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September 2017 Blogger of the Month: Hilary Guo

Rosie Zhao
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September 2017 Blogger of the Month: Hilary Guo

I am pleased to introduce our newest blogger of the month, which comes at a fitting time because it is also her one-year anniversary blogging on Youth Are Awesome! Since September 2016, Hilary Guo has written delightful and humorous posts ranging a variety of topics, from personal opinions, to creative writing, to modern trends! Her cheerful spirit is infectious, and I had a great time chatting with her over iced coffee and kouign-amanns at Analog Coffee!

Hilary is starting grade 10 at Dr. E.P. Scarlett High School, and she’s excited for all of the new opportunities to participate in sports and clubs in comparison to junior high. Her flourishing extracurricular involvements include basketball, swimming, sailing, piano, volunteering, taekwondo, and of course, writing! Youth Are Awesome was the perfect opportunity for her to practice writing outside of school: “I love to write, but I don’t really have a chance to write often besides English class in school. I thought YAA would be a good experience to improve my writing skills”. Since then, Hilary has become comfortably immersed in blogging and gave a heartwarming answer when I asked about how her experience with YAA has been thus far:

“It’s a lot more laid-back. Meeting new people was nerve wracking at first, but the meetings are really fun and all of the bloggers talk freely. YAA has given me a better experience in being part of activities in Calgary, and I love being part of the community.”

For her posts, Hilary doesn’t draw writing inspiration from anything specific, but she loves to read. Although her preference has long been in the favor of fiction books, Hilary has lately also been reading some non-fiction as well. In particular, her favorite fiction series is Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs, while her favorite non-fiction books are Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand and With the Old Breed by Eugene Sledge.

As for her favorite movies, Hilary enthusiastically mentioned Saving Private Ryan, Hacksaw Ridge, and the recently-released Dunkirk. She also immediately named X Company and HBO’s Band of Brothers as her favorite TV shows. See a trend yet? Hilary is very passionate about history and I was blown away at her appreciation and her profound understanding in the topic:

“Millennials don’t pay a lot of attention to it now; they think about the future and don’t truly appreciate historical events. For Dunkirk, a lot of people just went to go see Harry Styles, but there’s also the history behind it that deserves more attention.”

I could definitely relate when Hilary mentioned that she went through a phase in Junior high: namely an obession with boy bands and dystopian-themed books. Hilary started to truly become interested in history at the beginning of the year, and it’s impressive how much knowledge she has gained in that amount of time!

Hilary often weaves her interest in history into her posts, and she eagerly talked about her favorite era when I mentioned her most recent post about the 80s and how I just watched Easy A the previous week– a movie where she pulled a quote from to epitomize her overall message. We both agreed that it would be great to revert back on those historical trends, and Hilary specifically mentioned the 40s and the 80s as her favorite eras– although due to the racial prejudice in 1940s America, she ultimately would like to live in the 80s.

When asked about her personal writing style, Hilary says she doesn’t restrict herself and just writes about what she would read if she wasn’t a part of YAA: funny topics, suggestions, opinions– nothing too serious. Sure enough, Hilary’s down-to-earth tone makes her posts funny and relatable: some prime examples include her clever interjection of “faker than Kylie Jenner’s lips!” in her poem Paper, her hilarious answers to popular [but pretty ridiculous] Google searches, and her incredibly relatable rant about school starting. I asked her, “What is something we should know about you?” and Hilary directed me to her posts:

“I’m like an open book and I express myself in all of my posts.”

Personally, Hilary’s posts are inspiring because that quality of sincerity and honesty is something that I strive to have in my writing as well.

At the same time, Hilary handles more serious subject matter really well; when I noted her John Green-esque style in writing short stories, Hilary confirmed that she did read Looking for Alaska and Paper Towns in Junior High. I think this is what makes Hilary such a valuable asset to Youth Are Awesome: any reader will be able to connect with her posts because of her ability to write about a wide variety of subjects.

However, out of all of the posts that Hilary has written so far, her favorite has to be A Playlist for Every Month; Hilary particularly enjoys using photoshop to make photo edits, but this post also let her share her love for music:

“I have a diverse music taste. I listen to a lot of different genres, and it was one of the most fun posts to make. Even before I joined YAA, when I was thinking about my first blog post, I thought: ‘This is going to be it.'”

Hilary’s playlist and photo edit for September!

Hilary’s music taste is highly acclaimed in the Youth Are Awesome group, so go check that post out! I was curious about how Hilary finds all of these songs for her playlist, and she has an entire process. Hilary usually starts by looking through comments to find the song title of the background music for a certain video. After searching it up, she takes advantage of the “Similar Artists” and “Related Videos” features on Spotify and Youtube. Then she repeats the process and lets the website lead her somewhere!

Just like her exploration in finding new music, Hilary doesn’t currently have any specific aspirations for her future:

“I’ll go with the flow for now, and when I’m older, I’ll see what fits me. I just have to see what kind of person I become in the future.”

Too often are high school students pressured to already know their exact career aspirations, but Hilary’s plan of action is great advice for those who are worried and unsure of their future; high school is a prime time for discovery, so it’s important to keep an open mind towards new things! Hilary echoed this advice as parting thoughts to all of our readers, where she left some brief but powerful words:

“It might be cliche, but just be yourself. Be what you want to be and stop living up to other people’s expectations.”

This is a message that recurred throughout my conversation with Hilary, from her blog post ideas, to her passion for history, to her career aspirations. I would like to thank Hilary for her time and contribution to YAA: her open mindset, willingness to try new things, and cheerful demeanor are all incredibly inspiring and valued in Youth Are Awesome! Congratulations to Hilary for the well-deserved Blogger of the Month!

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Educate Yourself

Fatima Saleem
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See something you want? Chase it. See something that intrigues you? Try it. See something that you have a question about? Research it.

I won’t lie; I absolutely dislike the teaching style at high schools nowadays. In my classes last year, the boy to my left was constantly falling sleep. On my right, a fellow classmate was often doodling or catching up on Snapchat streaks. I was worse than both of them: frantically re-reading and highlighting my biology textbook, passing my exams, and then having all the information wiz out of my mind the day after. How productive.

Who’s to blame? Us? The teachers? Hardly.

The traditional “chalk and talk” method or the “going through power point slides with the lights off” technique, with little to no interaction with the teacher, proves to be the villain. We’re told what to do, how to do it, and when the due date is, while the information is imparted through lectures that go on for extended periods of time. If we’re lucky, there are assigned readings along with fill-in-the-blank sheets. The worst part? No critical thinking is involved, and there is no autonomy in our learning process. Let’s face it, mistakes are the worst things that we can do, and they’re highly frowned upon. By the end of class, we’re too bored to ask relevant questions, already stressing about the next exam. We’re unwilling to think about anything but what we’re told to think about: that particular biology or algebra lesson.

Why is education so limiting? The arts and mathematics aren’t treated equally anywhere in the world, one is an option class and the other is compulsory. No one bothers with ideas and creativity, only test results finalize who is intelligent and who is unschooled. People ask me if I want to go into medicine, engineering, or law, and that’s where the list ends. See anything wrong with that? We’re confined to a typical path to success. My entire life I’ve been told that if I don’t find a stable job, I won’t be successful. Ridiculous.

Recently, I’ve become fascinated with the inquiry-based teaching style that defeats the great challenge of motivating students. Now you may be wondering what in the world I’m going on about, but let me explain. The process starts off with students posing questions and scenarios, triggering their curiosity. They pitch their well-developed question, as well as any emerging hypothesis to answer it. You then have the students answer their own questions by researching the topic, engaging in evidence-based reasoning. At the end of it all, students become the teachers of the class, presenting their new findings, and participating in collaborative class discussions. Seems like a lot of work, right? (Yes, it is a lot of work.) Fortunately, the benefits are crazy astonishing from nurturing student passions, activating their extraordinary capacities for innovation, and fostering a love of learning to solving issues that haven’t even been conceived. What I love about this program is that it incorporates the idea that there is more than one type of intelligence.

Learning is an undeniably powerful and enthralling experience. It allows us to explore the world with our body and mind. With back-to-school coming up next week, I want to emphasize how significant it is for all of us to take control of our learning, and our pursuit of intellect. Take a couple of dance lessons, or boxing classes, check out Coursera, ALISON, Ted talks, Ignite, and many other educational platforms. Push your boundaries again and again.

Image: Featured

4 Books You Should Read to Not Go Broke

Dylan Zhao
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Okay, that title may have been somewhat “clickbaity.” Sorry about that.

Reading a book probably can’t rescue you financially or give you the tools to magically become an investment guru. However, I am a firm believer that it is still very valuable to read through stories on the world of money, as not only are they interesting, but also because you can often learn new things.

Hence, here are 4 of my personal favourite books that have either affected the way I think about money or taught me something to save me a lot of money. I’d highly recommend giving any or all of them a read – you may pick up a thing or two.

 

#1: The Wealthy Barber by David Chilton

If you’ve watched any of Dragon’s Den seasons 7 through 9, then this author’s name may sound familiar to you. Before his time investing in people’s sales pitches on a reality show, Mr. Chilton’s claim to fame was his self-published book The Wealthy Barber. Set in a small town in Ontario, the book follows three characters in their late 20s getting financial advice from their barber, who despite his occupation is quite wealthy (hence the title). I admit that this description probably does not sound like the most interesting read. I myself was skeptical as well.

However, as soon as I actually started reading, I found myself quite fascinated. Chilton did a great job of giving some life and backstory to his characters, so that when he started dishing out the financial lessons, they seemed helpful, relevant, and honestly very natural in terms of the narrative. And perhaps the best part is that these lessons really seem to make sense, and if applied in real life can truly help you “not go broke.”

 

#2: Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner

Did you know that what you name your kid can affect how they grow up, where they will work and live, and how they make and spend money?

I had no clue, until Freakonomics explained it to me. The book, which has been described as “mixing pop culture and economics”, explores various concepts which you would think to have nothing to do with economics, and then links said concepts to economics. Within the pages of the book you will delve into the hidden side of sumo wrestling, bagel businesses, and even grade school exams, learning that money is truly connected to everything.

You may have heard of the podcast Freakonomics Radio before. That podcast is run by Levitt and Dubner, the same authors of this book. If you have listened to any of that show before and liked it, I highly recommend checking out this book that started it all. If you haven’t, I’d recommend not only reading this book, but also listening to that podcast. They’re great.

#3: The Big Short by Michael Lewis

When you see a book that has the tagline “inside the Doomsday Machine”, your first thought is probably of earthquakes and destruction. Most likely it isn’t banks, stocks, and loans. However, in The Big Short, author Michael Lewis talks about a different kind of doomsday: the ones in America in 2008.

When Bear Stearns and Citigroup collapsed during the financial crisis, there were people who had predicted it. When the CDO bubble based on subprime mortgages burst, there were people who were already prepared. When massive corporations suffered billions in losses, a handful of individuals made a fortune.

Who were these people, and how did they think? Why did they bet against the market in 2008? If you asked yourself these questions, then consider The Big Short a must-read. (And watch. There has been a fantastic film made with the same name as well.)

#4: Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

The author of this book, Robert Kiyosaki, essentially had two father figures in his life. A biological father, and a man to whom he was close enough that he considered him another father. One was wealthy, and one was not. Kiyosaki’s goal is to explore the differences in how the wealthy and poor approach and think about money, and the lessons that both his “Rich Dad” and “Poor Dad” have taught him.

Rich Dad, Poor Dad is the opposite of subtle when Kiyosaki wants to get his points across, but using his own experiences as support for these lessons gives his advice a lot more meaning. A book that will help you learn a lot, and also give you that warm fuzzy feeling when you are happy for someone. Highly recommended.

 

So there you have it! Hopefully something caught your eye, and you enjoy reading some of these books. I know I did.

 

Image Sources:

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What to See in YYC: Labour Day Weekend 2017

Emily Donville
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With temperatures expected to stay in the mid to high 20s for the next couple of days, Labour Day weekend has presented itself as the perfect goodbye to summer before school starts up again. No plans? Well I’ve got you covered. Here are just a few events you can find happening in the city this weekend.

Calgary Highland Games

When: September 2nd, 9:00am – 5:00pm

Where: Springbank Park for All Seasons, 32224A Springbank Rd, Calgary

Cost: $14-$20

Now in it’s 103rd year, the Calgary Highland Games is one of the most respected Highland events in the west and is run by the Calgary United Scottish Games Association. Events include highland dancing, piping and drumming, and Scottish heavy athletics.

Calgary Pride

When: August 25th – September 4th (the parade is held on the 3rd)

Where: Calgary Pride Parade – Along 6th Ave and 6th St.

Pride in the Park: Prince’s Island Park

Cost: 0$

A celebration of Calgary’s diverse LGBT community held in the downtown area. Immediately following the pride parade, live music, a community marketplace and a family zone will be held at Prince’s Island Park.

Repsol Centre Floatables

When: September 4th, 11:00am – 2:00pm

Where: Repsol Centre, 2225 MacLeod Trail South

Cost: Free with a membership or $6.50 – $15

Inflatable floating structures will be set up at the Repsol Centre for climbing, playing and bouncing on. Can’t make it? See more dates here.

Roadblock Party

When: September 3rd, 11:00am – 11:00pm

Where: 17th Ave SW, between 4th St and 2nd St SW

Cost: Free admission

In light of a city road closure, five local restaurants plan to host a day-long party. Anju, Calcutta Cricket Club, Buttermilk Fine Waffles, Model Milk and Pigeonhole plan to host this event which features live music, a pop-up retail market, and free snacks.

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Getting Ready for the School Year

Rosie Zhao
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As the last few weeks of summer are upon us, it’s time to readjust for the school year- whether that means you have to get out of the summer lull or you need to de-stress from a busy summer. Here are some simple tips to enjoy the last few weeks of your summer while making an easy transition for going back to school!

1. Get some sleep and normalize your sleeping schedule.

This is arguably the most important tip that can get you ready for school. Although it’s summer and we want to make the most out of our day, it’s equally important to use this time off to get proper rest. Plus, we’re usually not adding hours to our day by sleeping late, we’re actually just pushing our day back; if you’re sleeping from 2:00 AM to 11:00 AM, why not sleep from 11:00 PM to 8:00 AM instead? Also, measure your sleep on a daily rather than a weekly basis. If you don’t sleep one night and compensate by sleeping for a long time another night, it doesn’t have nearly the same effect as getting a sufficient number of hours in both nights – in fact, there are numerous studies pointing to health complications for both getting a lack of rest and oversleeping. Getting 7-10 hours of sleep every night will help you with those late nights and early mornings during the school year.

2. Go out and see the city with your friends while there isn’t something like an exam at the back of your mind.

Let’s face it – during the school year, you’ll probably have to be more judicious with how you spend your time outside of school. Take advantage of the summer and spend the time with your friends, who you may not be able to see that often during the school year! Although a day spent inside watching Netflix isn’t a terrible way to pass the time, we all know how radically Calgary’s weather changes in the fall. Spend some days outside and enjoy the last of the warm weather, whether that is taking a hike in Kananaskis or Banff, or seeing what the Calgary arts and culture scene is offering this month! Check out GlobalFest until August 26, Shakespeare by the Bow until August 27, or one of the other events going on this month!

3. Get into a routine of leisure reading and writing.

Because of those mandatory texts given in English class, there will likely be less time for you to read the books that you enjoy. Spend some time getting back into reading and writing for fun, because these experiences help to get your mind thinking critically without it being a chore. If you’re a true keener or you know you’re a person who retains knowledge only up until the end of the school year, it might be a good idea to skim over your previous years’ notes. I know these last few weeks of summer shouldn’t just be used to prepare for your classes, but especially if you’re doing a course that had a prerequisite and you haven’t taken that prerequisite in over a year, it might save you the stress when your teacher says, “This is review material that you should have already covered in ___”.

4. Get your back-to-school supplies!

I don’t know about everyone, but I absolutely love collecting stationary, and getting new back-to-school supplies always makes me feel more prepared and excited for the new school year. This is the one time where supplies are discounted and it’s totally fine to splurge on notebooks, pens, binders, erasers, and more! It will also save you the stress of not having the supplies during the school year, so it might be a good idea to make a list of what you will need and buy from there.

5. Find ways to get involved during the school year.

Plan your school year so it doesn’t completely revolve around your academics. Get involved around your school and in the greater community, because often these are ways to relieve you from the constant pressure of academics and grades. Some possibilities include planning to tryout for your school’s sports teams, auditioning for your school’s theatre production, applying for the Junior Achievement Company Program (if you are interested in entrepreneurship and meeting other high school students across Calgary), and joining Youth Central to volunteer and participate on its committees! I would strongly recommend applying for both of these programs and perhaps use some of your time during the summer to apply instead of feeling the pressure of the deadline while also dealing with school. Build a schedule that is right for YOU and will ensure your success; sometimes doing less is more!

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Photo of the Week: Dusk in Downtown Vancouver

Dhriti Gupta
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For this Photo of the Week, I decided to share one of my personal favourites that I’ve taken. Last summer, when my family from New Delhi was visiting, we decided to take them on a trip to Vancouver. Since there were a bunch of us, we stayed in this really old, really cool, Victorian style house rather than a hotel (Airbnb type of situation). At first, I was not the biggest fan because you know, air conditioning is dear to my heart, I am very suspicious of houses with creepy attics, and I just wasn’t used to the musky, woody, smell that all older establishments seem to have. But once I got over myself and my first world problems, I actually started to love the look and feel of this style of home. In one of the rooms they had even added this more modern contrast of a spray painted mural of the Vancouver skyline. So one evening, after a long day of gallivanting around Victoria, while my Grandpa took a nap, and my dad had gone out to get everyone some food, all the women in my family gathered in this room and we just had a lovely time discussing life and other matters, laughing and chatting away until sunset. From the window we had such a gorgeous view of downtown as well as the onset of dusk, and even now this photo makes me feel all warm and fuzzy and content. What’s a photo that brings you that feeling?

 

Fitness Challenge: 3 moves, 30 reps, 30 days

Fatima Saleem
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Exercise three days a week, and feel like a boss. This year, you’re going to be the one with a healthy body and a blissful mind. And, of course, envious abs. If you’re short on time, but still want the most out of every workout, this is tailor-made for you. Without a doubt, it’s going to be intense and thrilling. Grab a water bottle, and let’s get going.

Oh, push-ups, how I love thee. Let me count the ways.

Although many of us hate them, we can’t deny their effectiveness. I’m not telling you drop down, and give me one hundred. We’re going to start off with a set of thirty reps every day, and then by the third week, increase that to two sets daily. If you can do more, by all means, you’re welcome to. If you’re not there yet, you can always perform modified pushups instead. What’s so great about pushups is that any level of exerciser can perform them. Work slightly out of your comfort zone and pace yourself, but pay attention to your form, and listen to your body! I can’t repeat this enough times: form, form, form.

1, 2, 3, GO!

Easy, eh? Our next exercise is the front squat. Challenging, yet fun, an enticing combination that pushes us to do more than just 30 reps. Get moving!

To keep it interesting, we’re going to stay away from the treadmill and the elliptical. Bicycle crunches are my absolute favorite. We’re zooming in on all of our abdominal muscles, and strengthening our core. Your rectus abdominus, your external oblique, and surprisingly even the rectus femoris in the upper thigh are engaged. The pain will make you fully aware that the bicycle crunch is ten exercises in one. Nonetheless, believe me, the results are phenomenal. You’ll be thanking me later.

Already done? I bet you didn’t feel anything. Remember to stay hydrated!

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The Dangers of Caffeine

Madina Shaykhutdinova
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Caffeine. Do you know how much is too much?

With school starting up again soon, many students may turn to caffeine to help them wake up in the morning in time for their classes and to keep them awake at night as they work on that project that they procrastinated on and is due the next day. Caffeine can be found in coffee, tea, energy drinks, food, and medications. In Canada, coffee is the most commonly consumed drink for Canadians aged 16 and over. Being so popular, caffeine may seem harmless. However, consuming too much can lead to consequences.

Caffeine is a stimulant drug. It is closely shaped like the molecule adenosine, a chemical that binds to receptors in the brain and makes you feel tired. Caffeine is a competitive inhibitor. It attaches to these receptors and blocks off the adenosine, preventing the feeling of tiredness for a few hours by permitting the brain’s stimulants to continue to work uninterrupted. Caffeine tolerance occurs when the brain makes more receptors in an attempt to regain balance, which means that the amount of caffeine consumed before will not have as much of an effect on alertness.

For youth 13 and older, the maximum recommended daily intake of caffeine is 2.5 mg per kilogram of body weight, according to Health Canada. Consuming more than this amount can lead to jitters, headaches, insomnia, rapid heart rate, upset stomach, frequent urination, dehydration, increased blood pressure, and even death in extreme cases (often from caffeine pills or energy drinks). Some energy drinks contain more caffeine in a single can than the recommended daily allowance for some people!

If you find that you are consuming too much caffeine, there are ways to decrease consumption.

You can replace highly caffeinated drinks with beverages that contain less or no caffeine, such as replacing carbonated drinks with caffeine-free versions, or replacing coffee with half- or decaffeinated coffee or with tea (which has a lot less caffeine than coffee). You can also shorten the brew time of tea or replace caffeinated tea with herbal tea.

Most importantly, you should get enough sleep so that you do not need to rely on caffeine to keep you awake. Try to go to sleep early enough to wake up refreshed in the morning. Don’t leave schoolwork unfinished until the last minute so that you do not have to stay up until the wee hours of morning to complete it. Nothing can replace proper sleep, not even caffeine.

 

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Wish You Grew Up In The 80’s? Me Too

Hilary Guo
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Ah, the 1980’s, what a time to be alive. Forever wishing I was alive during the same era as young Leonardo DiCaprio and Corey Haim. You too? Let’s hurt.

2017? No thanks, I’m good. 1980? Yes, please! Let’s take a look:

First of all, the movies. John Hughes, thank you for existing and blessing us with the iconic 80’s films. The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, Pretty In Pink, what more could you ask for? Sure the present has better technology to create better movies, but nothing beats a good old fashioned comedy from 1980. Something about them–I’m not sure what–makes me love them.

  

   Image result for ferris bueller's day off

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Like Olive Penderghast said in Easy A: “Whatever happened to chivalry? Does it only exist in 80’s movies? I want John Cusack holding a boombox outside my window. I wanna ride off on a lawnmower with Patrick Dempsey. I want Jake from Sixteen Candles waiting outside the church for me. I want Judd Nelson thrusting his fist into the air because he knows he got me. Just once I want my life to be like an 80’s movie, preferably one with a really awesome musical number for no apparent reason. But no, no, John Hughes did not direct my life.” Honestly, I have never related to anything more in my entire life. Why can’t we be like the eighties again? What’s your damage? Eat my shorts! Like, to the max? That’s the type of lingo I need.

And not to mention the fashion! I live for eighties trends.

Image result for 80's fashion  Image result for 80's fashion x x

We already brought back the mom jeans, why not bring it all back? Neon, spandex, scrunchies and all! Hoop earrings and curly hair, oh, what I wouldn’t give.

Also, the lifestyle 80’s teens lead is what I’m trying to be. No iPhones to spend hours on, just landlines. No app to text friends on, you’d actually have to see them in person. As much as I love technology, I wouldn’t hesitate to wish to go back to when they weren’t this advanced.

Last, but certainly not least, the eighties heartthrobs are a whole reason themselves to be jealous of kids growing up in 1980. Leonardo DiCaprio, Corey Haim, Johnny Depp, River Pheonix, Rob Lowe, just to name a few. Like wow, that’s enough to convince me!

But until time traveling is invented, we’re 21st-century kids who live in the future. And who knows, maybe in a few decades somebody will make a blog post about how much they wanted to live in 2017.

Until then, stay rad!

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A New Look Into Podcasts

Julieanne Acosta
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For a lot of people, podcasts are what they listen to keep up to date with the news or to learn more about certain things; topics that are all factual. The world of fiction podcasts is something that not a lot of people know about. But they are definitely out there and are just as interesting.

The first podcast I ever listened to was recommended to me by a friend and coincidentally enough it was fiction. Because of that, I assumed all podcasts were like this. Imagine a TV show, whichever genre, tailored so that you don’t need to watch it, all you have to do is listen. I was actually quite surprised when I came to the realization that not all podcasts are fiction, and in reality, the majority are quite factual. Now don’t get me wrong, I do listen to quite a lot of podcasts that are factual (most being true crime centered), but fiction podcasts will always have a soft spot in my heart. Though they tend to be seen as cringy, or hard to follow along with, once you really get into it, these types of podcasts can be something that’ll be quite amusing to listen to. With that, I’ve compiled a short list of my favorite fiction podcasts. I would recommend to try out at least one to see if they’re something for you.

  1. The Bright Sessions

Therapy For The Strange And Unusual

The Bright Sessions created, written, and directed by Lauren Shippen, (who also voices one of the main characters) is a sci-fi-drama podcast that’ll hook you with its intriguing plot line. This podcast (formatted as audio notes) follows a group of patients of Dr. Joan Bright; patients who have the abilities of an atypical. Dr. Bright voice records her therapy sessions with her patients and that’s how we manage to follow the plot. Her patients have unique supernatural abilities such as time traveling, mind-reading, feeling other people emotions, and mind control. The Bright Sessions is so much more than just recordings of therapy sessions, there’s a story behind every thing and the voice ends up changing the perspective every once in a while as you progress through the podcast.  With a secret hiding behind Dr. Bright’s intentions (in which you’ll get from her mysterious tone straight away), you’ll feel compelled to want to keep listening.

2. The Black Tapes 

Do you believe?

The Black Tapes is a serialized narrative (created by Paul Bae and Terry Miles) that follows an investigative journalist, Alex Reagan as she researches the truth about Dr. Strand, a skeptic who believes there’s a scientific explanation for all supernatural occurrences. He is known for being able to explain (almost) all exorcisms to ghost sightings.  Dr. Strand, the founder of the Strand Institute, has tapes of supernatural instances he cannot explain called The Black Tapes (hence the title). Throughout the podcast Alex Reagan investigates them, and we learn more about Dr. Strand and the mysteries that lie between his own personal family life and the black tapes. A very intriguing podcast for anybody with a niche for the supernatural and paranormal culture.

3. The 36 Questions

Experiment Of Interpersonal Closeness

The Two-Up production company gives us a new endearing concept; The 36 Questions is the musical podcast that is sure to give you more than what you usually expect. It follows a couple whose marriage is on the line due to a huge consequential lie. The couple tries to revive their marriage and gain back the trust lost by answering the 36 questions, a study designed to make strangers fall in love. Each song is extremely catchy and follows the story plot. A musical with no set, lights, and costumes but just music, voices and some sound effects. You’re listening in on voice recordings of a couple’s attempt at making it work. Tears, fights, and all. It’s a must listen for anybody who loves musicals and is ready to try a new type.

4. LimeTown 

What happened to the people of LimeTown?

Another podcast following an investigative journalist. This time, Lia Haddock from American Public Radio looks into one of America’s biggest mysteries (Keep in mind these podcasts are completely fictional). 10 years before the timeframe of this podcast, the citizens of a small town in Tennessee, named LimeTown, disappear and are never heard from again until Lia Haddock starts her story. She’s soon contacted by mysterious survivors who everyone assumed were dead. She embarks on multiple meetings, despite the wishes of the company she reports for, in search of an answer.”What happened to the people of LimeTown?”

5. Kakos Industries

Do Evil Better

At Kakos Industries, the company strives to do evil better. Corin Deeth III (also the main character) is the CEO of the industry and gives corporate announcements to his shareholders via strange broadcasting tools. Knowing this, the podcast is formatted like a radio show, similar to Welcome To NightVale (another podcast to definitely check out!). Although please be advised this is definitely an R rated podcast. The writer, Conrad Miszuk, who also voices Corin Deeth III and takes care of the music alongside editing every episode, has managed to be extremely satirical in his announcements. With little sub plots, intriguing characters, and just the overall curiosity of what’s going to happen next, this podcast is one of my favorites and should definitely be given a shot by anybody who understands satire and loves dark humor.

In the end, all fiction podcasts bring something new for the listener. You should really give it a go if these podcasts intrigued you in any way. For those of you who don’t listen to podcasts, this is a great way to start. Podcasts are free on iTunes and other apps (for those of you without an Apple phone/iPod) like Spotify, Stitcher, Soundcloud and Google Play Music.

 

 

 

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Me Ranting About Things

Hilary Guo
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Hello, it’s almost (and for some of you, it’s already) back to school! End of summer, start of fall, but more importantly: the point in which all the things you’ve been putting off the entire summer is catching up to you… The “oh-I’ll-practice-my-piano-later” doesn’t work in late August, nor does the “I’ll-read-tomorrow”. SCHOOL. STARTS. IN. A. WEEK. AND. I. HAVEN’T. DONE. ANY. OF. THOSE. THINGS.

I’m supposed to be able to play all my piano pieces hands separately perfectly, but I’m kinda wondering how that’s possible considering the fact that I only touched the piano about a total of twice the ENTIRE SUMMER. I can’t say I’m shocked, though. I’ve been telling myself that I’ll play next week for the past eight weeks. Oops. BUT, also, I have piano THEORY, which I did for only TWO units, when I was supposed to do SEVEN. YET, still, I just sit around and watch Gossip Girl.

I, for one, am a victim of procrastination.

Okay, listen:

At the beginning of summer I was so pumped and I had a whole list of stuff I was going to accomplish. I was so ready to do everything but, oh look, the summer is over and I HAVE DONE NOTHING. I was supposed to write (which I suppose I’m doing right now, so I’ll call that progress), read LOTS, practice my piano (HAH NO), study for next school year and learn to drive (I STILL CAN’T). Honestly, why am I like this??? One second I was proactive and completing all my tasks, the next thing I know two months had slipped away, and I just feel so betrayed (by myself). What is there left to do except rant at my own misdoings?!

Why does time have to do that to me? Like I’m not anxious enough. How am I supposed to practice piano, read, write, volunteer, binge watch tv shows, get 8 hours of sleep and exercise when there are only 24 hours in a day?! So much to do, so little time. AND, by the time school starts, it’ll be too late. Like, what even? There is such a jump between ninth and tenth grade, two months preparation is not enough! On top of AP classes and homework, I still have to memorize my timetable AND remember where all my classes are. Who do you think I am, WonderWoman? Not to mention, extracurricular activities like 3-4 times a week, in which I have to dedicate lots of time to. So with the schoolwork and outside-of-school-work, where am I supposed to find the time to volunteer? HOW CAN I VOLUNTEER IF I CAN’T VOLUNTEER? Plus, what about all those books I want to read? And movies I want to watch? Yeah, out the window they go!

 

Free time?

Homework, stress, procrastination, and anxiety?

 

LIKE WHAT? I mean, let’s be honest, why are we doing all these things if, in reality, we don’t actually exist? Oh yes, procrastination just turned into existentialism. What are we doing crying on Sunday nights over an essay due on Monday that we forgot to write, when we could literally just be an alien’s dream? What even is the meaning of life?? IS there really life? Are we really here? Are you really reading words that I typed on my computer on your computer?

I DON’T UNDERSTAND.

*deep breath in*

Okay, that was a good rant. Thank you so much for listening to me vent about my problems.

I’ll see you next time on: Me Ranting About Things

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Eid-Al-Adha: Commemorating Abraham’s Sacrifice  

Fatima Saleem
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The fresh smell of henna, the mouth-watering aroma of sawaiyan, the sky-scraping heels among branded clothes, and a family who showers you with money and gifts. How much better can a day get? Oh, and let’s not forget about the sacrifice of goats, or for others, sheep and cows. As an eight year old child, I used to watch wide-eyed as my family had goats slaughtered, goats with which I had developed a firm connection. (Insert all crying face emojis.) They had become my closest friends, at least, more so than Hussein who would steal my parhatas every lunch, and ask the teacher to assist him to the washroom. Wasn’t he old enough to use the washroom himself? Even the goats could manage a task as miniscule as that, although they left their droppings in an arbitrary fashion across my grandfather’s hawali. Fast-forward to grade two, which was indeed a rough year. The boys had gotten denser, and I only conversed with goats, despite the fact that I had well over fifty cousins. On Eid, I repeatedly asked my mother to spare my favorite goat, white with miniature spots decorating its smooth surface. I told her that I’d make sure it doesn’t ‘poo’ anymore. As inane as that sounds, my cousin was slightly more ridiculous, building forts with their droppings, and coming close to eating a couple. Yuck!

As expected, my wish failed to come true. Tears blurred my vision, and the goat’s briny taste felt unusual against my lips. Like the dramatic child I was, partly from binge watching Pakistani dramas, I ran around in circles shattering eardrums, creating an episode of my own. However, as rapidly as the tears came, they were gone when my uncle handed me five hundred rupees, and a plate of chicken biryani. Not only was my love for biryani solidified that day, but I developed an entirely new perspective on Eid. Did you know that there is more to Eid than biryani and eidi? Neither did I, and I was in for a surprise.

Eid al-Adha refers to ‘Feast of the Sacrifice,’ or the Greater Eid. Islamic scripture, or the Quran, tells us of a time when through a vision, Allah commanded Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his most precious belonging as a test to determine his loyalty. Ibrahim thought long and hard about this task, and came to the conclusion that his son, Ishmael, was in fact whom he must sacrifice. While Ibrahim was in the act of sacrificing his son, Angel Gabriel was sent by Allah to replace his son with a ram. How magical! Even in the present, Muslims all around the world will sacrifice animals in honor of this historic and memorable event that demonstrated the extent of Ibrahim’s devotion to Allah.

On Eid al-Adha, we divide the meat into three parts: one for our relatives and friends, another to be distributed among the poor, and the last part for our immediate family. Blessing goes to those who give to charities, who begin their day with morning prayers, and to those who have embarked on the Hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam.

Image result for eid al adha

Another amazing part of Eid? You have four whole days to visit different relatives’ houses, collect eidi, and eat a myriad of home-made food.

Although it’s almost Eid, I’m still not completely sure when it is. August 31? September 1? How frustrating, but we’ve got a larger problem on our hands: finding the perfect “Wow!” outfit.

I’m still in search for a last minute outfit, are you? Perhaps you’ve had yours for ages.

Eid Mubarak! Don’t eat too much, I know I won’t…I might…I will…I definitely will. Biryani, here I come!

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What’s Going on in Venezuela?

Dhriti Gupta
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With the US government’s daily antics taking the forefront of most media coverage, not enough attention has been directed to the unimaginable situation in Venezuela. Inflation as well as crime rates in Venezuela are highest in the world, people are starving, anti-government protests take place in the streets every week, and people are dying due to a lack of access to medicine and basic needs. Yet, no one seems to really be talking about the major issues taking place in Venezuela. So… what’s going on? How did it start? Who is responsible?

It all began with oil. Venezuela has always been an oil-rich country, it has been the driving force of the economy for several years. However, after oil prices crashed in 2015, the money devoted to social programs and food subsidies simply stopped flowing in, massively impacting the amount of foreign currency set aside for importing essential goods, such as medicine. This hit the healthcare system hard, and several controllable diseases once thought to be out of the picture, such as malaria, diphtheria, and AIDS, are back on the rise and medical supplies are not accessible to the majority of the population.

The empty shelves of Makro supermarket in Caracas, January 2015

In addition, it certainly does not help that lower productivity, mismanagement, and widespread corruption have introduced an inflation rate of 720.5% this year, making money almost worthless. To try and solve the issue of affordability, the government greatly decreased prices of key items like flour, eggs, milk, and toilet paper and just began to print more money. However, when it comes to inflation this is one of the worst things you can do, but considering the government is taking advice from Luis Salas, an economy czar that believes that inflation “does not exist in real life.”

Essentially, this led to the cost of several products being lesser than the cost of production, meaning farmers and domestic producers on top of having next to no imported materials to work with, are now pretty much paying to work. So they just stopped. Now, whatever meagre supply of food is left on the shelves of supermarkets is trailed by 8 hour lines by those who can barely afford it, while the rest fight for government assigned rations that families can attain once a week, but do not provide sufficient amounts nor nutrition. In 2016, 72% of the population lost an average of 19 pounds due to malnutrition. On top of all of this, the Venezuelan media is heavily censored, the government continues to refuse international aid, riots swarm the streets, crime rampages the country, and the president, Nicolás Maduro, slowly but surely inches towards an authoritarian dictatorship.

A protestor holds up a bank note poster with the word “hungry” printed across in bold letters

Things in Venezuela are way out of control and not many people know about it. People are suffering, dying because they cannot afford food, and losing the battle against treatable illnesses, and it is not in the main stream of news. There’s not much we can do abroad nor in Venezuela itself, except raise awareness and protest for fair treatment. If the government is not held accountable for its actions and the people are not provided the humanitarian services required to survive, the problem will remain rooted within the country and nothing will change. Additionally, if you would like to donate money towards food, clean water, or emergency medical care, there are several methods to do so. Most importantly though, stay in the loop and keep updated on the situation. If we continue to turn a blind eye to problems in other countries, people will not receive the help and justice they deserve.

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What Are Gender Roles?

Bhavana Vel
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If you Google the term “gender roles”, here’s what you will find.

A gender role is a set of societal norms dictating the types of behaviors which are generally considered acceptable, appropriate, or desirable for people based on their actual or perceived sex or sexuality.

Wikipedia

Take a moment to think about one of those old, black and white films — you know, the ones where the husband comes home from work with a briefcase, to find the wife cooking and taking care of the children. For years, this is what was considered socially acceptable for women. This is what women were expected to do.

To many, discrimination by gender is considered nonexistent. Sure, the stereotype of the wife who cooks and cleans has changed a lot, but gender roles still play a huge role in society. They’re still very much present in today’s day and age.

No, I’m not “another angry feminist” (also, feminists have a reason to be angry. But that’s a topic for a different post). Let me tell you that gender roles don’t only exist for women. Men are affected by it, too.

Think about this for a second. Women can easily walk outside wearing jeans and a shirt: apparel that was once considered mens wear. But would a man wearing a skirt be socially accepted?

I won’t even answer that one for you.

And before you dismiss the idea as silly and unrealistic, look at these pictures of men rocking skirts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why do gender roles still play a role in our day and age? Why are people expected to act a certain way because of a biological factor?

We need to start raising boys and girls the same way. We need to stop associating minuscule things like colour to a gender. Let people be who they want to be!

 

FrancoCon: Your Favorite Songs in French

Emily Donville
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Yesterday afternoon I came across a comical video on Facebook promoting Canadian songs in horribly broken french. “FrancoCon: Your Favourite Songs in French” is brought to you by Calgarian broadcasters Beckler and Seanna of X92.9 radio. The video is reminiscent of the kind of advertisements you’d see on TV promoting an album, though admittedly not serious in the slightest. The 4:20 video boasts Canadian music royalty such as Bryan Adams, The Tragically Hip, and Rush, to name a few while also highlighting Canadian up and comers such as Arkells, July Talk, and Mother Mother, who are fixtures on the Alternative station’s airwaves. The video sees as song titles come and go with iconic Canadian symbols such as parliament hill, ice rinks, and the Rockies in the background.

Self dubbed as “an embarrassing display of bilingual failure” I couldn’t help but reminisce back on my seven years of experience with French immersion while I watched it. Despite having left the French Immersion program in Grade 7, I can only hope the French skills I’ve retained aren’t half as bad as the laughable language displayed in this video. I’ll note that I say this all in good fun. If this video serves anything other than pure, unadulterated entertainment, let it serve as a reminder that google translate is not a replacement for language classes.

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