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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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Fortnite Battle Royale – Hit or Miss?

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If you “keep up with the times”, so to speak, then you would know what Fortnite is. Kids and teens alike all over North America are obsessing over this game, and some may think, “Why?”

Well, I’m here to teach you. Welcome!

Fortnite is a completely free to play multiplayer game developed and published by Epic Games. Now, I’ve played many multiplayer games before (Overwatch or Destiny 2, anyone?) but Fortnite is definitely something that stands out.

Before we get started, let’s talk about how the game is completely free to play (maybe you noticed how I bolded and italicized it before? maybe not). One of the reasons Fortnite is so wildly successful is due to the fact that it’s free to play on PS4, Xbox, and desktop (MacOS and PC!). It supports a wide variety of players, and the only money the game makes is from cosmetic upgrades like skins that players can purchase. Awesome, right?

Anyway, let’s talk about the basics. Fortnite is a battle royale game.

According to Wikipedia, “Battle royale games challenge a large number of players, starting with minimal equipment, to search for weapons and armor and eliminate other opponents all while avoiding being trapped outside of a shrinking “safe area”, with the winner being the last competitor in the game.

In Fortnite Battle Royale, you’ll drop down from a flying bus along with 99 other players and have the choice of where you’ll land on the map.

You land with nothing but a pickaxe. Your objective at the beginning is to “loot” and find guns and other weapons/items around the map which you’ll need to survive.

Epic Games said that Fortnite is a lot like the game Minecraft in the way that you can break trees, buildings, and more to gain wood, bricks, and steel which you can use to build. One huge thing that sets Fortnite apart from other battle royale games is the ability to build structures. These structures go on to become incredibly useful in the game, where you can build forts and more to access places where you can find rare loot.

As the game progresses, a “storm” begins to surround the area and the safe zone (a thin, white circle randomly generated on the map) continuously shrinks. If you’re caught in the storm, you’ll take damage and potentially die. The reason battle royale games incorporate “safe zones” into their games is to eventually force the players to fight one another.

As the 100 players start being eliminated (killed), the game comes to the last two players who must battle each other- with whoever winning receiving a “Victory Royale”.

Now, getting started on Fortnite can be difficult. Mainly because there’s no tutorial when you first start. You can learn a lot by watching livestreams, gameplays, and I think there’s a couple “beginner’s tips” you can find online too! But at the end of the day, as cliche as it sounds, practice makes perfect.

I wish you all luck in your future Fortnite endeavours!

sources: featured image/1/2/3

Attempting to Answer Philosophical Questions

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I think about life a lot, often having an existential crisis every day. Who are we? What are we even doing here? Do we even have a purpose?  The greatest philosophers haven’t thought up an answer to those questions, what makes me fit to answer them? Absolutely nothing! But that’s why it’ll be interesting!

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  1. Does Time Have A Beginning or End: yes and no. Time has always been around, but it only began when there were things to document its presence. First there was nothing, then there was everything, and of course, that took time to happen. And far off into the future, there will be everything then there will be nothing. We’ll only say time started when things started to happen and say it ends when there’s nothing left to happen. But when the world comes to an end, there will be nobody to even remember what “time” was.
  2. What Is Love: love is a feeling. It’s strong and powerful. It’s a feeling of joy and happiness and all things good.
  3. Is Our Universe Real: yeah, of course. I mean, what are we living in? Unless we’re not real. Then nothing’s real. But today, I’m leaning more towards the “we exist” side, so yes. The universe is real. If we’re real, we need something real to live in, am I right?
  4. Is There More Than One Universe: yes. There’s definitely some parallel universe with another version of us in it living some double life. There’s no doubt, we’re not the only universe.
  5. What Gives Life Its Meaning: what you decide to do in it. Life only has a meaning if you give it one. You can live your life however you want, you can choose how to live it. If you want to live your life every day doing something important, that’s what you’re giving back to life. You spend every day painting, you’re leaving behind beauty for the rest of world and that was your life’s meaning. If you spent every day murdering people, that’s the type of meaning you’re giving your life; a negative one. To shorten it up, what gives life its meaning? You do.
  6. Do Animals Have Souls: of course! Animals have souls and feelings and everything us humans have.
  7. Why Do We Experience Emotion: we experience emotions because we have a need to feel. We want to feel happy or need to feel angry and we will. Emotions make us who we are, it controls our thoughts and actions. Without experiencing any type of emotion, we’d be living in a cold and dark world.
  8. How Do You Explain Consciousness: I think it’s being aware. When you’re unconscious, you’re unaware of your surroundings. Being conscious, you have access to more things within yourself than when you are asleep.
  9. Why Do We Dream: we dream because we have all these images stored in our head with nowhere to go! They put memories to good use. We dream because why not? Our mind is so great, it can even make mini-movies. We dream because we can.
  10. Why Do We Create Art: we create art because we want to express ourselves. We want beauty to be shared with the world.

Think about it tonight while you’re trying to go to sleep. Do we exist? What is time? What is life? Give it a nice deep thought. Who knows, maybe you’ll figure out the answer to everything.

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Samsung’s newest addition to its Galaxy family

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On February 26 2018, Samsung announced its newest installment of its galaxy phone line with the addition of the Samsung Galaxy S9. The newest phones by the South Korean manufacturer boasts new additions to its Galaxy Line, which aims to help it compete with the popularity of Apple’s iPhone X.

One of the newest most promising features of the Samsung Galaxy S9 is the newly developed camera, which Samsung claims to operate just like the human eye. The camera lens adjusts its aperture size to welcome incoming light for shaper-less grainy photos in low light. This dynamic adaptation means that the Samsung Galaxys S9’s lens can adapt to whatever light conditions, meaning that the lens can create the best conditions possible regardless of the time of day. However, alongside the dynamic aperture lens, the Galaxy S9 also boasts an incredibly fast slow motion camera which shoots at 960 frames per second, compared to the previous Galaxy S8 which only shot at 240 frames per second. All in all this means that the camera can capture more frames when compiling a video, meaning that the user can get more definition and a higher quality, “slower”, slow-motion video.

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Alongside the plethora of increased Camera benefits which the S9 was given this year, it has also improved certain aspects of its Augmented Reality to give its a deeper user experience. This year Samsung introduced AR focused emoji’s which aim to act in direct competition with Apple’s “animoji.” The built-in Camera in the S9 scans the users face and builds a 3D emoji character which is meant to resemble the users real-life appearance. Users can use the 3D emojis in text messages in a fashion similar to the already popular “Bitmoji,” or they can send live videos which mimic their facial expressions. Moreover, AR allows for other purposes that individuals can use on a daily basis to make their lives more simple. For example, Bixby – Samsung’s smart assistant, can now utilize the camera to render translations of street signs in different languages to the user’s language of choice.

Image result for samsung galaxy ar emoji's

Relative to the Galaxy S7 and the difference it had to the Galaxy S8, the Galaxy S9 has not changed very much in regards to design compared to its older sibling. It still features Samsung’s beautiful infinity edge display which has Samsung’s in-house produced OLED technology. However, one change which has occurred, is the repositioning of the fingerprint reader from beside the camera, to underneath it. This repositioning addresses the issue which caused a lot of people to get smudges on their camera versus touch the fingerprint sensor. With this new repositioning,  it makes it easier and more accessible to find the fingerprint reader.

Overall Samsung’s newest phone is sure to create some media attention. It has added a lot of desirable features which are sure to keep loyal Samsung enthusiasts in the Samsung ecosystem, however as a result of software optimization, and improved hardware, Samsung may also be creating some new fans.

Image Source 1/2/3

Information Sources:

http://www.samsung.com/ca/smartphones/galaxy-s9/

http://www.samsung.com/ca/smartphones/galaxy-s9/camera/

http://www.samsung.com/ca/smartphones/galaxy-s9/augmented-reality/

http://www.samsung.com/ca/smartphones/galaxy-s9/design/

http://www.samsung.com/ca/apps/bixby/vision/

Featured Image Source: https://timedotcom.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/galaxy-s9_3colors.jpg

The Early-February Stock Market Dips: Should You Be Worried?

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On Monday, February 5th, the Dow Jones Industrial Average experienced the worst single-day point decline in history, plunging by almost 1,600 points. As the day progressed buyers were able to staunch the bleeding, but at the time of closing the Dow was still down 1,175 points, its worst closing point decline on record.

So, what does this mean? Are we about to plunge into another nightmare scenario, another 2008-era scourge of unemployment, bankruptcy, and billions in losses? Is it time to succumb to paranoia?

Well, not exactly.

Not every market plunge is cause for alarm, although it is true that most financial crises have begun with a market plunge. So how can we tell whether this little hiccup in the markets is an isolated incident, or the start of something much worse?

The answer lies, surprisingly, in the field of psychology.

Recessions occur when a little slowdown in spending in an economy feeds on itself. One drop in the index, and businesses are a little more cautious in their hiring, and vulnerable workers do a little more precautionary saving. This causes businesses to become even more cautious, and so on, and so on, until you eventually have a recession on your hands. They don’t magically appear out of nowhere, but rather, occur when everyone is worrying and saving all their money, the banks run out of money, and the economy itself gets stuck in a downturn. The recession is essentially an outbreak of collective fear.

Governments and economists have been aware of these trends for years. They have also realized that these outbreaks of fear can be fought, by persuading everyone that their worry is unsubstantiated, and that things are actually fine. To convince citizens that they should go back to being cheerful and optimistic (and freely spending their money, in order to keep the economy rolling), governments can replace the lost spending directly by increasing their own spending, or the central bank can set public policy targets that they aim to hit, such as changes in interest rates.

In other words, keeping an economy out of recession is just as largely a matter of psychology as it is based on actual policy. It’s about coordinating everyone’s expectations, so that everyone believes the economy will adapt to minor hiccups and continue chugging along.

So, if governments and banks know how to keep people optimistic, why do recessions even happen? Certain unexpected events can drastically change the mood for the worse. A bank failure that people didn’t see coming. Or a spike in the price of oil. Or… a dramatic drop in stock prices. But in the case of the latter, additional extenuating circumstances are often necessary, such as the common notion that the economy is “due” for a downturn after an extended period of prosperity, or the idea that the government or central bank might not quite be prepared to swing into their usual “mood-elevating” activity.

If the people lack trust in the government in some of these crucial times, then by the time these institutions realize the shift in mood it is too late, and the economy is already in a downturn. This is at least partially what happened with the mortgage boom of the 2000s, leading up to the 2008 subprime mortgage crisis.

But, going back to Monday’s drop, thankfully it is hard to conceive that such a plunge could shake economic sentiment enough that we would actually be facing any real problems. This is also particularly true for us in Canada; we aren’t as tied to the fate of the markets as our Southern neighbours. If you were to ask me personally, I’d predict that within a few more days the events of the 5th will practically be forgotten by the resurgence of the usual ups and downs of the Dow Jones.

These stock market dips are probably nothing. But then again, they usually are, except for the times when they aren’t.

Song Suggestions For The Music Searcher

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Do you have a constant need to listen to new music? Well take a look and see what you like!


Artist: The Killers 

An indie pop band that most of you probably know for their popular song, Mr Brightside. Their new album Wonderful, Wonderful that came out just last year, has some awesome songs that deserve more recognition.

  •  Run For Cover (Album Wonderful,Wonderful)
  • Out of my Mind (Album: Wonderful, Wonderful)
  • Life to Come ( Album: Wonderful, Wonderful)
  • Mr. Brightside ( Album: Hot Fuss)
Jam out songs

This compilation has songs that I have been caught dancing to a handful of times and hopefully, you will too.

  • I Wanna Get Better ( Artist: Bleachers, Album : Strange Desire)
  • Here Is Gone (The Goo Goo Dolls, Single)
  • like that (Bea Miller, chapter two: red)
  • Ringer  (The Unlikely Candidates, Bed of Liars)
  • Gives You Hell (The All American Rejects, When The World Comes Down)
  • Hoops (The Rubens, Hoops)
  • Losing My Religion (R.E.M, Out Of Time)
  • Pray For Me (The Weekend with Kendrick Lamar, Black Panther The Album)
  • She’s A Riot (The Jungle Giants, Learn To Exist)
Softer Songs To Calm You Down 

These are more mellow songs that are sure to help you relax.

  • In My Arms (Grizfolk ft. Jamie N Commons, Single)
  • Ivy (Grant & Grandeur, Nearly 4am)
  • Criminal, Act I (Grant & Grandeur, Nearly 4am)
  • Iris (The Goo Goo Dolls, Dizzy Up The Girl)
  • I’ll Be Fine (Johnny Stimson, Yesterday)
  • I Followed (hunter&wolfe, Late Then Never)
  • hostage (Billie Eilish, dont smile at me

 

 


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Don’t fall out of your chair laughing!

You’ll want to PUNch me after this blog 😉

 

Here’s 10 jokes:

  1. What happened when two artists had an art contest? IT ENDED IN A DRAW
  2. What do you call a snobbish criminal going down the stairs? A CONDESCENDING CON DESCENDING
  3. Did you guys hear about the egg joke? YEAH, IT CRACKED ME UP
  4. What did you think of the joke about the high wall? IT’S HILARIOUS! I CAN’T GET OVER IT
  5. What’s the best thing about Switzerland? WELL THE FLAG IS A BIG PLUS
  6. What do you call an alligator with a vest? AN INVESTIGATOR
  7. Why did the picture go to jail? BECAUSE IT WAS FRAMED
  8. What do you call 2 octopuses that look exactly the same? THEY’RE ITENTICLE
  9. What did the guy exclaim after inventing the shovel? IT’S GROUND BREAKING!
  10. Why did the gym close down? IT JUST DIDN’T WORK OUT

Don’t stop… you have to read my 10 puns now, or else you’ll be PUNished.

  1. A prisoner was told how he’ll be executed. Needless to say, he was shocked.
  2. I tried to sue the airport for misplacing my luggage. I lost my case.
  3. The past, the present, and the future walked into an empty room… it was tense.
  4. An atom loses an electron. It says, “Man, I really got to keep an ion them”
  5. I googled how to start a campfire. I got 48,500 matches.
  6. I once ate a watch. It was very time consuming.
  7. I would tell you a construction pun, but I’m still working on it.
  8. Do you know Ireland is only one sea away from Iceland?
  9. RIP boiling water. You will be mist.

And lastly…

10. I entered ten puns into a contest to see which one would win.

NO PUN IN TEN DID

 

 

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New Coca-Cola Drinks for the first time in over 15 years.

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Since 2002, The Coca-Cola company hasn’t changed its coke flavourings. That was four days ago.

For the first time in what seems like forever, the brand is launching two new flavours with a vintage look.

 

The two flavours dubbed Coca-Cola Georgia Peach, and Coca-Cola California Raspberry will be popping up around american restaurants, bars, and possibly grocery stores this week. The flavours are locally inspired and sourced by fruit from the regions in their names.

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These are more fancy then the traditional bottle, and have a good chance of competing with many craft sodas currently in the market.

Now, growing up with the classical cola brand, i’m not sure how this one will compare. However The Coca-Cola Company worked with 9,500 customers, and nearly tested 30 flavours, so i’m fairly confident these two new flavours won’t fail to impress.

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These two sodas will act as a companion to the four new diet coke flavours also being released: Ginger Lime, Feisty Cherry, Blood Orange, and Twisted Mango. All of the new cola flavours are more locally sourced and fruity then the traditional coke brand. “We know that our consumers want more transparency,” Lillian Norton, senior brand manager of Coca-Cola Innovation, said in a release. “They want clear ingredient information, and they’re seeking out more local products. They’re shopping local, and eating local. So we wanted to allow people to experience some unique local flavors no matter where they live in the United States.” The company seems to be entering into a new age of innovation and flavours for the next generation.

 

Although, growing up on the sweet dark traditional coke, I’m not sure what to think of the new drinks. For the moment I’m undecided, at least until I can get my hands on a brand new bottle of Georgia Peach or California Raspberry.

So what’s your opinion on this new cola endeavour? Feel free to comment below!

Image sources: 1/2/3

Superfoods: What’s In Your Diet?

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Superfood. You may have heard of this term several times. And no, it’s not a lame comic book character.

Not what a superfood is.

According to Merriam-Webster, a superfood is a food that is rich in compounds considered beneficial to a person’s health. Basically, it’s the healthiest of healthy foods.

And I know that may sound daunting, but you may be surprised to find that many superfoods are probably already in your diet, and if they aren’t, they can easily be added into everyday meals (sometimes even tastelessly!)

Now, let’s get into my favourite 5 superfoods, their benefits, and how you can put them into your diet.

#5: Kefir

You may not have heard of this one. Or maybe you have. Who knows? Anyway, kefir is basically just fermented milk. To me, it tastes a lot like a stronger version of drinkable yogurt. You can find it in lots of different flavours at your local supermarket, and it tastes great. The best part is that it’s great for you too! Kefir provides your body with vitamins A, D, C, and B. It’s also filled with calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and essential fatty acids.

#4: Blueberries

Of course you’ve heard of this one.  Blueberries are great tasting on their own, in smoothies, or in desserts. They’re a well rounded fruit (literally), since they have awesome health benefits as well. Blueberries contain fibre, potassium, and loads of vitamin C.

#3: Quinoa

Quinoa (in my opinion) tastes great. It’s wheat free, and you can put it in so many things. Parfaits, salads, a substitute for rice… the possibilities are huge! Quinoa is extremely protein rich, has lots of fibre, and contains iron.

#2: Spinach

Can I just start this off by saying how great spinach is? It’s versatile, healthy, and if implemented properly, can taste really good. What’s not to love? Spinach goes well in smoothies and basically any lunch/dinner dish if you just believe. Because of spinach’s light taste, I’ve even heard of people sneakily planting it in baked goods, such as these baked brownies. Spinach is low in fat and cholesterol. It’s also high in protein, fibre, calcium, and iron. Spinach also includes vitamins A, C, E, and K!

#1: Almonds

Last, but not least. One of the reasons almonds are my #1 superfood is because of how versatile it is, like spinach. You can literally grind them up and put them anywhere. Almonds can be easily added into desserts, salads, casseroles, and more! Did you know that almonds are the richest source of calcium out of all the nuts? Almonds also provide vitamin E and protein. What’s not to love?

 

Sources

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Real advice for the English diploma’s writing section

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It’s probably a ridiculous time for a post like this, since exams recently concluded, but one of the reasons I’m writing this at all is because I thought of some interesting concepts after writing my English diploma. I hope this can be of some use to the ones writing in the next semester, or even those in earlier years of high school.

There are 2 main types of writing expected of students: critical essays and personal responses. I’ll start with the latter. Technically, critical essays fall under the category of PR, so you can familiarize yourself with just essay writing and still perform well, but the question chosen for a PR response is often much more vague; furthermore, the given text for the PR usually won’t have a clear specific thesis that you can derive in the given time and then write on, so it’s beneficial to explore other types of prose beforehand.

The PR’s pretty simple: you just need the message and give a good presentation of that. A good way to find said message is to gather impressions for the first section of the text (if you’re not using an image) and try to solidify them into a conclusive thesis after reaching the end.  Like the phrase on the Snitch in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”, the text will “open at the close”: the main idea is almost always revealed in the final stretch of the passage. It’s often very simple: an exemplar on Alberta Education’s website wrote on the notion that “parental forces encourage a child to act”. Of course, you’ll still need to integrate a quote from the text and reinforce your message throughout your writing, but finding the topic stem is relatively straightforward.

For the critical essay, try to consider the text you’re writing on as a sort of dissertation that’s trying to argue for a certain perspective, rather than a short story, novel, or whatever it actually is. This will enrich your interpretation of the text. For the thesis, a good format to utilize is “event-reaction-result”: something occurs that causes a character to act in a certain way or struggle, ultimately resulting on some other thing. (Remember to write about an individual and use “he/she” instead of “they”.) This fits the 3-paragraph essay well, as you can support one section of the causality in each paragraph. Of course, feel free to make your thesis whatever you want, but this is generally a secure setup for high marks in the IDEAS category.

Teachers are really good at recognizing bulls*** when they see it (I’ve learned the hard way before). If your ideas aren’t very deep, even if you try to impress with extravagant words and structure, you probably won’t get much of a higher mark. A good way to prepare for essays is to separate the concepts from the words: you can remember certain good-sounding phrases for the intro, but beyond that, try to plan and brainstorm in words that are as simple as possible. There’s no point in trying to impress yourself with fancy writing when you’re developing the foundation of your argument. This way, you’ll recognize any shortcomings or holes in your reasoning before the results end up biting you.

Of course, writing can be improved with practice. I found reading generally helpful in expanding vocabulary and improving my phrasing skills. A relatively abstract approach that I sometimes took was thinking of ways that the author could’ve written better, so when you’re studying for something – whether it be the sciences or the humanities – try to be critical of any text you’re reading (provided that you have time, and aren’t desperately cramming for tomorrow’s unit final that you’re taking big L’s on). Your mark – and sense of satisfaction – will thank you for it.

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Spontaneously Learning HTML

If you know me personally, you might already know that I’m into coding. I’m no expert at coding my any means; in fact, it’s been a while since I last coded anything in Python.

Over the long weekend, I was inspired to start learning something I’ve set aside for years, and that’s, as you may have guessed by the name of this post, how to program in html. More specifically, I wanted to learn to create my own website using html.

This came on a total whim because to say “I was inspired” completely overlooks what actually happened. It was more of a “oh my, I have wasted half my weekend doing nothing” and “maybe I should spend the next half doing something useful, while doing nothing” sort of gist. What was really amazing about learning html, was that once I delved into the online textbook, the first pdf I found after typing the simple google search: html textbook, I caught myself reading the it for several hours without noticing time pass by so quickly. I hadn’t felt so focused and excited to learn something since I started snowboarding 4 years ago.

My previous exposure to html specifically, entailed by Gr.8 self taking the course on Codecademy, only to completely abandon it out of boredom a couple days later. To anyone who is unfamiliar with Codecademy, it’s an online platform that provides free classes on a variety of coding languages. For me, using Codecademy made it difficult to remember all the terms and jargon that got thrown my way. I remember caring too much about completing the tasks outlined by the course, instead of actually slowing down to learn the content.

Since picking html up again, I’m actually quite happy I started off on Codecademy. The platform did a great of job of introducing the terms and making me somewhat familiar with the types of symbols html used. Currently, the textbook I’m using is the html & CSS Textbook by Jon Duckett. I love it because it’s intuitive and easy to follow along. What has helped me through this learning process has been taking notes, just like you would do with any other school textbook.

Over the long weekend, I managed to read through 100 pages. I’m sure if anyone had an entire day free of any work, it would be easy to get through more than half of the textbook because much of the information is based on common knowledge.

For anyone wanting to learn html, I would recommend first taking a look into Codecademy. I never managed to finish their html course but it was super useful for someone who didn’t understand a thing about html to get an initial idea. As for the textbook, I’m sure there are many other versions online. I chose it only because it was the first one I came across – convince to say the least. If you’re genuinely interested in learning html, read my personal tips included at the bottom!

For those who don’t have a clue about what coding is and would like to learn, I find it helpful to first begin by finding someone who has had many years of experience to teach and explain it to you. Generally, learning online as a complete novice is difficult since many sites use terminology that only makes sense after you’ve become comfortable with coding.

Good luck to everyone with your next spontaneous endeavors!

Extra tips ☺
1. The textbook I used recommends you to type your code in TextEdit for Mac and Notepad for Windows. I own a Mac and quickly found TextEdit to be quite tedious, especially since I needed to type so many repetitive symbols. I searched up ‘code editors’ and came across Brackets, an open source editor specialized to accommodate html, CSS and Javascript. If you have a Mac and some extra space on your drive, DOWNLOAD BRACKETS! It’ll save you so much time and spare you from so many typos.

2. Keep your open source editor on your desktop dock. That way, it’s much easier to access files since when html files are saved on your desktop, they tend to reopen as a web file. Or that’s just my amateur self!

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How to Tell a Mother Her Child is Dead

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They were were soccer players, dancers, artists, musicians, coaches and philanthropists. They were husbands, sons, daughters, sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews and friends. They were innocent, loved humans.

As we hear about the shooting of the 17 people in Florida last week, I thought it would be timely to share with you this message written by Naomi Rosenberg an emergency room doctor at Temple University Hospital in North Philadelphia. It was featured last year on CBC Radio – White Coat, Black Art with Dr. Brian Goldman. In this narrative, Dr. Rosenberg coaches a medical resident on the method she uses to deliver the worst possible news. Sadly, this is something that doctors all over the United Sates must do every day mainly because of gun violence.

Last year alone, over 12,300 people in the United States died from gun violence, a quarter of them children or teenagers. The number of annual gun related deaths in the United States is 45 times greater than it is in the United Kingdom and 5 times greater than it is in Canada.

As I browsed the Internet and scrolled through the countless messages of thoughts and prayers being sent to the families of the victims, I came across a heartbreaking story. One of an 8 year old girl who came home from school and told her mother she needed new shoes. Why? Not because, people where making fun of her old shoes but because if she was hiding from a shooter, the lights on her sneakers would give away her location. To me, an 8 year girl worrying about such is simply not right.

Take a moment to read the following essay that reflects the immense shock and agony of parents who must grapple with perhaps the most difficult pain of all, told through the eyes of physicians who must usher these parents in to the world of newfound loss.

 

“First you get your coat. I don’t care if you don’t remember where you left it, you find it. If there was a lot of blood you ask someone to go quickly to the basement to get you a new set of scrubs. You put on your coat and you go into the bathroom. You look in the mirror and you say it. You use the mother’s name and you use her child’s name. You may not adjust this part in any way.

I will show you: If it were my mother you would say, “Mrs. Rosenberg. I have terrible, terrible news. Naomi died today.” You say it out loud until you can say it clearly and loudly. How loudly? Loudly enough. If it takes you fewer than five tries you are rushing it and you will not do it right. You take your time.

After the bathroom you do nothing before you go to her. You don’t make a phone call, you do not talk to the medical student, you do not put in an order. You never make her wait. She is his mother.

When you get inside the room you will know who the mother is. Yes, I’m very sure. Shake her hand and tell her who you are. If there is time you shake everyone’s hand. Yes, you will know if there is time. You never stand. If there are no seats left, the couches have arms on them.

You will have to make a decision about whether you will ask what she already knows. If you were the one to call her and tell her that her son had been shot then you have already done part of it, but you have not done it yet. You are about to do it now. You never make her wait. She is his mother. Now you explode the world. Yes, you have to. You say something like: “Mrs. Booker. I have terrible, terrible news. Ernest died today.”

Then you wait.

You will not stand up. You may leave yourself in the heaviness of your breath or the racing of your pulse or the sight of your shoelaces on your shoe, but you will not stand up. You are here for her. She is his mother.

If the mother has another son with her and he has punched the wall or broken the chair, do not be worried. The one that punched the wall or broke the chair will be better than the one who looks down and refuses to cry. The one who punched the wall or broke the chair will be much easier than the sister who looks up and closes her eyes as they fill.

If the mother asks you, you will tell her what you know. You do not lie. But do not say he was murdered or he was killed. Yes, I know that he was, but that is not what you say. You say that he died; that is the part that you saw and that you know. When she asks if he felt any pain, you must be very careful. If he did not, you assure her quickly. If he did, you do not lie. But his pain is over now. Do not ever say he was lucky that he did not feel pain. He was not lucky. She is not lucky. Don’t make that face. The depth of the stupidity of the things you will say sometimes is unimaginable.

Before you leave you break her heart one more time. “No, I’m so sorry, but you cannot see him. There are strict rules when a person dies this way and the police have to take him first. We cannot let you in. I’m so sorry.” You do not ever say “the body.” It is not a body. It is her son. You want to tell her that you know that he was hers. But she knows that and she does not need for you to tell her. Instead you tell her you will give her time and come back in case she has questions. More questions, or questions for the first time. If she has no questions you do not give her the answers to the questions she has not asked.

When you leave the room, do not yell at the medical student who has a question. When you get home, do not yell at your husband. If he left his socks on the floor again today, it is all right.” 

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Top 5 Winter Olympic Events to Watch Now!

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Hello everyone, this is my first blog: the top 5 events in Pyeongchang’s 2018 Olympics you should watch! Hope you enjoy!

5. Halfpipe

Both men’s and women’s halfpipe are such entertaining events! The tricks, cheering crowds, and anticipation is something you don’t want to miss out on. Every athlete puts on their greatest show for everyone, including spins, grabs, and flips! In Pyeongchang 2018, history was made in both men’s and women’s categories. Even though this event isn’t live anymore, this is still a must watch on Youtube!

4. Super-G

This is one of the most thrilling alpine skiing events ever! Skiers race down the hill going at incredible speeds, winding and turning to get to the finish line the quickest. Often, the margin between podium places are only hundredths of a second apart! This technical event will captivate you from start to finish, keeping you on your toes the whole time! Needless to say, must watch.

(P.s. Admit it, the race suits also look cool.)

3. Ice Hockey

Of course, hockey. Hockey is one of the national sports of Canada, and there is always so much hype on the ice and in the roaring crowds! Hockey is one of the most entertaining sports, and incorporates strategy, puck-handling, athleticism, and much more. To be specific, the fights and goals are the most fun to watch, but the event as a whole is very exciting. Watch it live while you can!

2. Aerials

Aerials is like a hidden gem in the Olympics. It may not be the most fast-paced event, but the skiers launch themselves off jumps at over 60 km/h! In the air, the difficult tricks performed are so incredible, such as the “double full/double full/full”, which is 3 flips fused with 5 twists. (WOW!) The tricks are also extremely difficult to land, as the speed and direction of the wind can affect the landing significantly. This event is so ‘flipping’ impressive, and you should definitely watch it!

1. Ski/Snowboard Cross

This should be the first event you watch in the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics! Ski/snowboard cross is the most compelling, thrilling event I have ever watched for a variety of reasons. There are 4-6 racers on the same course, which doesn’t happen in the rest of the freestyle or alpine events, so you get to see the skiers/snowboarders race their opponents instead of the clock. Often, only the top 2 athletes will move on to the next round, and in the grand final, only 3 will receive a medal, which is why this event is so captivating. There are also a plethora of high jumps, twisting turns, and rollers from start to finish, and it is very entertaining to see how the athletes deal with them. Overall, this event is a MUST WATCH!!

There you go! Ski/Snowboard Cross, Aerials, Ice Hockey, Super-G, and Halfpipe are my top 5 picks for what you should watch in the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games! Thank you for reading my first blog! Now go check the Olympics schedule and watch your favourite events!

 

Image sources: 1/2/3/4/5/6

10 Sad Songs

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With Valentine’s Day having just passed and the recent release of diploma exam results, you might be feeling quite down recently. If you’re like me, you resort to listening to sad songs when this happens. Here is a list of sad songs that I’ve compiled, which includes both old songs and new from primary the pop and soft rock genres.

The Scientist-Coldplay

“The Scientist” is one of Coldplay’s early releases, and revolves around a man’s apology to his lover. However, the line “I was just guessing at numbers and figures/Pulling your puzzles apart” might hit close to home if a poor result on a math or science test is what’s bothering you.

 

How to Save a Life-The Fray

“How to Save a Life” was written by the lead singer to describe his experience in a shelter for troubled teenagers. Thus, the overall tone of the vocals are very melancholy and somber, with lines such as “Where did I go wrong?/I lost a friend”.

 

The Sound of Silence-Simon & Garfunkel

The opening line of the song, “Hello darkness my old friend”, has somewhat become a meme. However, the song address a serious matter: the inability to communicate. This is the oldest song on the list, having been released in 1965, and can also be considered to be the saddest song.

 

Chasing Cars-Snow Patrol

Although the song is meant to be a love song, the tune of the song comes across as extremely wistful with lines such as “Would you lie with me and just forget the world?”. It was also used in the series final of season 2 of Grey’s Anatomy.

 

Hello-Adele

Adele is known for writing sad songs, with “Hello” being no exception. A song about reconciliation with one’s past that includes lines such as “They say that time’s supposed to heal ya/But I ain’t done much healing” to remind you how difficult it is to heal.

 

Breakeven-The Script

The central theme of “Breakeven” is how one-sided breakups can be. However, some lines such as “They say bad things happen for a reason/But no wise words gonna stop the bleeding” can be applied to a variety of situations.

 

Apologize-Timbaland, OneRepublic

“Apologize” explores the pain involved with relationships gone away, and highlights the importance of moving on; the most famous line of the song being “It’s too late to apologize”.

 

Boulevard of Broken Dreams-Green Day

It’s difficult to find a rock-oriented song that comes across as sad, however “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” is a song completely about being alone. Included are lines such as “My shadow’s the only one that walks beside me”.

 

Sign of the Times-Harry Styles 

The latest release on the list from former One Direction member Harry Styles, “Sign of the Times” is here to remind you to move forward with your life. In an interview, Styles has said “The song is written from a point of view as if a mother was giving birth to a child and there’s a complication. The mother is told, ‘The child is fine, but you’re not going to make it.’ The mother has five minutes to tell the child, ‘Go forth and conquer.'”

 

Carry On- Fun.

Finally, a song to remind you that no matter what happens, you’ve got to continue on. There are many universally applicable lines such as “If you’re lost and alone/Or you’re sinking like a stone/Carry on”.

 

Image Sources: 1

Ramblings About the Future

Do you ever get freaked out about how much you have to do? You spend hours of your day at school, maybe six hours, maybe eleven. Then you’ve got all your extracurriculars or work or whatnot that you attend. Then you probably have some sort of chores or help around the house somehow. Then, you still have all that homework that somehow always seems to be at its peak on your busiest day. Then, when you’re done all that, it’s already time (or way past time) to go to bed because you have to get a decent amount of sleep so that you’re somewhat awake the next day.

Sometimes I think about how if I didn’t put so much effort into schoolwork, I might just generally end up happier. “I don’t even care anymore” I say as I continue to care very deeply that I’m doing well. At this point, I’ve been caring deeply for such a long time that I can’t just undo it all right away. Because then, when I don’t do as well, I begin to panic that I’ll never get anywhere in life, even though I know that it’s irrational. I think about how I have to get into university and get scholarships and all that so that I can supposedly get a good job and live a reasonably okay life and buy a house, because that’s what you’re supposed to do to be an adult, and then what do you know, it’s time for retirement, and then I begin to wonder how much I actually have to save for retirement, and then remember that I’m still in high school and have more pressing matters at hand than panicking about the future.

When you really step back and look at it, you realize that your current stresses might not even matter 5 years from now, 6 months from now, or even a week from now. If you think about it, it’s important to remember to live in the moment. Even though you probably see that message often to the point that you don’t even acknowledge it, it’s still some good advice. While it’s important to plan for the future, it’s easy to get caught up in the uncertainty of it all. Maybe I’ll try to remember that next time I’m freaking out about all that I have to do and why I’m doing it.

If I have the time.

 

Image source: 1

Made In Abyss: 2017 Anime of the Year?

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One of the contenders for Crunchyroll’s ANOY 2017 was this 13-episode production by Kinema Citrus, a studio that wasn’t especially well known up till now. (I’ll try to discuss it without spoiling anything, because it’s an anime I think both otakus and non-enthusiasts would equally enjoy.)

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The story is paced inexplicably well, and excitement permeates the plot from the very first episode. Most of it is unpredictable, with little quirks and information reveals before you’d expect, leaving you outside your comfort zone for how far you’d expected the story to progress in an episode. And just when you think you see a pattern in how the characters move, or in the events that occur, a devastating scene both grasps you fiercely and has you feeling hopeless like few other animes can accomplish.

The two main characters are children who live in an island like any other, except for one particular characteristic: a hole in the center that’s a kilometer wide and with no discovered bottom, aptly named “the Abyss”. Adventurers are drawn by curiosity into the pit to discover rare relics and interact with the unique creatures; the deeper you go, the more dangerous the journey – especially since those who descend into the pit suffer the “curse of the abyss” when they climb back to the surface, plagued with symptoms ranging from mild nausea to massive bleeding or even death – escalating with the depth from which they ascend. The theme interestingly draws parallels with UofT prof Jordan Peterson’s concept of the human spirit, which voluntarily shoulders burdens and walks forward in the face of suffering, in its depiction of adventures who willingly confront the terrible and dangerous unknowns of the Abyss.

Gobble gobble smack smack… There goes your backpack

Although the art style in any film is subject to arbitration, Kinema Citrus’s impeccable attention to detail and fantasia-like expression set the mood through color and techniques such as intentionally roughly drawing creatures in situations of danger and fear, reflecting the emotions of the characters themselves. Here are some examples:

Sunshine and grass
Nope, this picture isn’t upside down.
The fourth sublayer of the Abyss, the “Goblet of Giants”

Finally, no good anime would be complete without a unique and compelling soundtrack. Australian-born composer Kevin Penkin, also an underdog in the industry prior to Made in Abyss’ release, created soundtracks that both complement the scenes and hold up under musical scrutiny. In an interview, Penkin described the ascending musical key of a certain song as an acoustic metaphor for the walls of the Abyss rising to engulf the main characters as they ventured ever deeper. For the rest of the pieces, the Australian specified on his compositions being played by an extra-small ensemble of just 19 musicians, in a full-sized stage that could fit over 130: a parallelism of the relatively tiny characters’ adventure in the massive pit. Although it’s not known if it had any significant effect on the recorded music, it’s refreshing to see such passion and resonance between the musical and visual aspects of an anime.

In essence, Made in Abyss has a great, fluid storyline, complete with art and audio that seamlessly accompany each other and simultaneously draw the viewer in. Although it’s not suitable for younger audiences, due to some occasional inappropriate references and (very slight) gore, it’s an anime that most people should find highly enjoyable. My only complaint is that it’s too short – but a second season’s reportedly underway.

Sources: 1/2/3

Images: Featured/2/3/4/5

 

*Note: Under the Copyright Act of Canada, Sections 29, 29.1, and 29.2, the fair dealing exception to copyright law applies to articles with the intent of criticism or review. I do not own any rights to images, film, or publications mentioned in this article, which belong to their respective owners. Please support the original release.