White North”, which were short segments of the 1980s TV show SCTV that was based upon Canadian stereotypes. In 1981, they released a music album which was called The Great White North. One of the songs included in the album was their version of “The Twelve Days of Christmas”. Throughout the song there is plenty of hysterical banter between Bob and Doug, as well as plenty of stereotypical Canadian gifts. Contrary to the title, the pair only ever gets to seven items.

“I Want a Hippopotamus For Christmas” by Gayla Peevey

As the title suggests, the song is about a girl who wishes for a hippopotamus for Christmas. The song is over 60 years old, and has essentially become a Christmas classic. Interestingly enough, when the song came out in 1953, a campaign was launched to present Gayla Peevey (10 years old at the time) with a hippopotamus for Christmas. The campaign succeeded and the hippopotamus was donated to the Oklahoma City Zoo.

“Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” by Elmo & Patsy

Although the song opens with the melody of Jingle Bells, the song provides a very different outlook on “dashing through the snow”. This song is about exactly what the title says, Grandma getting trampled by Santa and his reindeer. The lyrics of the song describes the events leading up to and after Grandma is run over.

BONUS: Pokemon “Christmas Medley”

Even if you are a Pokemon fan, you likely have not heard of the Pokemon Christmas Bash, a Christmas themed music album released in 2001 recorded with the cast of the English anime. The album features some interesting original songs and covers of well-known songs. The most notable song in the album is the “Christmas Medley”, which puts a Pokemon themed twist on eight classic Christmas carols.

I hope that these songs were able to amuse you as much as they amused me. Happy holidays to all!

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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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