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Passengers Movie Review: Love Against All Odds? Not Quite…

Dhriti Gupta
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*spoilers to follow*

After watching the trailer, you may think Passengers is some version of a sci-fi thriller with a tinge of romance. Just imagine the potential storylines: 2 strangers wake up 90 years too soon on their interstellar trip to a new planet, and with no way to fall back asleep, fall in love instead. However, the same glitch in the system that brought them together makes a reappearance in a big way, cutting their honeymoon phase a little short. Sounds like an interesting and promising premise right? Well it did to me at least, but perhaps 25 minutes into the movie, I realized the trailer had skipped a bit of an important detail. But first, let’s set the scene.

Jim Preston (Chris Pratt) awakes to the cool and collected voice of a hostess hologram who guides him through his post-hibernation confusion. He is aboard the Avalon, she calmly reminds him, en route to his new home, Homestead II. Remembering the promise of a fresh start on the new planet, Jim settles down in his living quarters aboard the luxury space liner, preparing to meet his 5000 fellow colonists whom he’d be spending the next 4 months in transit with before landing on Homestead II. Soon after visiting an orientation with no other  humans in attendance, Jim comes to understand that he is the only passenger awake due to a bit of an early wake-up call. 90 years too early.

We then sadly watch as Jim puts up every effort to fix his situation. He approaches the ship’s many computers, only to find out that they simply cannot process the reality of a hibernation pod failure. He sets out to find a crew member but is greeted with a pretty much everything-resistant (flame, bullets, Jim’s hopeless fists, you name it!) metal barrier separating him from the slumbering crew and basically any way to seek help. He then triumphantly locates a laser message system that can send his pleas to Earth, promising him a reply in a timely 55 years for the small cost of $6 012!

From there on, taking the advice of a chipper android bartender (Michael Sheen) programmed to spout cliche life advice and polish beer glasses for the rest of eternity, Jim decides to take each day as it comes and make the best out of his situation. Being a mechanic, he is able to upgrade (break in) to a luxurious penthouse suite where he spends all of his time that is not utilized dance battling holograms, shooting hoops, or dining at the ship’s multi-faceted robot operated restaurant. However, he then realizes that life kind of sucks if your only friend is a robot bartender and enters a bit of a depressive episode to cope with his utterly consuming loneliness. Although of course we all feel for poor Jim, at this point, everyone is raising eyebrows because surely Jennifer Lawrence’s character ought to experience a hibernation pod malfunction right about now and save the day, right?

Err…kind of? J-law shows up alright, but not in the way you’d expect (or feel comfortable with). After a close call with a suicide attempt, Jim chances upon the beautiful writer and journalist extraordinaire, Aurora Lane (Jennifer Lawrence), asleep in her pod. Fascinated, he researches the ship’s archives and after watching a series of video interviews conducted by the staff and reading countless pieces of her work, Jim falls for a woman he has never met, whom he is certain is his soulmate. After having a not-so-convincing moral dilemma surrounding essentially taking away someone’s entire life for his own selfish needs, Jim quickly and easily figures out how to wake Aurora up from hibernation.

Let it be known, I was determined not to give up on the story line just yet. Yes, it wasn’t what I expected, and yes, I had to control my brain from kicking into full-feminist gear, but I was still hopeful that they could make the plot into something interesting. Maybe not comfortable or pleasant, but surely something gripping and intense that played on the weaknesses and flaws that isolation is capable of uncovering. Yeah, that didn’t happen. Instead, I watched as Aurora unknowingly fell for the man who single-handedly ruined any hopes of a future because he was lonely and thought she was pretty.

Of course, later on in the film, Aurora finds out what Jim had done and she is understandably quite enraged. As Aurora struggled with feelings of betrayal, bewilderment, and deception, I got my hopes up again. I really appreciated that the movie emphasized that what Jim did, how he pick and chose her to accompany him on a 90 year meet cute, was unacceptable. In fact, one scene in which Jim tries to explain his motives and reasoning to Aurora over the ship intercom and she shuts him down, screaming “I don’t care what you want! I don’t care why you did it! You took my life!”, was very well thought out and I think excellently depicted what someone in her situation would be going through.

Unfortunately, this wonderful scene is a bit for naught when considering the conclusion of the story. After a bizarre Deus ex Machina situation courtesy of Laurence Fishburne and a series of jam-packed life or death interstellar action sequences, we’re back to square one with these two. After Jim saves the day and fulfills the ultimate “nice guy” trope, all talk about stealing lives and consent and condemnation is out the door and suddenly Aurora “can’t live without [him]”. All that matters now is that Chris Pratt risked his life to save the day and did so with nail-biting success. These near death experiences of course caused Aurora to reevaluate her feelings for Jim, finally deciding that he was worth spending the rest of her life with, despite a last second opportunity for her to go back into hibernation for the remaining 88 years.

Overall, despite its beautiful special effects and vivid depictions of the future of space travel, plot-wise, Passengers wasn’t up to the mark. To my mind, the cheesy outcome of the conclusion just wasn’t justifiable in a moral or plausible sense. All things considered, the Morten Tyldum (The Imitation Game) directed film was not terrible, but rather unfulfilling when pondering all of the potential, more enthralling story lines that could have branched off of the intriguing initial premise of being trapped between the vast expanses of space and the ever-nearing boundaries of time.

A Letter To My Younger Self

Hilary Guo
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Dear Younger Me,

It’s almost 2017, can you believe it? We’ve made it through a whopping 15 years; and in those 15 years, I’ve learned a lot. I’ve learned things I wish I knew when I was younger. Things that would’ve made everything so much more different, but I suppose you’ve got to make the mistakes before you can learn from them. Today, I’ve decided to share them with you. I’m going to tell you all the advice I wish I knew when I was in your place, when I was just a short, chubby little girl whose biggest problem was who she was going to invite to her 11th birthday party. I want to tell you all the knowledge I’ve gained since then.

STOP GOING BACK FOR OLD FRIENDS. Stop trying to reconnect all the lines that were cut loose. You can’t fix everything. It took me a while to figure this one out. Be satisfied with your friends now. It’s useless trying to patch things up with the person you’ve already drifted apart with. Because they’ve made new friends, and so have you. Don’t try to mix friend groups, stick with yours. They must be an amazing group of people if they have you.  Be happy with that.

Here’s a myth buster for you: the number of followers you have on social media doesn’t matter! The number of likes you get on your selfie doesn’t define who you are, I hope you know that. I get it, popularity might seem like the world to you now, but later in life, none of that will matter. Quit praising the people that have a thousand followers and 500 likes on every picture, they’re no better than you. You’re just as good as any of them; 2000 followers or not.

You better pay attention to this one because this is an important one. By the time I learned this lesson, it was a tad too late. DON’T. CRY. FOR. SOME. DUMB. BOY. If he broke you heart, you shouldn’t let any tears drop for him. You can do SO MUCH better. It’s his loss, he has no clue what he’s missing out on. Trust me on this, he should be the one crying for passing up this opportunity. There are so many other boys out there, better boys, boys who will treat you how you deserved to be treated. You deserve more than this boy. It might be difficult, but you have to leave him. If you weren’t his first choice, he shouldn’t be a choice to you at all! When you find someone who actually appreciates you, you’ll begin to see how amazing your life is.

I hope you always remember to be yourself. Stop trying to be someone else because I promise there is no one out there who suits you more than you do. If you think becoming somebody else will make people like you, honey, you’re SO wrong. Girl, I’m telling you right now, they already do, but you shouldn’t worry if everyone likes you or not because honestly, they don’t matter. You don’t need approval from every single person to live your life. So what if you’re not friends with everybody?And so what if not everybody at your school knows who you are? The most important part is that you have tight group of people who do.

Making three best friends is a hundred times better than making a thousand mutual friends who don’t even know how to pronounce your last name. It might take some time, but soon enough, you’ll find your right group. You could spend years hanging out with all the wrong people and become so oblivious to the toxic relationship that’s forming. Open your eyes. Quit spending your time on people who’ll stab you in the back the first chance they get. Avoid spending your time on people who don’t deserve you. Stop hanging around that same boy that broke your heart and the same “friend” that went behind your back. Drop them and look up. Maybe the real friends were standing in front of you the whole time but you were just so blinded by the backstabbers that you didn’t notice. Everything becomes much clearer without that toxic friendship of yours blocking your view. Drop them. Drop them all. And start picking up new ones. Better ones. Ones that will stay on your side. And with them, have the time of your life and create the most memorable of memories. You’re so much more than what you let on. I hope one day you get to realize how great you are and that you are full of confidence.

Stop doubting yourself.

The best is yet to come.

 

Sincerely,

Hilary

 

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Dear 2017…

~ Chu ☆ ~
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Dear 2017,

Please be kind. I’m sure you’ve heard by now, 2016 has been rough. It’s been a year of hatred, of ignorance, intolerance, inequality and of senseless acts of tragedy. Yet we’ve all survived, clinging to the hope of the rebirth of the new year, of new beginnings, and a fresh start.

I pray that you will be that new start, the light at the end of the year long tunnel that we’ve all been wandering, a burst of optimism for our weary souls. I pray that you will be accepting of everyone, all races, genders, religions, and sexualities. I pray that you can reverse all the wrong that 2016 has brought, and bring about a better world.

But 2017, I know you can’t do it alone. And that’s where we all come in.

It is wrong to just sit here and simply wish for a better 2017. Because a simple change of year won’t change us. If we truly want change; if we truly want a better world, it starts with all of us.

As cliche as it sounds, Mahatma Ghandi was onto something when he said to “Be the change you wish to see in the world”. Because if you want change, you have to be the one to bring it about.

So as we near the end of 2016, and the beginning of 2017, I urge you to stop wishing for some kind of automatic change, and go out and make that change yourself.

Because when it comes down to it, that’s all we can really do.

 

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Youth Friendly New Year’s Eve: 2017 Edition

Hui Wen Zheng
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It seems like only a little while ago when I opened up my computer on a late December day in 2014 and typed in the title “Youth Friendly New Year’s Eve 2015”. It feels surreal typing in ‘2017’ today. These past couple of years have breezed by at a lightning pace, and I’ll admit, writing this post gives me a sense of nostalgia since it’ll be my last year as a “youth” and my last Youth Friendly NYE in my time at YAA (which really puts into perspective how long I’ve been writing here!). 2017 will be an exciting year ahead for me, from graduation, to a jam-packed summer, to starting university in the fall, it’ll be a year of change, and I have to say I am looking forward to whatever it brings to me and wherever it will take me. No matter what walk of life you are from or what your 2017 looks like, I think we can all agree that we want to start of the new year right, so here we are again: a list of youth-friendly activities to do this NYE. Here’s to 2017.

 

NEW YEAR’S EVE OUTDOOR CELEBRATION

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If you’ve been a longtime Calgarian, this annual celebration hosted by our city shouldn’t be news to you. Join thousands of people at Olympic Palaza on December 31st starting at 8pm to ring in 12am with a stunning fireworks, music, and laser show. The skating rink will be open and free skate rentals are also available. The evening is sure to please with performances and musical features that will make it a night to remember. I attended this celebration with friends last year, and it was a ton of fun. I would recommend bringing your own skates where possible and bundling up!

More information here

 

A LUMINOUS NEW YEAR’S EVE

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For those more inclined to classical music, Luminous Voices, Calgary’s professional chamber choir, will once again to hosting their ever-special concert on New Year’s Eve at Knox United Church starting from 8pm and going until 10pm. Tickets are $31 for students and everyone is welcome to celebrate 2017 by indulging in enchanting choir music, delicious chocolates, and sparkling champagne. Best of all, Knox United Church is across the street from Olympic Plaza, making it easy to hop from one celebration to the next to make the most of your night. I’m not typically one for choir music, but having heard Luminous Voices, I can safely say that they changed my opinion. They are truly a refined and sophisticated group and definitely worthy of your night.

Additional information

 

JUBILATIONS DINNER THEATRE NYE

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For those willing to spend a little more and get a bang for your buck back, visit the Jubilations Dinner Theatre on NYE to celebrate 2017 by watching a three-act musical comedy based off of the Big Bang Theory, a four-course dinner, late night buffet, and champagne. There will also be party favours, a DJ, and a dance party after the show. Tickets are $114.95 plus tax, but for all the treats and fun included in the night, it will be well worth it. Tickets and more info here.

 

ZOO YEARS EVE

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Another Calgary NYE staple, the Calgary Zoo will once again be opening its gates on NYE for everyone to revel in their fantastic light displays. Though there will be no fireworks this year, patrons are still free to enjoy giant firepits, interactive displays, and swing around on the skating rink with free skate rentals all night. Gates open at 6pm and will close at 9pm, making it a perfect activity to attend before other festivities, or a great stand-alone for those with busy schedules and tight bedtimes. Details. 

 

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For Times When Nothing Seems To Be Going Your Way

Kiana Baghban
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We all have those days when it seems that the whole universe is making sure that not a single thing goes our ways. It can start from the very moment you open your eyes in the morning. Your alarm doesn’t go off and you have fifteen minutes to get ready and run to the bus stop, you get to school, your lock doesn’t open, you realize you forgot your homework and that you’ve been awake for less than an eight of the day. Everything seems to be spiraling down into this pit hole of doom, despair, and darkness, the three D’s. Simply dragging yourself around till the end of the day seems like too much. You get home and, low and behold, your to-do list stretches on for what seems like forever. These days may seem impossible to go through, so I decided to weaken the blow with a list of quotes that I find help me bear the infamous ‘blue day’.

Every one of us is, in the cosmic perspective, precious. If a human disagrees with you, let him live. In a hundred billion galaxies, you will not find another. -Carl Sagan

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You rarely win, but sometimes you do. -Harper Lee

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Sometimes it’s the people who no one imagines anything of, who do the things that no one can imagine. -The Imitation Game

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I have had dreams and I have had nightmares, but I have conquered my nightmares because of my dreams. –Jonas Salk

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Life is both sad and solemn. We are led into a wonderful world, we meet one another here, greet each other – and wander together for a brief moment. Then we lose each other and disappear as suddenly and unreasonably as we arrived. -Jostein Gaarder

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If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each man’s life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility. –Henry Longfellow 

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Keep your face always toward the sunshine – and shadows will fall behind you. –Walt Whitman

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He travels the fastest who travels alone. –Rudyard Kipling

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Tough times don’t last, tough people do, remember? –Gregory Peck

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You just do it. You force yourself to get up. You force yourself to put one foot before the other, and God damn it, you refuse to let it get to you. You fight. You cry. You curse. Then you go about the business of living. That’s how I’ve done it. There’s no other way. -Elizabeth Taylor

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For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone. –Audrey Hepburn

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Only the gentle are ever really strong. –James Dean

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 Newman’s second law: Just when things look darkest, they go black. -Paul Newman

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It’s so wonderful… if your whole day is rotten, once they start the music, it seems to melt away. -Donald O’Conner

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I can never remember being afraid of an audience. If the audience could do better, they’d be up here on stage and I’d be out there watching them. –Ethel Merman

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It is a common experience that a problem difficult at night is resolved in the morning after the committee of sleep has worked on it. –John Steinbeck

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Courage is grace under pressure. –Ernest Hemmingway

 

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Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest. –Mark Twain

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Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant. –Robert Louis Stevenson

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And a small treat:

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Top 10 Movies To Look Forward To In 2017 – Part 2

Mankaran Gill
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With 2016 coming to an end in a few days, it’s time to look at some of the most awesome and thrilling movies set to release next year. Of course, the amount of movies that fit this critera are numerous, thus this is Part 2 of the list I previously began here, in Part 1. This list is comprised of the top 10 movies that I am looking forward to and most excited for, with the movies releasing in 2017! Now, without further, ado let’s take a look.

 

1.Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

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After seeing Guardians of the Galaxy (GOTG for short) Volume 1, I knew that a sequel was soon on it’s way- 3 years later and here we are. Volume 1 was one of the best Marvel movies I have seen to date and after seeing just the first 2 trailers to Volume 2, I am hyped! The cast, soundtrack, visuals and the humor is what brought us in for Volume 1 and hopefully all these characteristics are carried into Volume 2. The people working on GOTG were amazing in Volume 1 because of how skillfully they integrated action and comedy so well. After seeing the recent trailer, they already have my money!

2. Spider-man Homecoming

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When it was announced that Marvel had gotten Spider-man, I jumped out of my seat with joy. When Marvel announced that Spider-man was going to be in Civil War, I jumped up and down with excitement. Now that Spider-man Homecoming is closer than ever, I am jumping in every direction. While Sony had tried their best with the previous Spider-man character, they couldn’t portray it exactly right; Tobey Maguire was always a bit too dorky even after he got his powers and Andrew Garfield was always a bit cocky before he got his powers. Both of these aren’t exactly how Spider-man was portrayed in the comics. With just a few moments in Civil War, Tom Holland proved to us that he was both a little dorky and yet very confident and with the new trailers for Spider-man Homecoming we can clearly see that Tom Holland juggles these two sides throughout the movie. I won’t elaborate much more as most of you may have already seen the trailers (if not, watch it- you won’t be disappointed!).

3. Pirates of the Caribbean : Dead Men Tell No Tales

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While many people have already seen the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise (POTC for short), I have hope that the direction this movie will take will spark a new generation of fans. I love every movie in the franchise, especially the characters and the setting, which I cannot wait to see again in the next installment. While we still don’t know much nor have seen much about the movie, except for the teaser, we can still keep our hopes up that this movie will be amazing and bring us joy like the previous installments.

4. The Mummy (2017)

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Whenever a reboot is announced for a series that somewhat died out a few years ago, I’m not the most excited. However when a reboot for The Mummy was announced, with Tom cruise as the hero, I could tell that this was going to be good. Not only does the cast so far look great, the trailers promising, and the visuals stunning, this movie will also be the start of a new cinematic universe, The Universal Monsters (UM). A shared universe between many classic monsters all taking place in the same world, much like the MCU and DCEU. Dracula Untold was suppose to start this universe, however it was confirmed that the events of Dracula Untold were not part of the UM. The Mummy will now be kicking off the cinematic universe and we couldn’t be more excited!

5. Logan

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As Hugh Jackman’s last time of stepping into the shoes of Wolverine on the big screen, we are sad to see him go, he has been on the big screen as Wolverine for over 16 years! Logan is the final installment in the Wolverine trilogy and after the first few trailers, it had been confirmed that this movie will be influenced by the Old Man Logan comic series along with having a R rating. While it is very sad to see Hugh Jackman go, it is no doubt that we will see him cameo in future installments. Logan is sure to be one crazy ride.

Feel free to add on to this list of upcoming exciting and thrilling movies. Happy New Year!

Youtube Rewind 2016: The Most Controversial Yet?

Aaron Wen
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It is no question to anyone that 2016 is a year to remember for a very long time, from the most shocking events of the 2016 American Election to the break-up of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. To end off such an eventful year, YouTube brought on another interesting controversy with it’s annual “YouTube Rewind 2016”, discussed on numerous websites and news pages. With the most dislikes ever seen on a YouTube Rewind for 4 years, many people question where all the negativity is coming from.

To those of you who have not watched the YouTube Rewind yet… here it is! Source

For some who may not be aware, every year since 2012, the American video-making company Youtube produces a “Youtube Rewind”, designed to review all the large events, trends, and content that happen within a calendar year. This trend started back in 2012, with PSY’s Gangnam style hitting over 1 billion views, a YouTube first. Ever since then, YouTube has been putting out yearly videos that are often welcomed heartily by fans. However this year, there are many reasons as to why the YouTube Rewind wasn’t exactly welcomed with open arms, and here are a few…

  1. Lack of Big YouTubers, And an Abundance of Small Ones

Undeniably the most controversial element of this year’s YouTube Rewind was the huge amount of smaller international YouTubers that there included over the big ones. Massive YouTube Superstars such as Zoella, nigahiga, Tyler Oakley, Smosh, The Sidemen (not including KSI, who was included) and ThatcherJoe, who combined total of subscribers is well over 20 million, were left out of this years YouTube Rewind for unknown reasons. This lack of YouTube superstars who are often credited with being some of the largest forces in the YouTube community has created a massive uproar among viewers, leading to the most dislikes a YouTube Rewind has ever received, over 400,000 within 2 weeks.

  1. No relevance to actual Youtube Content

Every year, YouTube Rewind follows a theme that was important to the years events, and this year it was revolved around internet “challenges”. We have seen big challenges like this before, such as ALS Ice Bucket challenge back in 2014-2015, which caught the attention of big names such as Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates. However, this year specific trends and challenges seemed to rampant among watchers all across the world, such as the “Dab”, “Water Bottle Flip challenge”, “Running Man Challenge” and more. Viral videos were also included, such as the all-famous “Damn Daniel”, which went so viral that the creators were actually invited onto the Ellen show to talk about their internet phenomenon. But even with all this exciting content, numerous viewers began to notice how none of the challenges actually come from YouTube content, but instead Vine, Instagram and Snapchat. With that in mind, YouTube is being criticized for it’s lack of original content, and having to use content from other social media in order to entertain it’s own fans.

  1. Drama. YouTube Drama.

This is no longer the drama TV shows that people used to watch on the old televisions (yes, televisions are actually starting to become out of date), but yes, YouTube Drama is now a thing. Any person who browses YouTube on a regular basis knows that a lot of negative content was uploaded from a plethora of channels, often harsh criticisms and roasts on specific challenges and people over controversial remarks. Many people have become annoyed with this sort of content every single week, and hope to rebel against that sort of notion. A dislike on the YouTube Rewind was a clear and honest message to many YouTubers: “We did not like the content this year.”

As to whether or not these factors were really the reason for so much dissatisfaction, I personally cannot say. YouTube, regardless of the all the controversy that has stemmed from this year, is still one of the most popular websites in the world today. The best we can do is to move on from the past and hope for better things in the future. Goodbye 2016, and welcome 2017.

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Informtion Source on YouTube Drama

TV Recommendation: Black Mirror

Dylan Zhao
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At what point can we say technology will go too far?

 

Every single day, everywhere we go, we are surrounded by computers, electronics, and the internet. Smartphones and laptops are so common they are practically a necessity for individuals to own. We store our documents in the cloud with Google Drive, and we find our entertainment through YouTube and Netflix. Social media like Facebook and Twitter dominates market share of website visits, and the value of mobile apps like Snapchat and Instagram have skyrocketed thanks to their millions of users. Corporations funnel millions into research and development to bring us new technologies like 4K televisions, smart watches, and even personal drones.

There is no doubt that tech has become one of the defining aspects of modern-day society. And there is no doubt that much of the innovations in technology have made our lives easier and happier. But, at the same time, we need to be able to identify boundaries, because this technology is so prevalent in our society, and because it is evolving so quickly. At some point down the line innovations may begin causing more harm than good, and it will be up to us as a society to recognize that.

The British anthology series Black Mirror, created by Charlie Brooker and produced by Netflix, examines this exact idea. Every hour-long episode is a new story, with a new set of characters and new consequences of technology to explore.

 

What is it about?

When your friend recommends you a show or movie and says “it’s too hard to explain, just watch it!”, 9/10 times they probably just don’t want to go to the effort of explaining the show, when the show actually isn’t very hard to explain.

But in the case of Black Mirror, this is that one time out of ten where the show actually is incredibly hard to explain. But there still is some context that can be given.

Starting with the basics, every episode is completely different. Not just a new storyline, but also new characters, a new setting, perhaps even a new, alternate reality.
The one thing all of these episodes have in common, however, is that every single one will lead you to think about technology differently. Technology is always a central part of episodes of Black Mirror, hence the name. (Look at your smartphone, TV, or monitor. Notice anything?)

One thing to note, however, is that this is not exactly a “happy” show. Black Mirror is actually extremely dark, and its characters practically never face happy endings. Is that something that could potentially discourage you from watching the show? Yes. Should it discourage you from watching the show then? Absolutely not, and I’ll explain why.

 

Why is it good?

The show is produced by Netflix, so you can trust it’s top-notch production value. But more than that, the stories that are told every episode are incredibly interesting. The characters are relatable, the writing and cinematography is fantastic, but more than anything, (perhaps in a somewhat scary way) the plot of every episode seems like it could happen in the real world. Whether it be 10, 20, or 100 years into the future, events that happen in this show always seem at least somewhat plausible for our actual society.

So the show leads you to think. It leads you to wonder, and question, and it might even cause an existential crisis as you sit in your room considering throwing your smartphone out the window. But believe me when I say that it evokes these responses in the best way possible, through a masterpiece of television that is truly captivating.

Nobody who has seen Black Mirror would deny that the show is extremely dark, and that it may even get upsetting at times. But in my opinion, television that is able to manipulate your emotions so well, and cause you to really think about society as a whole, is television worth watching. With that being said, it still might not be for everyone. But take it from me, and the show’s 96% “fresh” rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, that it’s at least worth giving a shot.

Every episode of Black Mirror is different, so there’s no requirement to start from the first one. So in the name of the holidays, I would recommend the Christmas special (season 2, episode 4, titled “White Christmas”) as a great place to start.

It’s on Netflix. Check it out. You won’t regret it.

 

 

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Studying for Diploma Exams: Where To Start?

Talia Santarossa
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With diploma exams around a month away, myself and many others have just been hit with the realization, “Holy cow, I have to get studying!” As someone who hates studying with a burning passion (read: doesn’t know how to study without getting bored or distracted within minutes) and can’t find a way to take notes that doesn’t take a ridiculously long time, I tend to use a lot of online resources to review key concepts before exams. These are a few of personal favourites:

YouTube EDU:

With channels like Crash Course, Bozeman Science and Wisecrack, you are sure to find videos to explain every concept you could possibly want a quick and easy lesson in.

 Quest A+ and ExamBank

Most Alberta high school students know about these sites, which are filled with practice exams and old diploma questions. Even though pretty much everyone uses them, that doesn’t mean that they don’t offer valuable study resources, especially for people like me who hate studying by reading and rereading information.

Online Notes:

If you take the time to dig deep enough, there is a treasure trove of notes and study sheets already made for you, like these physics notes. Perhaps not the easiest to get ahold of, I find it useful to go over information that I already know if it’s written in a different way.

Happy studying!

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Why Are Acid Attacks Still Happening?

Dhriti Gupta
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Reshma Qureshi models the Archana Kochhar collection during Fashion Week in New York

In 2014, 17 year old Reshma Qureshi and her sister were making their way to an exam center in Allahabad when they were attacked by her sister’s hostile husband and two other men. Reshma, being mistaken for her sister, was pinned down and doused in sulfuric acid, leaving her with severe burns to her face and the loss of one of her eyes. After a long and difficult period of recovery, Reshma set out to make the voice of herself and other acid attack survivors heard bv joining an organization called Make Love Not Scars, that helps to empower and support acid attack survivors while fighting to end acid sale in India. Since then, Reshma has taken part in several campaigns to raise awareness on the issue. She was also invited to walk the runway during the infamous New York Fashion Week, opening for the FTL Moda show during September of this year. Reshma now hopes to finish up her education and take on the role of a radio jockey or journalist in order to allow her voice and her story to reach women not only in India, but all over the world.

Although Reshma and several other wonderful women like her are working hard to try and end the perpetration of acid violence, the fight is not over yet. According to Acid Survivors Trust International (ASTI), about 1000 reported acid attacks take place in India alone each year, with many more in addition that go unreported. Despite the Indian supreme court ruling for the regulated sale of acids in 2013, highly concentrated and corrosive hydrochloric, sulfuric, and nitric acids are still easily available for purchase at most corner stores in the form of toilet and drain cleaners for as little as 50 cents a litre. The ruling ordered that the sale of acid be restricted to those who provide proof of age and identity and that all sales records of acids be monitored and forwarded to the police on the regular basis. This ruling expired in October of 2013, and since then, nothing has been done by the government to curb acid attacks. Acid attacks are not even regarded as a distinctive crime and therefore there are no official statistics about them.

So what is there to be done? To put it simply, something needs to change. While age and ID related restrictions are a start, they are simply not enough considering that many of the attacks stem from small towns and rural areas where it is challenging to make sure shopkeepers keep note of the sales. Even in bigger cities like New Delhi and Mumbai, the media has been documenting how easily acid is available to the public. Furthermore, acid is still a large part of many domestic industries in India. Whether it be the dying of clothes, cleaning of toilets, or manufacturing of glass, acid is cheap, versatile, and commonly used. What needs to change is the normalization of the issue.

To the minds of many, if a woman disobeys her partner, goes to work against their will, rejects their marriage proposal, or is even too beautiful, she is to be punished. Acid attacks are the ultimate form of domestic abuse and cannot be entirely controlled by laws and regulations until sensitization around the rights and empowerment of women has been better integrated into the society. If the government doesn’t put into place harsher punishments and court practices against the perpetrators, it will be quite challenging to end this sort of injustice. It is through campaigns, rallies, judicial discussion, and the spreading of awareness that mindsets need to be changed.

Overall, much is to be done surrounding the issue of acid attacks. Despite the continuing attacks, voices like Reshma’s need to be heard. If the numbers of attacks need to start declining, these issues have to be talked about, stricter laws need to be put in place, and better rehabilitation and compensation for the victims have to be provided. No matter the reason, acid violence is never justified.

 

[featured image // source] [image 1 // source] [image 2 // source]

5 Comics About Winter Break

Rosie Zhao
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In light of the holidays and winter break, here are some quick comics (drawn by yours truly!) about some personal experiences of mine related to this time of year:

1. Going into winter break:
I’m always being told to go outside and enjoy the weather…
2. Meanwhile, my friends’ winter breaks…
It would be nice to go somewhere that isn’t -20 degree weather!
3. Doing festive events with my friends (ft. not so Secret Santa):
But seriously. It wasn’t even a day since drawing names!
4. Getting gifts for the holidays:
Shoutout to everyone struggling with their sweet tooth during the holiday season!
5. AND of course, the last day of winter break:
Aiming to NOT sleep at 4:00 AM on the last night of winter break…

I hope everyone has had a wonderful first week of winter break so far! Happy Holidays!

Photo of the Week: A Destroyed Sense of Unity?

Hafsah Syed
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Aleppo, Syria has been a hot topic for the past two weeks. Aleppo has been one of the most significant battle grounds between those whom sought independence and democracy through a Syrian revolution, the rebel forces, and the Syrian and Russian troops, whom fought to keep dictator Bashar-al-Assad in power. This last week marked an end to a 4-yearlong fight over Aleppo, with the Syrian government taking control of Aleppo and the rebels beginning their evacuation from the city.

There is a loss of hope for many Syrians. Many of those, whom believed they would achieve democracy in the footsteps of many African and Middle-Eastern countries, are in grievance. I believe this grievance is represented by the gray, cloudy skies in the image. While West Aleppo literally celebrates with parties along with other Syrians whom believe that dictatorial rule is the most secure and safe for their country.

This image of a mosque in ruins, along with government troops marching inside it, is my interpretation of a loss of hope, belonging, and unity among Syrians. Religion unites people under the same umbrella of ideologies and understanding. The destruction of a religious building I believe, represents the destruction of unity and understanding among the Syrian communities, as a result of an intense clash of ideologies. In this circumstance, the clash of ideologies has been very political, although it is worth noting that Syria is home to many communities of different religions and backgrounds. The destruction of a prevalent religious building may also represent diverse communities in Syria fighting in favor of a future ruler who they believe would more effectively represent their religious ideologies and communities.

What do you think?

 

Featured Image: Source

Highlight Trends of 2016

Danielle Leong
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Every year, the fashion trends which make a name in the market never fail to surprise me.  To professional fashion analysts and designers, style patterns and what’s “in” may be predictable, but to an ordinary consumer such as myself fashion is always refreshing.  As seasons come and go we see items enter the style chain, exit it, re-enter it, and so on and so forth, and the way people around the world style their wardrobes in different ways but using the same trends always inspires my own sense of creativity.

I decided to put together a gallery of my favourite trends which have been prominent in the past year, and which I think will stay trendy for at least the next little while. Keep in mind I made the decision to only look at more feminine trends, because as a girl I feel more of a connection to these pieces. Enjoy!

Chokers

  

The choker necklace is absolutely adorable, and it’s versatility and diversity proves to be an effective way for women of all personas to express themselves.  If you were going for a goth vibe, the classic black choker works fine; for girly individuals small delicate chokers are a wonderful accent, and for the boho or casual person a small choker is perfect.  These accessories come in all shapes and sizes, are relatively inexpensive, and are a fabulous way of expressing your personal style.

 

The pink coat

 

Pink has always been my favourite colour, so when I was scrolling through my feeds and I saw models rocking pink coats, I had a mini heart attack.  The pink coat in all of it’s forms-the trench coat, the peacoat, the bomber, etc- has finally actually arrived in stores!  If you pop into an H&M, Topshop, Banana Republic, or Zara, you can grab one for yourself.  I love how pink coats add colour to monochromatic outfits, and how they differ from the regular more neutral shades of outerwear.

 

Lace up shoes

This style of shoe is gorgeous in all of it’s elements- heels, flats, boots, and so on and so forth.  Lace-up shoes go great with pretty much every outfit you can think of, partly because there is a type of lace-up shoe for every season and partly because they are plain cute.  I think these shoes add an element of sophistication and style to any outfit!

 

 

Blanket Scarves

  

They are warm, they are cozy, and they are versatile-is there anything not to love about the blanket scarf?  Scarves have been around for as long as humans have, but it is only recently that they are being produced so thickly and in masses.  Blanket scarves are a nice touch to any outfit, and they come in almost every colour combination you can think of. On top of that, there are many different ways you can style this scarf- it looks great as a simple scarf, but also as a shawl or blanket.

 

The bralette

  

Bralettes are by far one of the best clothing items to have surfaced fairly recently.   These accessories come in all different shapes, colours and sizes, and they look great under anything.  They also solve the issue of annoying bra straps showing!  Depending on your tastes, you could put on a classic lace bralette, a halter bralette, a web bralette, and multitudes of other types under your clothing.  Depending on how daring you are, you could even wear a longer bralette by itself with a cardigan or jacket.

 

 

Over the knee boots

   

Another trend that is absolutely adorable is the over-the-knee, or (kind of) thigh high boots.  These boots, mostly found in the suede material, add a sense of sophistication and style to many outfits.  They look good in any colour, and are available with ties, without ties, with or without heels, and usually have an option of height! (Also I would imagine they keep your legs extra warm in the chilly weather)

 

The slip

 

Last but certainly not least is the lovely slip- the slip is traditionally a satin or lace piece that was worn back in the day, but recently it’s made many appearances, only styled differently.  The slip looks wonderful when placed over or under a piece of clothing, be it a t-shirt or a turtleneck.  In the top left photo is a woman wearing a different type of slip under a shirt, which i think is pretty cute, but wearing a slip over something is school-appropriate and adds a unique style element.

 

And there you have it! My favourite trends of the now. Funny story- I was writing this blog, and I asked my boyfriend to help me edit it, and he asked me why onesie’s were not on this list . . . (It was adorable)

2016 has  been a lovely year for fashion, and I am confident 2017 will be just as fun and interesting. Happy New Year!

 

sources (x)

The 5 Stages of Culture Shock

Lucy Han
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Have you ever gone someplace new feeling all excited, then realizing all you want to do is go back home but soon you adapted? Then, when you go home again, it isn’t what you expect? Well that roller coaster of emotions is called Culture Shock.

Culture Shock is the concept of entering a new environment, approaching a new task or dealing with unfamiliar circumstances and feeling a sense of “shock” towards a new culture (the term is self-explanatory).

The image below walks through a standard culture shock pattern:

1. Honeymoon: This first stage is that feeling of jittery excitement you get when going someplace new. Let’s use Australia, as followed in the above image. So you’re in this new exotic country that’s warm in the winter and animals and insects are everywhere! You think to yourself, I’m never going back home because this place rocks. Maybe if I stay long enough, I’ll get an Australian accent… that type of thing. This place is called your Host Culture. You are very optimistic, curious, and look forwards to new exciting experiences. You’ll feel your surroundings are extremely welcoming and have a home-y feeling.

2. Homesick: This second stage is where you’ve gotten to the point where you think: there’s no place like home. This unfamiliar environment may feel stressful and bring about confusion, sadness or even frustration. Nothing seems right. Willingness to accept the culture’s differences becomes a chore. Rather than trying to adapt, you will blame your insecurity on these cultural differences. Being in Australia, the insects may be too much to handle and having a filmy layer of sunscreen on your skin really irritates you. The fact that you didn’t see any quokkas or kangaroos since you’ve arrived makes you disappointed.

3. Reverse culture shock: Eventually, you’ll come to terms with this Host Culture. You’ve experienced it long enough to know what things are good about it and you begin to appreciate this place. Now you feel relaxed and develop a more positive standpoint. After you realize that there are so many other things to look forwards to like the golden beach coasts and beautiful city night strolls. Tasting Lamingtons (basically Australia’s national cake) and trying out Vegemite allowed you to get a literal taste of their culture. You’re having the best time of your life and the trip is one to never forget.

4. Re-entry shock: Coming back home is not how you expected. Wanting to feel relieved, you instead feel an urge to go back from to the place you just left. A pervading sense that you had not experienced all there was to do makes you feel unsatisfied. You have a longing to go back, chill in those ocean swimming pools and snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef to Find Dory. Scrolling through your pictures does not do you any justice to the euphoria you felt during your stay in Australia. In a way, re-entry shock is much more emotionally impactful than homesickness because it’s an unexpected and unpleasant feeling.

5. Home Sweet Home: Finally you’ve settled down back at home. Everything is back to the way it was and nothing is prevalent to bother you. You’re glad to be back home and you re-enter your routine daily life. You realize that the best place is home because that is where you feel the most comfortable and secure. At home in Canada, the mosquitos are avoidable and Nanaimo bars will (temporarily) satisfy your Lamingtons cravings.

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

Holidays with YAA: Christmas around the World:

Avanti Karkhanis
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Christmas Around the World

As the weather turns chilly, lights start coming up, and carols reign supreme at the stores, it is evident that the Christmas is near. Christmas is my favorite time of the year: I love the atmosphere, the excitement, and of course, the traditions. From putting up the tree to baking cookies and buying gifts, every culture has a different way in which they celebrate, and today, I want to explore what Christmas looks like in other countries.

Mexico:

A posada

In Mexico, Christmas is a very important religious holiday celebrated from December 12 to January 6. From mid-December, processions called posadas are formed. These celebrate the story of Mary and Joseph traveling to find a place to stay, and it involves children going from door to door singing a song, looking for somewhere to rest but being turned away. At the last house, the children are finally let in, and there is a party.

Christmas Eve is called Noche Buena, and it is a day to spend with family. In addition to a big Christmas meal, everyone attends midnight mass (Misa de Gallo) and the final posada where figures of baby Jesus are put into a manger. Then, there are even more fireworks!

Many houses have a nacimiento, or nativity scene. Here, clay figurines such as the Shepherds or Three Kings are displayed. The Baby Jesus is added during Christmas Eve, and the Three Kings are added during Epiphany.

Three Kings Cake (yum!)

A traditional Christmas food is the Rosca de Reyes (Three Kings Cake), which is eaten on Epiphany. Inside the cake, there is a figure of baby Jesus, and whoever finds the figure in their cake is the godparent of Jesus for that year.

Russia:

In Russia, Christmas is normally observed on January 7, as the Russian Orthodox Church uses the Julian calendar to mark religious holidays.

Sochivo

On Christmas Eve, people may choose to fast until the first star shows up in the sky, and then eat sochivo, a wheat or rice porridge with honey, poppy seeds, berries and nuts. A Christmas Eve meal often has 12 dishes to represent the 12 disciples of Jesus, and popular foods include borsch (beetroot soup), vegetable pies and salads  After the meal, prayers are said and then everyone attends midnight Church services- often staying out until 4 or 5 a.m.!

Vzvar

Christmas Day means a huge feast, with items such as pork or goose, pelmeni (meat dumplings) and gingerbread or fruit for dessert. A traditional drink, vzvar (dried fruit and honey in water), is also served with the meal. This drink is typically given when a child is born, and is served at Christmastime for the birth of Jesus.

…

Christmas is a very special time of the year. It’s a time where everyone comes together to celebrate, regardless of race or religion. Although our traditions are different, ultimately, the feelings of goodwill and happiness are universal. So no matter where you live, I wish you all Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad, Счастливого рождества, or Happy Holidays!

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

For more information about Christmas around the world, check out http://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/

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