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February 2017 Blogger of the Month: Lucy Han

Danielle Leong
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Last Sunday I had the pleasure of sitting down for a light lunch with the first Blogger of the Month in the year of 2017, Lucy Han!  We had a lovely conversation at Friends, a local cafe with delicious food and a charming interior.  I am so happy that I was given the opporunity to interview this talented young lady- she was hilarious, insightful , and fun to talk to.

The little café we went to!

 

Lucy 🙂

As a grade eleven full-IB student at Sir Winston Churchill High School, it is apparent that Lucy is not only gifted academically but also in terms of her writing, which possesses a style that is simple yet effective.  Lucy is a middle child, being the second-oldest (or youngest, depending on how you look at it), and has a pet cat!  Although she loves her family, she has always wondered what it would be like to have a brother. A lover of nature and the colour green, Lucy is known in her family as the family tree hugger, and her favourite animal is the monkey! (I was surprised, because she is the first person I’ve know who prefers the monkey over other animals).

Like many students, growing up Lucy was actually never a big fan of writing- she was always insecure about what she wrote.

 I tried a bunch of times to start a journal, but it never lasted…

Although, never a huge fan of writing herself, as a child Lucy actually loved to read.  Reading was one of her favourite hobbies, and it has stuck with her as she has grown.  When she had the leisure time to read, Lucy read plenty of good books, but she says that her favourite(s) is the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan, because of how addicting the writing is.  Her favourite author is James Dashner, who wrote the world-famous Mazerunner series, which Lucy highly recommends!

Her love for reading actually contributes to both why she joined YAA, and her writing style.

Lucy had already joined the Mayor’s Youth Council, another sub committee of Youth Central.  She wanted to join another committee, and discovered the blog, Youth Are Awesome.  Being a busy student, like many of us, Lucy no longer has the time to constantly read novels for fun, she thankfully still had the time to read lots and lots of blogs! (I am thankful because that influenced her decision to join the website).

I was always into reading blogs, and I wanted to try writing them for myself.

And that she did- Lucy joined YAA in the fall of 2016, and her writing style has given a fresh, interesting and bright flavour to our website’s audience. Lucy’s pieces of writing touch on subjects that most people would not have the insight to write about.  Her writing epitomizes the purpose of Youth Central, because it demonstrates a perfectly unique youth perspective that captures a side of life otherwise unnoticed. When describing her writing style, Lucy says:

Casual.  I try to avoid being overly formal, because I want my readers to have as much fun reading my blogs as I have writing them. A lot of people use fancy words and it looks great, but that’s not for me.

She understands that busy students have busy schedules, so she wanted to create articles that students can read on the go and be entertained by.  If the article is short and interesting, it’s more likely that people will have the time to actually finish reading it!

Lucy’s consice yet extremely effective writing style adds so much to the YAA team, and when asked what she believes she brings to the table, Lucy states:

Everyone brings a certain sort of content.  As for me, I bring a different angle and perspective and writing style.  I get to add my own little spice into the cooking mix that is YAA.

Lucy adds flavour to the blogging team, but what does the team add to her life? Surprisingly a lot.  When I inquired about what Lucy likes the most about Youth Are Awesome, she gave the sweetest answer.

I originally thought that joining YAA would just improve my writing, but it has been so much more than that.  I found out things about myself that I never knew, and I got to meet the amazing youth blogging community.  Everyone is so nice and diverse and everyone is here for a different reason, and I think I will make friends for life.

I found it extremely interesting what Lucy told me about how her motivation to write is similar to a cycle.  She writes not only to improve her writing, but also to motivate herself.  Lucy often writes when she doesn’t feel like touching her heavy schoolwork.  She loves to write about motivation, because writing about motivation actually ends up motivating her to do her homework!

“Out of sight, out of mind.”, says Lucy.  When she begins to feel lazy, she writes about motivation. “A lot of my blogs are about motivation because I’m feeling lazy about homework.” What an effective way of both spreading inspiration to others and yourself!

As of now, Lucy’s favourite blog that she’s written is actually blog is actually “It’s okay, I’ll do it tomorrow.” She had loads of homework that day and wasn’t motivated to do it, but after writing it she became motivated.

Through her blogs, Lucy wants to provide content that people can look at over and over again, even if it’s just for fun.  She would love it if people read her blogs and shared them with other people, because she would like to “create the snowball effect”, which means that once one person reads her blog that person will share it with another, and so on and so forth.  She believes that her blogs will help people, because:

Blogs are about both learning things about the world and realizing things about yourself.

Lucy says that YAA has imporved her writing and has helped her to appreciate writing more.  She went from being insecure about her writing and avoiding writing if preferred, to writing in her free time.  Go Lucy! What a special journey from not liking writing to loving it, and the youth community is lucky that you now are confident enough to share your writing!

I especially admire the positive and risk-taking approach that Lucy takes on life with.  I asked her the question: “What would you tell bloggers who are hesitant to join YAA, but at the same time really want to?”

If it doesn’t work for you, it doesn’t, but you should at least give yourself a chance.  I was self conscious about my writing, but I decided to give it a shot, and continue with it if I liked it.  Who knew I would like YAA so much? It’s like a sport, or a book, that you want to try but are unsure about.  For example, when I was younger I really liked mystery books, but I decided to try something new and started reading the dystopian genre, which I ended up loving.

In the future, Lucy hopes to create a meaningful impact; to discover something new that the world is missing.

I would like to explore things that have not been explored too much and help people out, and make the world a better place, because we are all here for a reason. I want to do something that I know will have a lasting effect on people, and that will make them happy.

As a closing statement, Lucy ended off our conversation by lending a little advice to our readers:

Always try something new, because you never know what you’re gonna find.  There’s always gonna be something hidden that you try out and that you’re gonna love, and that will still with you for a long time.

Thank you Lucy for your lovely words, and after recieving the chance to get to know you I’m sure that you will accomplish your dream, make a difference in our world, and drastically change not one, but many peoples’ lives.

Congratulations once again to Lucy Han for being chosen as the February 2017 Blogger of the Month!

 

TV Recommendation: Suits

Dylan Zhao
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If you’ve ever wanted an exactly accurate glimpse into the world of law, don’t watch Suits. However, if what you want instead is an extremely entertaining legal drama series with compelling cases, witty dialogue, and (of course) an impeccable sense of fashion, then absolutely do watch Suits. 

What do I mean by this? Well, if we were to compare the workings of a real-life corporate law firm with the law firm depicted in the show, the key difference would be pacing. In real life, difficult cases can take months or even years to fully resolve, and the majority of work done by lawyers is actually research and reading, and the times spent doing adds up very quickly. This contrasts the pacing of Suits, where cases always have a sense of urgency and importance.

But this is actually a reason to rejoice. After all, who would want to watch an hour-long show of lawyers researching things? The interesting, lively pacing of Suits keeps viewers engaged, and even though it may not be entirely accurate to real life, it absolutely enhances the viewing experience for the audience. And on that basis, I could not recommend the show more.

 

What’s it about?

 

But let’s step back a bit. What is this show actually about?

Without revealing too much, the story concerns college dropout Mike Ross, who was accepted to Harvard Law School but was never able to go. Mike has an eidetic memory, allowing him to accurately recall information after only a few moments of exposure to it. As he himself puts it, “I like to read. And I once I read something, I understand it. And once I understand it, I never forget it.”

With his memory, Mike is able to impress Harvey Specter, who is widely considered the “best closer New York has ever seen,” and is a senior partner at Pearson Hardman, one of the most prestigious corporate law firms in New York. As a term of his recent promotion, Harvey is required to hire a Harvard Law-educated associate. He chooses Mike, despite the issue that Mike never went to law school.

 

Now, this is actually an extremely serious action to be taking, as practicing law without a degree is considered a felony, and should Mike ever be discovered, both he and Harvey would almost certainly go to prison. As Mike and Harvey begin closing cases together, they also need to be careful in order to keep Mike’s lack of a Harvard Law degree a secret from the rest of the firm.

Why is it good?

While Suits may not be as iconic as Breaking Bad or Game of Thrones or some other universally recognized show, there is probably still a good chance you have heard of it before. This is for good reason too, as the show has actually spiked in popularity in the last year or two, despite first airing in 2011. My personal opinion is that the hype is justified, and that if you have heard that Suits is good, you should trust that and go for it. But even if you haven’t heard of this show, or are skeptical as to how much you would enjoy a legal drama, I would still encourage you to give it a shot.

The characters in Suits are likable, the cases are fascinating, and by far one of the greatest driving forces of the show is its dialogue. If you’ve ever enjoyed giving or even hearing a perfectly sassy, snarky and clever remark, with this show you are in for a treat. There are witty jabs aplenty, and on top of being immensely entertaining, these bits of dialogue also serve to enhance the complexities of the characters.

And when I say that the cases are fascinating, I am not exaggerating. Mike and Harvey’s firm has a plethora of clients within the upscale New York community, all of which are extremely demanding of the lawyers they hire, and the issues faced can range from medical drug regulation to multi-million business deals. Not only are these cases interesting to follow, and will keep viewers engaged, but they also leave open opportunities for the audience to think about their own morals and values in some situations.

But beyond that, the production value of the show is phenomenal as well. The set pieces are extremely well done (the firm itself looks extremely classy, as a rich law firm ought to), as is the cinematography. The show may as well be a much-longer movie. Even the opening theme song is extremely catchy, and I found myself humming it after hearing it the first few times.

You don’t necessarily have to be super interested in law to enjoy Suits. But if you’re interested in being entertained, it will not let you down.

 

 

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17 Things I’ve Learned in 17 Years

Sarah Nolin
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17th birthdays aren’t that exciting, which I now know. At 16 you can finally drive, 18 you’re legal but 17 is this awkward year where you’re not quite an adult but also don’t qualify as a kid anymore. There are expectations set out as you prepare for adulthood and for some who are graduating like me, preparing to go out into the world. I often find myself at a disadvantage because I am graduating a year ahead of time. It’s as if I lost a year that I would have spent maturing but because of this fast-tracking process, I’ve come to realize some harsh realities and also some unexpected joys.

So here, from someone perhaps unqualified…

17 Things I’ve Learned in 17 Years:

1.People will doubt you — it doesn’t matter. As long as you know for a fact that you’re capable

2. Despite contradiction, your grades do matter, study hard and do your best but at the end of the day the mark does not define you

3. Humility is necessary, dance in public and make a fool of yourself because, in the end, it builds character

4. Keep your expectations low, that way the world will constantly impress you and in more ways than you thought possible

5. Walking is the best meditation, whether it’s around the block, through the park or even out in mountains – breathe in the air

6. SLEEP MORE!!! YOU WILL SUFFER THE NEXT DAY!!! NO SARAH NOT ANOTHER EPISODE OF GREYS ANATOMY!!!!!!!

7. The world is a beautiful place, look outside of your tiny bubble and see the bright future you have in store, hold onto this image and you will get through it

8. Never cut fruit/bagels/vegetables towards your hand, unless you want to end up in hospital, and in need of surgery…

9. Don’t make time for the people that never make time for you, draw a line and stick to it

10. Being down to earth is overrated, being outrageous is so much more fun

11. Never get bangs again

12. Time spent doing something that makes you happy is never wasted time

13. Value the time spent with family, these moments are precious

14. Take everything with a grain of salt

15. Having a boyfriend isn’t everything, give it time

16. Be kind and things you deserve will come your way

17. Conforming to the norm is not going to make you happy, doing what you love, being who you want to be and just genuinely taking life for what it is will satisfy you more than you know. Despite the fact that life has really sucked the last couple years and there have been some very nasty cards dealt to you, that does not determine what the future will bring.

Xx

Harry Potter Theory: Death Eaters and The KKK?

Talia Santarossa
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 A little while ago, I was watching Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire and couldn’t help but notice something that struck me as interesting. The robes that the Death Eaters are wearing during the attack at the Quidditch World Cup are eerily similar in design to the white supremacist Ku Klux Klan’s robes. It made me stop and think that, wow, not only do they dress similarly, but you can definitely draw parallels between the two groups. Does the portrayal of Voldemort’s followers draw upon the example of the KKK?

They’ve Got The Look

What first set me onto the idea that the Death Eaters may be at least in part inspired by the KKK was the similarities between the way that they dress. We first see the Death Eaters introduced together as a group in The Goblet of Fire during the Quidditch World Cup and later during the graveyard scene where He Who Must Not Be Named is boiled like an evil pot of stew and returned to his full corporeal form. The pointed caps, masks and solid black robes echo the KKK uniform somewhat remarkably, minus the white part.

The resemblance is almost undeniable. 

In later films, the Death Eaters’ robes were toned down a little bit when the removed the cap, opting instead for a generic black hood. Was this perhaps due to the striking similarities to the KKK. No official statements have ever been released in this regard, but Googling “Death Eaters and the KKK” and looking at the top hits tells me that I’m not the only one who has noticed the physical resemblance.

It’s All In The Ideology

It’s all fine and dandy to say that the picture painted by the Death Eaters is evocative of images of the Ku Klux Klan, but it goes a whole lot deeper than that. Both are supremacist groups whose central belief is that theirs is the one true race and that all others are inferior. While the KKK are known for their negative (to say the least) views on people of colour, especially African Americans, the Death Eaters have a similar opinion on Muggles, or non-magic folk. The terror that the the Death Eaters inflicted upon the magical community during Voldemort’s heyday can be seen as a microcosm of the KKK’s chokehold on the southern US. Both believed in ethnic cleansing and the inherent power of being a pure-blooded wizard/white, and used murder, riots and general evil to achieve their ends.

Many parallels can also be drawn with Nazism and WWII Germany; the goal of eliminating Muggle-borns and half-bloods from the wizarding community was ultimate, but the execution (pun intended) of this goal was undertaken gradually, somewhat like the Holocaust and the rampant antisemitism under Nazi Germany. It’s also not very difficult to compare Voldemort to Adolf Hitler.

At the very least, they have the expression in common. 

The one difference between the Nazis and the KKK that I feel really draws more of a similarity to the Death Eaters is the use of masks. To me, this brands the KKK and the Death Eaters as more secretive and private in that as much as they may be fervent supporters of their cause, there is a clear line drawn between their private lives and public activities. A Nazi is a Nazi and the swastika was a symbol worn with pride, whereas the use of masks by Death Eaters and the KKK evokes a sort of cowardice, an aversion to the world being able to put a face to the acts they commit. Sure, you might know the names of every Death Eater or member of the KKK there ever was (or currently is), but what difference would it make if you walked past one in the street if you didn’t know their face? This distinction is vital.

What do you think? Could inspiration for Voldemort’s cult of followers have been drawn from the Ku Klux Klan or from Nazi Germany? For further reading about the Nazi influence, I would highly recommend checking out this article from The Leaky Cauldron. An interesting idea, and only further proof that there may indeed be more to the Death Eaters’ background and inspiration than meets the eye.

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We are Human.

Malika Daya
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“Six people dead. Many more injured.

                                                 There was shooting in Quebec

                                                                                                 Quebec Muslims are frightened now.”

Words, just words strung together in a sentence screaming
stop, it’s enough.
Stop, I have a family, they need me.
Stop… I want to live.
Stop, I have a heartbeat.
Please stop.
I am just a human.

 In those moments when the gunshots were being released into the air, the souls of many were weeping. And now, many more mourn for their Muslim brothers and sisters, their community members, their co-workers, their friends.

And as I sit behind this screen typing more words, I’m really crying in loss, in fear but also with faith that empathy still exists. That love still exists. That desensitization and ignorance can be cured through compassion and knowledge.

Being a Muslim woman in Canada right now, I am having troubles fathoming the condition of our world. However, this shooting solidified all I wished not to be true. It is happening- Muslims are being banned from the United States of America, the country of “freedom?” And there is a trickling affect left behind on Canada. When a place of prayer experiences such terror- is that not a form of violence against diversity? Is that not a blow against our values of pluralism?

Yes, yes it is.

Over forty years ago, my parents left their native countries in hopes of escaping political unrest. They left in hopes of finding a place in the world where being a Muslim was celebrated not targeted. They came to Canada to find a place where they could pray, live, and work without compromising their own identities. And on this soil, where many stories alike and different have made Canada their home, to see such violence, such ignorance and cowardice makes us feel unwanted, afraid, and uncertain about our futures.

But in return, there is still love here. Love that is convincing us that we will be okay. And that love, is ever present in the flowers placed by the mosque in Quebec; it is alive in the many words of prayer and condolences from people all across Canada, the US, and around the globe. The impact of this terror has resonated within every human-being who chooses to empathize.

This fatal attack has brought our somewhat fragmented community together. Together we stand against the bigotry. Together we stand, united and steadfast upon our values of pluralism and love. Together we rise against the darkness of our time.

And to those who aren’t standing with us: Please do not kill us with your words. Please do not speak without completely understanding the truth. Please don’t treat this shooting like an analytic does his numbers, because behind every stat you’re hearing is a human being. A human-being.

And so I ask, please say a prayer for those who have lost their lives to violence and for all those who are continuing to suffer every single day. And please pray that as nation we stand united in our battle against ignorance and hate.

Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un
We belong to God, and to him we return.

What Is This New Satisfying/ASMR Trend?

Hilary Guo
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This is something you’ve probably seen all over the internet. Where people either play with slime or mix paint or cut kinetic sand.

  (x x x)

Those things are made to satisfy people and make them feel good, just like how these pictures make you feel good:

 (x)

Like this jar of untouched peanut butter:

 (x)

And this perfectly round burger bun:

 (x)

 

Believe it or not, this is a real trend. People love the idea of satisfaction. I know at first it may seem weird, why would anyone watch someone play with slime or chop up a block of kinetic sand? I admit, it is strange, but oddly satisfying. Don’t hate it until you try it! It’s mainly the crunchy/sizzling sound it makes that grabs the viewer’s attention. It’s called ASMR which stands for autonomous sensory meridian response and it’s used to relax people. ASMR videos usually consist of noises that are satisfying to hear such as scissors cutting paper or whispering. Personally my favourite videos are slime videos because of that crunching sound it makes. But there are many different types of satisfying videos out there and I assure you, you’ll probably be obsessed with them after you watch a couple.

Simply search up what you want to watch: asmr, slime, sand, etc. And if you want to try it out for yourself, feel free to make a batch of slime with these instructions!

 

-glue (base)

-foaming hand soap (texture)

-shaving cream (fluffiness)

-lotion (scent)

-activator (1 1/2 cups water + 1 tsp borax ) (liquid starch)

 

  1. Mix together first four ingredients**
  2. SLOWLY add your activator, if you add in too much at once, it could ruin your slime
  3. Once it hits your desired consistency, knead it with your hands until it all comes together
  4. Take a video of your slime and post it online!

**I didn’t put measurements for the rest because it’s up to you and how you want your slime to be. Add more glue to make more slime, more shaving cream to make it fluffier/stretchier and more activator to make it less sticky.

You can thank me later for introducing you to this awesome new trend 😉

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Hui Wen Zheng: Loran Scholarship Finalist

Danielle Leong
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Loran Scholarship finalist Hui Wen Zheng, a 17-year-old student at Western Canada High School

 

If you have ever been involved in the area of giving back in the city of Calgary, Alberta, chances are you’ve either met or heard of Hui Wen Zheng, a core member of various youth volunteer and leadership initiatives. Hui Wen, a 17-year-old friend and volunteer to many in Calgary, uses her actions to inspire and empower the youth of Youth Central (the largest youth volunteer organization in Calgary), making her a role model not only for youth in her hometown but for all youth who strive to make a difference.

The Loran (pronounced “lo-RAN”) Scholarship, short for “Long-Rage Aid to Navigation “, is the most prestigious scholarship in Canada, granting winners $100, 000 over four years to go towards their University degrees.  What differentiates this scholarship from others is primarily the basis which they choose their winners on; while other scholarships look purely at grades, the Loran judges the thousands of applicants on their demonstrations of the three core Loran values: character, service, and leadership.

Leadership is not about numbers and percentages, it’s about the person, and who they are,

The fact that the selectors take such a holistic approach to choosing the finalists is amazing, because it proves that the people who do get the scholarship get it for the right reasons.

Being one of 84 finalists chosen from a pool of 4,400 applicants, Hui Wen  has definitely made it this far for the right reasons. As an active member of the community, she has worked extremely hard and those who have worked with her all agree that she contributes 110% to any cause she puts her mind to.

The standard selection process for the Loran occurs when high schools across the nation submit their nominations, and the Loran committee then chooses amongst those.  Being accepted by this method is extraordinary itself, but Hui Wen’s story is even more remarkable.

“I had applied for nomination from my school, but didn’t make it.  I then decided to apply in the direct pool of applicants, and I was recognized by the Loran organization through my application.  I got the news right before Christmas, and it was the best Christmas gift I ever could have received.  I couldn’t believe that with over 4000 applicants I had been chosen.  I started crying as soon as I heard the news.”

Although the monetary value of the Loran award is certainly not something to overlook, what excites her the most about this opportunity is in fact the experience.

The Loran offers so much more than just a scholarship; they offer you a program, unlike other scholarships.  They are invested in you and supporting you.

The  Loran experience starts from the beginning when the applicants are selected from their hometowns.  They then attend regional interviews, where if successful they go on to national interviews in Ontario.  Those who make it to nationals are the finalists; the finalists are given the opportunity to network and get to know each other while experiencing Ontario.  The 32 selected Loran Scholars not only achieve the $100, 000 towards their education, but also mentorship, funding for summer internshps, a weeklong orientation expedition, scholar retreats, and other scholar gatherings.

I’m really excited to meet the other scholars from across the country because this is such a special opportunity.  Coast to coast there are so many different types of people, and to meet them and talk to them and see how they live their lives is gonna be really special to me.

Hui wen hopes to share and combine ideas with her fellow scholars about how to better their communities, as well as to learn about what others are doing in their own hometowns.  She is thrilled that she will be able to network with other young leaders, and would like to form life-long friendships.  Hui Wen is also extremely grateful for the support this scholarship provides:

“The Loran would alleviate the financial burden of my University degree, and I would therefore be able to pursue my interest with no worry.  The support from the Loran mentors will also take a lot of the pressure and fear of university off.  It’s the helping hand the Loran provides along my journey that is crucial and will help me to achieve success.  No matter where I go, I know that I will carry the Loran values and support alongside me.”

Myself and fellow bloggers have been given the opportunity to get to know Hui Wen not only in a professional context, but a personal one as well. There is no question that she exemplifies every value of the Loran scholarship on a daily basis- character, service and leadership, and as a co-editor and close friend of Hui Wen I cannot think of an individual more deserving of this award than her.  Hui Wen has been an irreplaceable mentor and friend to many of us, and we all will be cheering her on as she embarks on this amazing journey.

 

 

 

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Kiana’s Ultimate Reading Suggestions Part 2

Kiana Baghban
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The towering fear has come and has gripped all of our hearts in suspense, making it terribly hard for us to sleep at night because of morbid attacks of insomnia, and sends shudders down our spines whenever we catch our teacher looking at us. Yes, it has come, my friends, and it is one and only, drum roll, please….semester two. With all this stress upon our shoulders, there’s nothing more like a good book to calm you down, the night before report cards go home, shudder. (Be sure to check out the first part of this list right here.)

Jonathan Livingston Seagull, by, Richard Bach:

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My mother introduced this little book to me this year and I once again retreated to my school library to get the copy. It’s quite a short novella and it’s a fable. The story follows Jonathan Livingston, a seagull, as he learns about life and self-perfection. At first, it seems to be a little confusing, but by the end of the story, you’ll slowly put the book down and stare out into the distance; digesting all the new ideas that formed in your head.  I re-read the day after I finished it the first time and I loved it even more. This story is perfect for those days when you could just stand up and yell: “will this day ever end?” and the story is great for those one-sitting reads.

Great Expectaions, by, Charles Dickens:

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This book was sitting desolately in my bookshelf before I had time to pick it up. I read the majority of it on the six-hour drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. Personally, I would recommend Dickens to anyone, but if you want only read one of his books and then farewell, Great Expectations is the one for you! It follows Pip’s, an orphan’s, life for a couple of decades; showing his personal growth and development. To be honest, I didn’t completely enjoy this book to the fullest extent, since it left me feeling grey (for lack of a better word) beyond extent. But, Dickens wrote it with such a dark, cunning humour that it was hard not to give it another read. What I love about Anderson, Hugo, Dickens etc. is that they don’t sugar coat anything and they give you the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

The Old Man and the Sea, by, Ernest Hemingway:

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What I love about Hemingway is that he never adds any flowery and flimsy descriptions to his writings, and always writes the most heart-wrenching novels. The Old Man and the Sea is one of Hemmingway’s most famous works, and it tells the story of Santiago, an aging fisherman and his struggle with a great marlin out in the open sea. It’s also another very short story and can be a one-sit novel; I recommend finishing it in two. I read the first half in Fernie beside the hotel pool (suiting isn’t it?) and the second half right before I went to bed. There is not much I can say without giving the end away, and the ending is the best part which sets the novella in the top ten. I think that this is in the high school curriculum, but if it is or not, it’s definetley worth the read.

Around the World in 80 Days, by, Jules Verne:

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This was my novel study for grade seven and I couldn’t have chosen a better novel. As the name implies, the story is about traveling the world in 80 days. It follows Phileas Fogg, a living schedule, who fired his last servant because his water was three degrees too cold, and his new servant, Passepartout, who came to London in search of a mellow life, ironically. It’s filled with adventure, suspense, and one attribute that I love: the race against time. It’s great to read if you want to forget anything and go into another era.

And I still have more to come…

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Chew on This: Digital Privacy & Ethics

Hui Wen Zheng
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I’m sure we’ve all experienced this: you visit a site to buy jackets, for example, and the next time you log onto your Facebook account, all of the sudden every advertisement that pops up is about the latest and greatest deals about jackets. While it might be a little strange and even unsettling, at the end of the day, it’s not a big deal; you get on with your life and see more selections of jackets, but is it really so easy to brush off?

In a day and age where high-speed internet is considered a basic service, we often forget that that’s exactly what the internet is — a service. Like public transit or a visit to the doctors office, services don’t come for free. So when you really think about it, the fact that we can access endless amounts of information at the hands of websites such as Google, Facebook, Twitter, and et cetera for free, the internet seems a little too good to be true. That’s because you are actually a crucial part of their business. When you visit a website, such as a clothing site, you allow cookies, some of which send messages about the content you are looking at to interested parties such as marketing agencies, who pay big bucks to collect your customer information that will, in-turn, help them earn more by advertising to you.

“But I didn’t consent to this?”

You’re right,  often times, the use of third-party cookies is unknown because of how hidden the disclaimers can be on websites. However, due to the privacy issue it poses, some governing bodies such as the European Union have passed laws making it mandatory for websites to outwardly state the use of cookies and ask for consent. However, many disclaimers simply state that, if you don’t like the cookies, don’t visit the website, essentially forcing you into a corner on the matter. And cookies are not the only personal information being tracked and sold, in fact, data from the apps you use and everything in-between can be used to create a digital profile of who you are to better help advertisers cater to your interests. The video below provides some examples of how your seemingly private information isn’t so private:

Privacy & Ethics

While the issue of personal data tracking for advertising is one thing — maybe you enjoy seeing good deals on the products and services you are interested in — there are times when personal privacy is challenged and the lines between right or wrong are more unclear. To bring up a relevant current event that has stirred the minds of lawmakers and citizens alike, mass-surveillance as a method to combat terrorism has been hotly debated as of late, and for good reason too. Many countries, including Canada, have their own government-based spy agencies that monitor their citizens’ information. From phone numbers, home addresses, to your internet searches, these institutions aim serve to identify and stop those suspected of extremism.

While rooted in good intentions, the effectiveness of the surveillance, as well as the ethical issues it brings up, have all come into question. In order to find flaggable or remotly suspicious internet downloads or activity, agencies have to sift through millions of music downloads and family photos. This can make the process slow and untimely. In the case of a video obtained by a spy agency of an unknown German hostage, the said hostage was killed in May 2012, months before the video was found. As well, the fact that government agencies can access private information about you without anyone knowing (the knowledge of these practices came from a whistleblower’s leak), truly puts into question your digital privacy.

With the world still changing and adapting alongside rapdily interconnected internet systems, it’s unlikely that we will see an end to the digital privacy debate. That being said, it is a multifaceted and deep issue that requires further reading to truly understand, and the list below is a good place to start. Have an opinion on this issue? Share it below in the comments – at your own discretion!

Further reading:

Edward Snowden: NSA Whistleblower: BBC News

Apple and the San Bernardino Shooter’s iPhone Unlock: Washington Post

CSE: Effective at Countering Terrorism? Disputable: Huffington Post

Stealing from the Internet: It’s possible: Huffington Post

The Desire for Privacy vs. The Desire for Likes: New York Times

 

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What to Consider Before Taking a Course Online

Rosie Zhao
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Distance learning has become popular, whether it is for a course you need to complete for high school or a way to learn something outside of your school’s curriculum. There are a variety of reasons to opt for online learning; maybe you want a spare during school, the course isn’t substantially important, or working in a school environment isn’t optimal for your learning. There are several decisions to make before taking a course online, and it can be overwhelming! Here are some personal tips of mine for taking a course online.

First of all, what are some differences between online learning and in-school learning?

I would say the biggest difference between online learning and classroom learning is its flexibility — and a shift in responsibility towards YOU. School classes are very structured and strict in terms of scheduling, but typically your online learning course is fitted into your schedule however you choose– albeit a rare scheduled chatroom. Without the face-to-face dynamic, your online course teacher will probably not hound you for handing in assignments late; especially in large class sizes nearing the hundreds (which is a possible scenario for online courses), the teacher simply won’t have time to chastise each student, and instead there are set rules to discourage certain behaviour (for example, handing in three assignments late will get you expelled from the course). This is where you need to take initiative when contacting the teacher, because they most likely won’t be able to tell if you’re struggling to understand the material for a certain lesson, or you have some other obligations that prevent you from handing an assignment in on time. You won’t be unnecessarily losing marks and your time taking the course will feel more worthwhile.

What courses should I take online?

You can take whatever is offered in the school you sign up for. The largest online learning schools in Calgary –such as CBE-Learn or Alberta Distance Learning Centre (ADLC)— offer a plethora of courses ranging from your cores to less-commonly seen option cores (like fashion studies, legal studies and workplace safety). However, before you enroll in these courses, be sure to…

Do your research.

There are a few factors that you should be taking into account when choosing between taking a course in-class or online, or deciding between online learning schools:

  • Reliability.

    Make sure that you sign up at a school that will give you the credits for the course and add your final mark to your official high school transcript. You can always consult your school’s guidance counselor for this, but your best bet is signing up at a school located within Alberta (it IS called distance learning, but you don’t want to stray too far from home!). It would be terrible to dedicate all that work for a semester and not have the proof that you completed the course.

  • Cost.

    Schools also have varying amounts of tuition fees for the courses that you take. For instance, when I enrolled in Social 20-1 with ADLC last September, my tuition was free and there were optional fees for materials like online textbooks. CBE-learn also offers free courses for students registered in another CBE school but if you wanted to take a course online over the summer, a course is $65. Another option that some students take is learning at a local post-secondary institution; the fees for these courses are a bit more pricey, some ranging from $200-$500 (here are Bow Valley College’s tuition fees for the 2016-17 year). Make sure to do some digging if money is a potential constraint!

  • Logistics.

    Logistics refers to how a school organizes their online courses. This includes prerequisites, number of assignments/exams, weighting distribution of your grade and the deadline to finish the course. Going back to my previous examples, CBE-Learn has a prerequisite course called Pre-Learn that is taken along with your regular course. The course content might also be an important factor in your decision (i.e. if there’s a midterm, the assignments are test-heavy, etc.) Also, the biggest difference between CBE-Learn and ADLC is their deadlines: ADLC gives you a year to finish the course, whereas CBE-Learn gives deadlines for assignments in increments and you have to finish the course by the end of the semester. Carefully consider which school will be optimal for your work habits– whether you need strict deadlines to keep yourself on top of things or a more flexible schedule to give yourself time for other courses.

Ultimately, online learning is a test of self-discipline and independence.

Finishing an online course in a timely manner comes down to organization and motivation in your own learning. You have to feel that taking this course will be worthwhile to you because you will be dedicating at least a semester of your time outside of regular school. And a large aspect of your enjoyment will come from making careful decisions before enrolling to ensure your success.

The Remarkable Simplicity In “Trending” YouTube Videos

Aaron Wen
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A 1000-degree knife? Really!?!?!?!?!

Casually popping into my YouTube subscription box, under the new section of “Trending” videos, I saw my first ever “1000-degree knife VS.___________” I’ll admit, it was pretty cool. (And no, I’m not an arsonist, before you question it). But soon enough, with the first video clocking in at over 60 million views, people started to hop on the bandwagon. Over time, though still mildly entertaining, the 1000-degree knife videos lost relevance within a few short months, and dissipated into the abyss known as the YouTube platform.

As you may already know, this isn’t the first time this has ever happened, as the explosion of popularity, following by the gradual decline of so-called “trends” appears everywhere, such as the vlogging or gaming community to name but a few. Another novel example? The original bottle flip.

Such a simple, elegant concept that has spread across the internet for who knows how long. For those of you who have been living under a rock, the original bottle flip was conducted by Michael Senator, a high school student who had no idea what to do for a high-school talent show. Immediately after, his one video took flight, even attracting the eyes of Stephen Colbert, who invited him to the Late Show to show his “technique”. If you would like to see his interview, I’ll leave it here.

Over the next few months, hundreds and hundreds of videos were made with the same concept, and yes, some were better than others. All the big time YouTubers you know and love got on the bandwagon, and it still goes strong today.

Let’s answer this question first: Why get on the hype? Do content creators really find enjoyment in flipping bottles endlessly for 15 minutes? Well, I can’t speak for everyone, but I’ll tell you one thing: It gets views.

For those who don’t already know, YouTubers hold actual professions, they make money online through posting content. Now not everyone can earn money this way, as there is a lengthy process. YouTube channels are monetized, meaning that they exchange cash from YouTube with the popularity they receive. From there, content creators have to link their channel to advertisements, which is where a bulk of the money comes from. The more views a creator gets, the more times an ad is viewed to the public, and the more money YouTube (and the creator) makes. It is a win-win situation, right? Right?…

Unfortunately, the hunt for views and ultimately, popularity and wealth can be the thing that drains the interest out of good content. The best content on YouTube is often credited to be so unique that it cannot be repeated again and again. This not only makes it attractive, but also long-lasting. On the other hand, it is often the overuse of a trend that crashes it down, and drops it out of popularity. It is simply a fact of life: people always crave something new, something fresh. Finding your own style and content within the YouTube realm is what gets popularity, and while YouTube algorithms and unfriendly search bars often can help you get onto the map to start, it is your own creativity and content that starts it. Doing things that haven’t been done before is what creates interest, and trust me, even the most mundane and mindless things that you can think of receive exponential growth. It is similar to a single dot of yellow in a whole sea of blue, seemingly insignificant, but noticeable from the farthest distance.

So go ahead, find your inspiration, something that has never been seen before. And trust me, if a person can count from 1 to 100000 in a single video, I am sure that you can find something that will catch the eyes of the viewers. Who knows? Maybe you’ll be the next superstar I see in my “trending” box tomorrow.

 

5 Events to go before Semester Two starts

Jerome Agustin Panares
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Finally, exams and diplomas are done. Freedom is here for some, it’s a week or only a few days, but at least you have a break. Semester two is starting and somewhat comes quickly, yet you are still standing, “Congrats you survived Semester one.” Now time to get ready for the plans you haven’t made and discover interesting some events.

Here are 5 things to do before Semester Two:

1.YYC Hot chocolate Fest ( Jan 28 until Feb)

You in-love for the cocoa?

Hot chocolate is the best drink in the winter season but it’s not your ordinary hot chocolate. Different stores are competing against each other to win the best hot chocolate in Calgary. The best part is there are over +100 plus stores to choose different hot chocolate from and all of them are spread all over the city.  The kick-off starts at Jan 28 and may you discover your favorite hot chocolate.

2. Chinese New Year Carnival (Jan 28 and 29)

Do you want to experience Chinese new year?

It is annual festival set up to celebrate the Chinese New Year! There will be traditional Chinese food, family-friendly games and activities, performances, and so much more! The event is host at the Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre.

 

3. Stem Seminar 2017 (Jan 28 or Feb 3)

Interested in science?

This seminar is all about information about Science Expo and how to get involved and STEM opportunities, education, and future careers. They are the largest student-run non-profit organization that connects youth to the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) community in Canada and their vision is to create a national community of youth that engages in STEM programs and education, in order to encourage the pursuit of STEM careers. Plus, free food and beverage are available for the seminar. The first seminar is on Jan 28 but if you can’t make it, there is the second seminar at Feb 3.

4. Calgary Pop-up Comic Show (Jan 29 and 30)

Do you like Comics?

This event is for you where you can buy comic, graphic novels, video games, and art.  This is not a Mini expo but an old school type comic show where you can trade your collectibles or sell them.

5. High-Performance Rodeo (Jan 26 to Feb 2)

Want to know Western Canada?

The High-Performance Rodeo is Calgary’s International Festival of the Arts. Encompassing theater, music, dance, comedy and interdisciplinary art, the High-Performance Rodeo is the largest event of its kind in western Canada.For four weeks in January, local, national and international performers converge on Calgary to share many of their award winning performances. It is held in various locations.

 

La La Land

Ananya Arya
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Once again, I was able to go to the theater to see the mesmerizing on screen chemistry of Emma stone and Ryan Gosling. I see now why this film won seven golden globe awards and I would not be surprised if this film managed to score an Oscar as well, given its staggering fourteen nominations. I must warn you now, this article is full of spoilers!

Damien Chazelle did an amazing job of portraying a modern day romance artistically using a range of colors, effects and songs. Speaking of songs, the composer Justin Hurwitz has created a beautiful and subtle sound track for majority of the musical. Songs like “Another day of the sun” is energetic, but in the duet version of “city of stars” is the perfect combination of adventure and excitement yet is beautiful subtle and makes the viewer want to sing along.

Mia, a struggling actress is always in-between auditions and working a mediocre job. Seb is a  struggling pianist who’s life passion and meaning is Jazz music. This couple does not have a typical meet-cute rather their first three encounters are disastrous. Two unlikely people accept each other for who they are, and love each other almost as much as they love their dreams, but their love is not enough. Seb initially joins a band he did not want to, just to provide and make money for the both of them. Mia is unsuccessful at scoring any role and her own play is a flop. Although they love each other and are sacrificing a lot for each other, they realize that their dreams will always be their own, and no one can ever get in the way of that. They chose their careers over each other even though they admitted that they still loved each other.

The ending has to be the best part though. Their epilogue of what could have been, had their second encounter been just a bit different and very Hollywood. The epilogue made this movie really stand out to me. The epilogue was a five-seven minute montage where they showed what could have been and now in the films the movie would have ended and how everything would have been so happy, but showing that it wasn’t was what made this movie perfection.  The ending was not like most Hollywood films where the guy gets the girl no matter what happens, even years later, it was a bitter sweet ending that made it a genuine masterpiece. The movie ends with Seb and Mia smiling at each other from a distance after he plays “their song” on the piano.

Here’s to the ones who dream, foolish as they may seem. Here’s to the hearts that ache, here’s to the mess we make

Today, many people put their studies or their careers above all because that is just who they are. This movie was a modern day tale with some extra effects. Its musical numbers, dramatic lighting, dancing in the stars scene and its realistic outcomes; it genuinely captures the audience and shows a glammed up version of our lives.  It’s a brilliantly casted and directed “Casablanca” for a new generation. Now I can’t speak for you, but you might just see me in the movies, re-living this blissful and mesmerizing experience.

My Favourite Movies of 2016 and Ones I’m Excited For in 2017

Hilary Guo
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Before it’s declared too late to speak about anything that happened in 2016, I wanted to give my opinion on the movies of last year. 2016 was a terrible year filled with great movies, but here are a couple of my all time favourites.

  1. Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children   (source!)                                                                                                                                            Being a HUGE fan of the books, this is obviously at the top of my list. The cast was absolutely incredible and Tim Burton did an outstanding job of really capturing the peculiarity of it all. The only downside to this movie was that it was really quite different from the book plot, but if you watched the movie without having read the series by Ransom Riggs, it would seem flawless. Lots of people have picked fights about the movie vs. the book, some say they hated the movie and praise the book while others love both equally. I personally fall somewhere in the middle. Honestly it was a bit strange to watch my favourite book play out differently than the original plot, but when I try to look at the movie and the book as separate stories it works out much better. The peculiarity switch between the characters Emma Bloom and Olive Elephanta still bothered me and caused a bit of confusion, but the actresses portraying them (Ella Purnell and Lauren McCrostie) did so fantastic that I almost forgot what bothered me in the first place. One thing I would’ve liked to see was a more diverse cast, with more people of colour included. But overall, despite my love for the book, the Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children movie was awesome. It had action, comedy, romance, horror, drama; easily climbing up the list to be my favourite movie. I also fell in love with all the actors, but especially the first three from the left. 🙂
  2. Captain America: Civil War    (source!)                              Whooo, this one was so good! I remember watching it in theatres with a few of my close friends. It had just the right amount of action and drama with a hint of comedy. It really grabbed my attention when it told me I had to choose a side (which I have not and never will) because it tempted me to want to watch it so I could figure out why I had to choose a side to begin with. I found it so brilliant how they brought in characters from different movies such as Ant-Man and Spider-Man, it was honestly just super cool to see literally all my favourite superheros in one movie. Probably one of my favourite Marvel films ever. Any movie with Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Sebastian Stan, Scarlett Johansson AND Tom Holland has got to be the best!
  3. Finding Dory     (source!)                                                                                                                                                                                         

This movie was just too cute. It was so great to finally see a sequel to Finding Nemo (which is one of my favourite Pixar/Disney films). Finding Dory made me laugh and cry, overall, probably one of the best animated movies made. And it was so smart to focus this one on Dory instead of Nemo, it’s like you’re finding out the backstory that lead to Dory and Marlin’s friendship. Definitely one of the top movies I was anticipating for in 2016.

If the movies in 2016 were that good, I can only imagine how much better the ones in 2017 are going to be like. Some of the movies I’m excited for are:

  1. The Space Between Us  (source!) I AM SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS MOVIE. If you like dramatic rom-com movies, I expect to see you in the theatre on February 3 when it comes out. It’s all about a boy named Gardner Elliot, the first human to be born on Mars. Feeling isolated on his home planet, he makes an internet friend from Earth, Tulsa, whom he later falls in love with. Destined to see her, when Gardner takes his first trip to Earth, he sneaks out to meet her. During that time, Tulsa shows him all the joys and wonders of Earth. I feel like this would be such a heartwarming film, highlighting all the good things about life. It shows what we take for granted. Using Gardner, a person who has no experience with anything related to Earth, this movie walks us through the amazing things we have everyday such as rain and horses and hot air balloons. I think it reminds us to pay attention to the little things that we never even stop to enjoy. No doubt I’ll pre-order my tickets to see this movie!
  2. Spider-Man: Homecoming   (source!)                               I have this one marked in all of my calendars. July 7… I’m counting down the days. I absolutely LOVED Tom Holland as Spiderman in Captain America: Civil War, so I am super excited to see his very own movie. Even though I really liked both Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man, Tom Holland might just top them in my mind. I feel like he really captures Peter Parker’s unique personality. I was also really happy to see a lot of people of colour in the trailer such as Peter Parker’s best friend and crush. It is so important to represent minorities in big movies like this and I’m glad that Spider-Man: Homecoming did that.  Also, bonus points for this movie for having Zendaya is in it because I love her.
  3. Beauty & the Beast     (source!)                                                                                                                                                     First things first, can we just talk about how GOOD EMMA WATSON LOOKS AS BELLE?!? Round of applause for the casting director, you did well! For some reason, I love Disney princess movies filmed with real people. In my opinion, they should make more, starting with the Little Mermaid. But as for this one, I’m thrilled to watch what I think will be the most magical film of 2017. Disney always has a way of using movie magic so that the end product is incredible, I’m sure the entire theatre will have their jaw dropped in awe. Give me a ticket to this movie, a box of popcorn and I’ll be set!

 

What were your favourite movies of 2016 and which ones are you looking forward to this year?

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“Stradivari’s Secret” ; the story of Joseph Nagyvary

~ Chu ☆ ~
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A Stradivarius violin once owned by French violinist Rodolphe Kreutzer  displayed by Christie’s auction house in Hong Kong on May 21, 2014. Philippe Lopez/AFP/Getty Images)

To most violinists, buying a violin made by Stradivari, Guarneri, Guadagnini, or Amati is an absolute dream. To luthiers, producing an instrument to the likes of those great makers is a life-long venture. And Joseph Nagyvary made that venture a little bit easier.

Joseph Nagyvary. former biochemistry professor who may have discovered the “Stradivari Secret” (source)

Joseph Nagyvary was a chemist. Born in 1934 in Szeged, Hungary, he was inspired by Albert Szent-Györgyi – another Szeged native, who discovered vitamin C, and much of the citric acid cycle – to pursue a career in natural products and biochemistry.

But biochemistry isn’t what Joseph really wanted to do. Joseph wanted to be a violinist. But during his childhood, World War II, and the communist takeover of Hungary dashed that dream.  However, after majoring in chemistry at the Eötvös Loránd University of Budapest, he moved to Zurich, as a student of Swiss Nobel Laureate Paul Karrer, where he was able to take his first violin lesson, on a violin that had previously belonged to Albert Einstein. It was love at first play, until he was told that he was too late to become a professional violinist.

He moved to the US in 1968, where he became a professor of biochemistry and biophysics at Texas A&M University. But he still couldn’t take his mind off the beautiful art of music that he had fallen in love with. He dedicated decades, studying, and examining fine string instruments, and trying to recreate sounds of Cremona ; an Italian city often known as the violin maker capital. Travelling to Italy in course of that search, he has perused mountains of historical documents, scrutinized over violins, and conducted hands-on experiments, trying everything from soaking wood in grape juice, to burying it beneath dung (that’s dedication!)

Instruments made by Antonio Stradivari, such as this viola (the ‘Macdonald’ Viola) made in 1719 are some of the most expensive instruments in the world. In June of 2014, the viola pictured above was put up for auction, the minimum bid being $45 million ; a world record for the most expensive musical instrument ever sold.  REUTERS/Charles Platiau

However, his greatest breakthrough deals with the chemical treatment that Stradivari, and other Cremona luthiers used for their instruments. Upon examining violins, violas, and cellos fabricated by makers like Stradivari, Guarneri (both from Cremona), Gand-Bernardel (Paris), and Henry Jay (London), he found that violins made by Cremonese masters had escaped from wood-eating worms, and fungi, whereas the instruments from other cities were not so lucky. He concluded that the woods used in Cremona had been treated with preservatives. According to a study published in the journal Nature by Prof Nagyvary, the maple that was used by the celebrated craftsmen could have been processed chemically to preserve and protect the wood, which also enhanced the warmth and power of the instruments.

Lord Yehudi Menuhin in 1985, with his Nagyvary violin (source)

Using the techniques of infared spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance to analyse shavings taken from the interior of five antique instruments during repairs, it was eventually found that differences originating from a local practice of wood preservation – such as oxidising minerals – affected the mechanical and acoustical properties.

Understanding the chemistry behind this process could lead to huge improvements in modern violin production, and many violin makers are already jumping on the bandwagon, hoping to be able to create that million dollar sound, without the cost.

It is breakthroughs like this that greatly affect the violin-making communities ; that allow luthiers to get closer and closer to the extraordinary instruments of Stradivari’s time, and revolutionize instruments, and music.

This story was told to me by my violin teacher, when I was looking into buying my own violin. And this particular story really resonated with me, not only because it was so fascinating, but also because it teaches an important lesson.

Joseph Nagyvary wanted to be a violinist. But as a victim of circumstance, that door closed for him. But as they say, when one door closes, another one opens. And not only did Joseph open a door for himself, he opened a door for the entire music community, and a very important one at that.

Now a luthier at Nagyvary Violins, Joseph is a prime example of optimism and persistence. His story teaches us to always seek out other opportunities, even when it’s not the one you’ve had your heart set on. He teaches us to always pursue our passions, even if it’s not the way you expected to. And above all, he teaches us to never let go of our dreams. And that’s something I think we all ought to learn.

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