Home Blog Page 176

Calgary YouthLink: Why Wasn’t This Around When I Was a Kid?

Maddison Zapach
-
0

Surprisingly, this is not a snapshot from a raging nightclub that I managed to catch before my baby-faced friends and I were escorted to the exit. That’s right; this new and exciting venue doesn’t aim to attract crowds of hip, party-loving young adults, but of 6th graders. At the site of the Calgary Police Interpretive Centre, a new program called Youthlink intends to educate youth about the dangers of drugs, violence, and alcohol through school trips to the centre, which is full of interactive exhibits and sessions. The creators of Youthlink use their forensics program as a “foot in the door” to incentivise schools to bring their students; science teachers are offered free tools and resources to teach their forensics unit that revolve around a “case” the students piece together in class. The classes are then invited to the centre in order to solve the last part of the case, and, as an added bonus, get to explore the centre and learn more about the role of law enforcement, in the hope of “de-stigmatizing” police officers in the eyes of youth.


 IMG_3938

Through the Sheldon Kennedy Advocacy group, I had the opportunity to explore the Youthlink facility, and to hear some of the presentations that 6th graders will be attending on their field trips. The talks, into which they had integrated Ipads that we used interactively, were on such topics as violence, drugs, relationships, and internet safety. What I loved most about these were that, although the discussions are all tailored to 6th grade students, the speakers are not afraid to tackle tough topics and present real information in a way that makes the presentations engaging, and not at all cheesy or “gimmicky”.


IMG_3937

And on top of all this, the facility is just really, really fun. I went with a group of “mature” high school students, and we, and even our teacher chaperones, were excitedly running around trying flight simulators, posing for photos on police motorcycles, and pressing all sorts of buttons, which began spouting information that was subsequently listened to intently, simply because it had come from a button. My 6th grade field trip to a landfill doesn’t quite hold a candle to the experience.

IMG_3946

Perhaps my favorite thing about the centre was all of the “hip” young adults giving the presentations, some of whom were police officers. They made everything that should have been really cheesy quite fun, and did a great job of seeming relatable and accessible. You can preach at jr. high kids all day, but unless they feel that connection or respect for you, or whomever is providing the information, they’ll just tune you out.

 

If you want more information about the new program, visit their website http://www.youthlinkcalgary.com

Music isn’t supposed to sound good but it does (PART 2)

Elvin Limpin
-
0

Click here for Part 1

Appreciating Pitch… Is it nature or nurture?

We’ve concluded that music sounds like a form of speech.

Certain pitches sounds good because of the physics behind it. Here’s a YouTube video explaining the basics of it from the perspective of tuning:

Harmony and lack of harmony can correlate to positive and negative emotions. This is something that doesn’t have to be taught. Harmony makes you smile, and more complex sounds do not. That solves the riddle of why pitches sound good.

When notes are “stacked” together, they form what’s called a chord. Although there are hundreds of possible chord combinations, it seemed like you only really need to know one progression composed of four chords in order to make a hit song.

The mystery behind “four chords”

Listen:

Most people who play the guitar or listen to a lot of pop music might have noticed this omnipresent four chord pattern. I even used a prominent four chord progression on 0:58 to 1:15 in my song Renegade Red <link> as the melody, showing its utility in the musician’s toolbox. So why does this chord progression sound so good? Are we trained to have it sound good in our heads? Comment below if you guys have any thoughts on the four chord mystery because this blows my mind as well.

How about rhythms?

So why do certain rhythms sound better than others?

Of course, mindlessly tapping a beat would sound worse than having some organization to it, but certain rhythms show up in popular music so often because of no other reason other than it sounds good. Pay attention to the repeating drumbeat in this song:

This is the “clave” beat that originated from Latin American music. It’s naturally originally played in claves, but it then adapted to the drum kit by these songs and thousands of other songs.

You’ve probably heard of this one too before:

That one is the two step beat (with an optional eighth note roll added at the third beat).

There’s also the standard March beat (Razihel – Children of the Night), swing and 6/8 (Tristam – Once Again), and as our band teacher dubbed it, “broadway triplets” (Varien – Valkyrie).

Popular music that does not contain these rhythms is very rare. Scroll through your favorite playlist and pay attention to the rhythms used in the songs. So is there a science behind these rhythms? Are we just all conditioned to like them?

I don’t know.

Well, I guess listening to music will never be the same from now on

😛 Just remember that music will sound good whether or not you know why it does. Whenever you’re sitting alone on the bus, sick at home, awkwardly standing in a corner during a party, or enjoying a concert, just let music decorate your time.

If you guys are interested in listening to more of the music I produce, check it out right here:

The true secret to happiness: Genes

Michael Xie
-
0

The way to achieve happiness has been a answer long sought after by all of mankind, the focus of countless studies, theories and philosophies. And of course, everyonehappiness-3 (1) holds their own belief of how to be happy in their life. Yet, a new study in England seems to point not to our attitudes on life or the conditions we live in as the things to determine our happiness, but instead to our genetic composition. That’s right, the study suggest we are born destined to be happy people or to be sad people. Since the study itself, as with most scientific studies is long-winded and complex, the tl;dr version of their findings is that
the further away genetically you are from the people of Denmark, the less happy you will be. The predictions made based on this conclusion actually almost match the world happiness rankings exactly. So, if you are a Dane, congratulations, you are literally chemically constructed to be happier than any other race in the world. On the other hand, if your ancestors hail from Madagascar, you are among the furthest away from the Danish genetically and in turn, have a DNA sequence that works against any attempts you may have of achieving joy. The basic biological concept behind this lies in the gene which governs the body’s release of serotonin, the chemical hormone which is most responsible for creating our sense of happiness. A mutated, shorter version of this gene causes you to be able to produce less chemical happiness, leading you to be real-life sad. And those lucky Danes managed to get the best of it, as the genetic constitution of the majority of the Danish population possess the longer, non-mutated version of this gene, allowing them greater capacity for happiness production. Even more evidence in the way of this study lies in the fact that this seems to be herGene-Switched-On-by-Stress-Speeds-Up-the-Spread-of-Cancer-377951-2editary, those who have ancestors from northern Europe (ie Denmark), were also more genetically capable of being happy than those who had ancestors from elsewhere.

Luckily, it seems that while genes are a factor within our happiness, it is not the ultimate requirement in determining how happy we will be. The study still notes that multitudes of other factors such as sleep, relationships, and general quality of life, still play a massive role within determining an individual’s overall satisfaction. It’s similar to how genes play a role within an individual’s cholesterol production, just as diet and exercise habits do. So, depending on what heritage you might be, this could be great news or terrible news. In either case, at least this gives us all another reason to explain why we cannot be all sunshine and rainbows all the time. It’s in the genes!

Sources:

1 2 3

Binge-Worthy TV Series to Help End Exam Blues

Hellen Kang
-
1

Exam break is ending soon, so as our time of freedom (and laziness) quickly disappears and a new semester begins, it’s important to begin catching up on amazing TV shows we might not have time for later.

To help you catch up on some amazing series that you may not have heard of, or ignored temporarily because of school, I made a list of my personal favourites. (Many of these were binge-watched so it is possible to finish a couple seasons in a couple days.)

The Fosters

The Fosters is definitely one of my favourite TV shows. Essentially, this show is about a family of foster kids under the care of a lesbian couple. The director/producer is absolutely incredible, shedding light on important issues such as police corruption and the difficult conditions endured by foster kids. It is, at times, much heavier of a show because it attempts to portray reality very closely. However, it is a very eye-opening series and extremely enjoyable.

White Collar

White Collar is my favourite crime/law show, and fortunately (but sadly), the show has ended so you can watch at your own pace. The main character, Neal Caffrey, is a felon but because of his ability to think like a criminal, he aids the FBI in solving cases. White Collar is extremely funny and non-exhaustive as it’s entertaining and essentially non-educational.

The Mindy Project

I recently started, and caught up with, The Mindy Project. This series is so funny, similar to Parks and Recreation or New Girl. Mindy Lahiri, a successful OB/GYN, is a self-determined individual that tries to sort out her life in her mid-30s. Inevitably, she faces many struggles but still upholds an optimistic atmosphere. I’d recommend this series if you’re looking for a witty, comedic show or a quick study break (only 20 minutes an episode)!

How To Get Away With Murder

Saved the best for last! I’ve been obsessed with this show as soon as I started watching it about a year ago. It’s extremely suspenseful and has a twisted plot line, which obviously includes many murders. Everything seems unnatural; for example, the professor (pictured above) has an elite group of students that help her solve murders/crimes but become very closely intertwined in many murders. (I’m desperately trying not to spoil anything.) Each episode has weird flashback and/or foreshadowing clips which is confusing at first but one of the best and most frustrating cliffhangers I’ve encountered. Luckily, this show just started recently and the next episode comes out sometime in February so you definitely have time to catch up.

Those are my top favourites as of tonight. Hopefully, one of these shows sparked your interest and help you make use of your last few days of exam break!

 

 

Developments in North Korea

Katie Kim
-
0

The title of this blog tells nothing, yet, you came in knowing exactly what it was about: the hydrogen bomb. But surprise! This will tell you little about the bomb itself, but more about the human psyche.

unnamed
Source

 

Of Aesop’s fables, there is a tale of a shepherd who, out of boredom, screams for help that a wolf has come to eat his sheep. He does this again, and each time, his neighbors come to help, only to find that it is a prank. This story ends tragically when a wolf actually shows up; the shepherd calls for aid, but the villagers, thinking it’s another joke, do not come.

 

There are two sides to this tragedy of the Boy Who Cried Wolf. The first is that of the shepherd, who should not have lied. The second is that of villagers who did not take the call for emergency seriously. Neither is at a fault more than another; both should be held responsible.

 

The Republic of Korea (South Korea)’s response to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea)’s recent hydrogen bomb testing was just that. For days, the topic of the H-Bomb was the number one trending news on many news portals as well as social media sites worldwide. Ironically, the ROK only reported about this a few days after and the news did not reach the same level of panic as in the rest of the world.

_87505565_nkoreamap
Source

 

Since the division of the peninsula in 1945, North Korea has been increasingly focused on nuclear weapons and energy development. The hydrogen bomb testing resulted in a reported 5.1 Richter scale sized earthquake. 

 

Over the years, the people of ROK are no longer fazed by developments in the north and no longer does this talk about a successful testing of hydrogen fusion, alarm them. While it is admirable that the news of the hydrogen bomb has not created a nation-wide hysteria in the ROK, as it has in other places, there is instead a lack of alertness. With awareness, rather than complete frenzy or complete ignorance, future crises can more easily be dealt with. It will be too late when the people of the ROK realizes this – when the wolf actually comes.

 

 

Evans, Stephens. “North Korea’s Dramatic Rhetoric and Claims over its Bomb Test.” BBC News. n.p. Web. 15 January 2016.

ConnecTeen’s Video Contest | Interview With Vanessa De Souza

Emily Donville
-
0

Walking into the ConnecTeen office on a mid November evening, I was met with the calming sound of mild conversation and the tapping of fingers against keyboards. Immediately I was met with kindness and felt right at home. In a situation that should’ve made me feel nervous for not knowing anyone, Vanessa De Souza, and the ConnecTeen crew went above and beyond the basic bar of hospitality. I sat down with Vanessa and chatted with her and some volunteers about ConnecTeen, their Video Contest and volunteer opportunities. Read the interview below.

ct_logo4819[source]

“What is ConnecTeen?” in the words of Vanessa De Souza, ConnecTeen Coordinator.

“ConnecTeen is a youth peer support line. This means we have youth volunteers who are talking to other youth in crisis. Our volunteers are aged 15-21 and they go through the exact same training that our adult crisis line volunteers go through so that they are ready and prepared for anything that comes their way. Our service includes text support, email, chat, and phone calls. We are the first texting peer support line to exist in Canada and the Distress Centre has been around for just over 40 years and ConnecTeen has been apart of this for 33 years. We were originally known as Teen Line, but in 2011 we realized that youth weren’t calling the line, and it wasn’t because there wasn’t a need, it’s just that that wasn’t how youth wanted to communicate. So we did a huge rebranding and completely updated our look, how we marketed ourselves and the services that we offered, which is when text support was introduced.”

E: “Tell me about the contest.”

V: “We’re looking for creative youth that are passionate about the community, because we are a huge part of Calgary’s community. The Distress Centre alone is the only 24 hour agency to provide support for that many hours of the day, 365 days a year and ConnecTeen is 24 hours as well. We’re looking for youth who can really highlight the importance of reaching out when you need support, so this contest is really framed to highlight our services and what it means for those to reach out and the impact that can happen on their community.

We’re really gearing this contest to those youth who are interested in videography, photography and filmmaking so that they have a way to showcase their talent and then we can highlight that and our services too. So we would take this video to our presentations, to the community, put it on our website and they’d have the chance to build their artistic portfolio. And with the contest, we are looking for youth to create it and write it and basically they’d create something under 2 minutes but longer than 30 seconds. It would be a promotional video so highlighting the services we provide, providing ways of contacting us, ensuring that our logo is on it. They’d have creative freedom and we’re not looking for anything fancy. We have a tutorial on how youth can film it on their smartphone and edit it that way and we’re trying to make the contest as accessible as possible.

With the contest, it is due February 12th, 2016 and because the way the Saddledome is (where the video will be showcased), it’s better to have a visual/text based video so we’re looking for something along those lines. For examples of visual/text based videos, you can see them here. As for prizes, you are able to showcase your work at the Saddledome (to an audience of 10,000 guests) on Sunday, March 20th at 1:00pm as well as gain box seats at the Hitmen game (with up to 10 guests).”

EnterourVideo-Contest[source]

E: “What should Youth consider when entering the contest?”

V: “Keep in mind our logo and what ConnecTeen means to them. What is like to feel heard? What does that mean to them and to their community? Really capturing the essence of who we are. Yes it is a promotional video, but we really want it to come from youth and we really want to know why does a service like us exist and what is the need for it and what do they think that means?”

E: “Do you have any tips or advice for youth wishing to enter the contest?”

V: “I’d say being as creative as possible and there’s no better population to do something like this than the population we provide the service for. Using their perspective and using what they already know. ConnecTeen is willing to support them and our communications coordinator is more than happy to be consulted during the process at all. And I’m here if they have questions about the agency or what it is that we do.”

E: “Why is this a good opportunity for youth?”

V: “I think it’s a good opportunity because there aren’t many opportunities for youth to showcase their work. There’s more now than there were in the past, but I feel like it’s such a good creative outlet to put together that portfolio because I know how important that can be when you’re applying for different scholarships and schools and things like that. Especially if you want to go into a program that has to do with filmography, or if you’re just passionate about your community, it’s always great to have that in your back pocket. I think it’s a good opportunity because it’s coming from a youth voice. I go out in the community, but I’m old, and I could say this is a great service, but that doesn’t mean anything to someone who’s 13 and doesn’t trust anyone over the age of 25. I think it coming from a youth perspective for a youth service is everything, and it’s really powerful.”

CTaGxRNW4AAUPuc[source]

E: “What are your volunteer opportunities?”

V: “We have our youth program crisis line volunteer position and that entails answering the lines. This means coming in once a week for 10 months and picking a shift that best fits you. Talking to other youth around the city who are going through something tough. That tough can be anything. We’re never going to minimize an issue or tell someone it doesn’t matter. It’s about supporting someone in their need at that time. So basically you’ll be answering text messages, emails, chats and phone calls. Going through the three-week volunteer training program which is through a classroom. So it’s all theoretical based, and then you actually get application after where you work side by side with a leadership volunteer or a senior volunteer. They will coach you one on one until you feel comfortable, confident and ready to go. And then you’d go solo, but even then you’re still working with other volunteers and staff.

The other opportunity we have is blogging. We offer a blogging position for six months where they can submit two posts per month. They can be on any youth related issue so anything on their mind personally, anything that they’re noticing, their experiences or something going on around the community.”

In addition to this contest, ConnecTeen is currently holding another contest to sell tickets. Whoever sells the most tickets is eligible to win a signed Hitmen jersey. To participate, contact Mike, a Youth Program Coordinator at ConnecTeen for a special code that they can use when you’re selling tickets to Family/Friends. His email is mikek@distresscentre.com 

After a lovely chat with Vanessa and a tour of the office, I met with three Distress Centre volunteers to see what they think about ConnecTeen and their contest.

E: “What’s been the most rewarding part of being part of ConnecTeen?”

C, 17: “I think it’s just being able to help other teens in my city and being there for someone who really needs to talk.”

G, 17: “I think the most rewarding part is just being able to give back to the community and just being able to help teens that are our age. Sometimes it’s hard to find adults to relate to or even if you go to your school counselor, it might not be the same. So it’s good to connect with people that are your own age and to hear their problems and to be able to be like “Oh, someone else feels the same way.” It’s probably the most rewarding thing to know that you’re making some sort of difference.”

J, 17: “The purpose of ConnecTeen is to help other people, and so definitely the most rewarding thing is to help other people. When you have a connection with that person and you help them in a way that they wouldn’t be able to do themselves, it’s definitely rewarding.”

E: “Why is the ConnecTeen Video Contest a great opportunity for your fellow youth?”

C, 17: “I think it allows them to get their work out there and showcase their work at such a big event, which is a benefit to whoever is entering the contest and a benefit to the Distress Centre as well because it gets the word out about a really good cause that not a lot of people may know about.”

G, 17: “It helps promote us and get the word out. A lot of people might not have heard of our services so they might need it but maybe not know about it, so it’s good that we’re making awareness. It’s a great opportunity because it’s a contest so they can get involved and there’s a prize so it’s fun, enjoyable and for a good cause, too.”

J, 17: “The ConnecTeen Video Contest is a way to get exposure and ConnecTeen lends a very valuable resource, and a lot of people overlook it because it may be too intimidating or they may be unfamiliar with it, so if we do this contest we can gain exposure and just help people learn about us.”

E: “Do you have any advice for youth wishing to enter this contest?”

C, 17: “Just be creative and just know that you’re promoting a really good cause. And tell your friends about it because it’s a really great idea.”

G, 17: “Be creative. Be spontaneous. I mean there isn’t a lot of limits, so have fun with it.”

J, 17: “Be genuine. As long as you’re real with what you say, people will be able to connect.”

Want a discount on Hitmen Tickets? Enter the code “teen” when buying tickets here for a %50 off discount!

Have any other questions? Contact Vanessa De Souza at 403-264-8337 or vanessad@distresscentre.com

Connecteen Video Contest Article

Want to use ConnecTeen’s line? Here is various ways of contacting them.

Thumbnail [Source]

It’s okay to be an introvert

~ Chu ☆ ~
-
1

“Contrary to what most people think, an introvert is not simply a person who is shy. In fact, being shy has little to do with being an introvert! Shyness has an element of apprehension, nervousness and anxiety, and while an introvert may also be shy, introversion itself is not shyness. Basically, an introvert is a person who is energized by being alone and whose energy is drained by being around other people.

Introverts are more concerned with the inner world of the mind. They enjoy thinking, exploring their thoughts and feelings. They often avoid social situations because being around people drains their energy. This is true even if they have good social skills. After being with people for any length of time, such as at a party, they need time alone to ‘recharge.'” (Source)

(Source)
(Source)

Introversion is something that I’ve always kind of resented. Growing up, I was pretty quiet, had trouble making friends, didn’t feel that comfortable with social situations, and got nervous when I had to speak up. In fact, I remember when I was younger, I was terrified of having to say “here” when the teacher called my name, in case I said it wrong. I also get really worried thinking about conversations I’ve had, or presentations I’ve done, that I feel I’ve made mistakes, however tiny or insignificant they may seem to others.  These characteristics, along with people constantly telling me “Why can’t you be more social?” or “You should really speak up more often” led me to believe for years, that I was antisocial, that I was weird, that I just didn’t fit in.

(Source)
(Source)

I always just felt like I was different. That I was some kind of freak because society liked people who were outgoing and friendly, and I didn’t fit that mold. And for the most part, I just felt really alone.

It wasn’t until a few months ago that I started thinking “Hey, maybe I’m not an outcast. Maybe this is actually just part of my personality.” In fact, did you know that in 2011, 50.7 % of US population was classified as introverted? It’s definitely a lot more common than I thought, and it was really comforting to know that it wasn’t just me.

Introversion doesn’t make you ‘weird’ or ‘different’. Actually, many influential people were and are introverts, like J.K. Rowling, Bill Gates, Abraham Lincoln, Eleanor Roosevelt, Albert Einstein, Emma Watson, Mahatma Ghandi, and Rosa Parks, for example. (Source). Introversion is simply a part of your personality, and that doesn’t make you more creative, or intelligent, or less social or outgoing than anyone else.

(Source)
(Source)

At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter if social situations drain my energy, or if I prefer sitting in my room writing rather than going out with friends, because that’s just who I am. And that’s okay. Introversion is okay.

(Source)
(Source)
(Source)
(Source)
(Source)
(Source)

 

(featured image source)

 

 

My 2016 winter to-do list

Julia
-
0
My 2016 winter to-do list

Some people say that winter is a time for hibernation. But guess what? I’m not a bear. I’m a Calgarian. Winter is a lot easier to get through when you take a good look at all the awesome things there are to do, whether you want to stay in or go out. In case you need some inspiration, here’s a list of things I would sure like to do before the flowers start blooming!

Staying cozy at home

  • Start a blog – And if nobody reads it, that’s okay. Do it for yourself,
    to express who you are and what you think about this world we live in.IMG_8100
  • Jam sessions – There’s nothing quite like the feeling when you’re
    making your own music. Sing, strum a guitar, play the piano, strum a ukulele, get some beats going, and of course, gather some friends. Want to take it a step further? Try creating your own songs.

Indoor excursions

  • Loose Moose Theatre – It’s nearly impossible to leave one of their improv shows feeling unhappy. Every Friday and Saturday evening, actors create scenes on the spot, with special rules and twists that make it impossible not to uncontrollably laugh.
  • PIPS Board Game Cafe  – While staying in Edmonton this summer, I became very, very familiar with the board game cafe there (Hexagon) and how AWESOME board game cafes are. In December, PIPS became the first one to open in Calgary, and I am so excited to go!IMG_8072
  • Escape rooms – In case you haven’t heard of these, it’s basically you and your squad stuck in a themed room, with a set amount of time to solve clues and unlock the door. Check out Avenue Calgary’s list of 5 escape rooms to try.
  • Chinook mall – Some might say this is boring. But do you know what wouldn’t be boring? Going to Sephora to get a mini-makeover, then browsing the Lego store, smelling lotions at Bath & Body Works, heading to the Chinook Bowladrome, buying matching squad teeshirts from Hot Topic or Urban Behaviour, watching a newly released movie, and, my favourite, visiting the American Girl specialty doll boutique in the new Indigo Kids section of Chapters (who knows, maybe you’ll see me there!).

Outdoor adventuresIMG_7808

  • Ice skating – There’s nothing quite like the feeling of gliding along on ice with the brisk air brushing your cheeks. To get that brisk air part, try an outdoor rink. My favourite? Bowness Park lagoon. The ice there may be uneven, but thats because the ice is entwined with a natural setting. And of course, if you’ve got access to a car, Lake Louise is probably the best place to skate in this entire province.
  • Photo shoots – I don’t mean getting a professional photographer to take some pictures of you awkwardly hugging your siblings. By “photo shoots” I mean gathering your friends and a decent camera, heading outdoors to a nice park, and taking Instagram-able photos of your squad in the snow. After all, I know it’s about time for me to get a new Facebook profile picture.

The grey cloudy skies might not be inviting, but hopefully some of these ideas are. 🙂

Emily’s Most Anticipated Albums of 2016

Emily Donville
-
0

While most individuals associate January with exam season and all the stress and anxiety that comes along with it, I prefer to look ahead. One of my favourite things about the new year is thinking about all the new music that’ll gradually be released throughout the year. I could go on and on about my love for music, but I figure I’ll keep it short and cut to the chase. Without adieu, here are my most anticipated albums of 2016.

 

The 1975 – I Like it When You Sleep, For You Are so Beautiful Yet so Unaware of it

Much like their album title, the songs scream fun and different. If you close your eyes and listen to the first track, “Love Me”, off of their aforementioned album, it’s quite easy to imagine yourself in an 80’s club with their addictive synths and bass licks. Is this a bad thing? Not at all. They may not be everyone’s cup of tea but their songs are refreshing and addictive. If you catch me dancing in public, don’t be surprised if I’m listening to one of their songs. The band’s sophomore album is set for a February 26th release. Listen to their first single off the album, Love Me, below.

The Last Shadow Puppets – TBA

Though we don’t have a name yet, The Last Shadow Puppets (co-fronted by Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner and former frontman of the Rascals, Miles Kane) have been hard at work working on their latest studio album. Their latest single, “Bad Habits”, is full of addictive bass lines and smooth vocals that serve as the perfect accompaniment to any activity. Their single is a testament to the fact that their second release will be a hit and draw a large crowd of fans with their alluring lyrics and hard hitting riffs. Listen to their first single since 2008 below.

Haim – TBA

Speaking to Beat 1’s Zane Lowe last October, Haim stated that their album was nearly finished, meaning there’s no time better than 2016 to release their next album after debuting Days Are Gone in 2013. After a number of festival appearances, features with Calvin Harris and M83, their own radio show and a spot opening up for Taylor Swift, the Haim sisters are finally ready to bless our ears with more dreamy pop music. I know I’m eagerly awaiting their next release, but to tide you over until then, listen to their single “Forever” off of their debut album.

Sky Ferreira – Masochism

The wait between Ferreira’s debut “Night Time, My Time” and her sophomore release “Masochism” have been long but I eagerly await to see what she has in store. Though she’s remained relatively under the radar, you may have heard her single “You’re Not The One” (posted below) which tells of a relationship where there is not enough mutual interest. Ferreira described the album as “more aggressive” than her debut, which makes me even more excited than I would be normally. Her debut is full of addictive, dance-pop anthems and her next release surely won’t disappoint.

Drake – Views From The Six

2015 was a big year for Drake with his smash hit Hotline Bling and various performances. He wasn’t one to stay out of the headlines, what with his beef with Meek Mill and chart-topping songs making waves. If one thing is for sure, Drake has been working hard on his next album. If anything, Hotline Bling, Back to Back and his mixtape with American rapper Future are proof that Drake has been working hard and his success doesn’t show signs of stopping anytime soon. While you wait for him to release his next album, listen to Hotline Bling below and revel in those admirable dance moves.

Frank Ocean – Boys Don’t Cry

If you’re like me, 2012 was spent obsessing over Ocean’s debut “Channel Orange”, which earned him a Grammy Award for Best Urban Contemporary Album. In the years since, fans and critics alike have eagerly been waiting for their next dose of Frank Ocean, and suffice to say, we’re still waiting. I’m a firm believer in good things come to those who wait, and I apply this to this scenario. And so I’ll wait, albeit eagerly, for his next studio album. It’s rumoured that his next album will be released this year, and so until then, I’ll keep listening to “Swim Good” on repeat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmN9rZW0HGo

2016 is gonna be full of so many good releases that won’t disappoint. These aren’t all of the albums on my list, because believe me this could be a long post, but it’s just a taste of what this year will have to offer and boy it’s gonna be good.

[Thumbnail Source]

Music isn’t supposed to sound good but it does (PART 1)

Elvin Limpin
-
0

And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.

– John Keating (Dead Poet’s Society)

It’s not with this concept that I have an issue with. My issue is with the fact that, as an electronic music artist, I just don’t understand why music fundamentally sounds good. What makes organized sound so connected to emotion? I tried to google this question that’s been bugging me for years with no answers found. So I decided to take matter to my own hands and be the first to write about this musical investigation 🙂


[Source]

Plug your headphones in as I share you guys this my journey, where someone I managed to come up with more unanswered questions than answers to my previous questions 😛

 

Why do people appreciate other art forms?

[Source]
It made sense to me that visual art would be appealing. You look at it, and it reminds you of real life scenarios you might have experienced (or seen before). Visual art often pulls on your sense of empathy to wring emotions out you. Yes, you don’t need to have experienced the situations, you just need to experience the feelings. You can then draw from your darkest moments and your most elated experiences to be able to say yeah, that drawing/painting/photograph/CGI is good. Or bad.

[Source]
Films, plays and fiction literature are even easier to connect to emotion. Story telling is a significant part of human development, making it possible for children to understand situations without experiencing it themselves. Stories let us experience life beyond our own.

[Source]
Figuring out why dance is enjoyable was tricky, but I realized that dance connects to the human need to coordinate, move together, and act as one. High level professional dances even hit on putting audience members in awe of the incredible technique required to perform the dance. Dance is also very much intertwined to courtship and sex, as made evident by the dancing in clubs and parties.

Then comes music…

Here’s a piano song I composed, released just before this article came out:

Let’s dissect this song into its itty bitty components.

In general, there are two forms of music. Just two. It’s song and dance. Although we have explained the appeal of dance, I found it impossible to isolate song because most music is a combination of both (well, certain songs such as funeral music would be all song, no dance) Renegade Red certainly contains both. Another way to think about dissecting music is through the components of sound. They are the pitch (song) and the rhythm (dance).

Let’s focus on pitch.

Here’s a music theory crash course: a unit of music can be thought of as a “musical phrase.” So what is a musical phrase? You can probably figure it out intuitively of you listen to a song. Here are examples of song lyrics that constitute 1 musical phrase from some recognizable songs:

“Mary had a little lamb”

“Baby you light up my world like nobody else”

“Hey Jude”

“Happy birthday dear ______”

They don’t even have to be vocals. Clarinet solos and dubstep drops both have musical phrases. Renegade Red’s first musical phrase occurs from 0:00 to 0:02. It’s only two melodic notes but a phrase nonetheless.

I found that they’re very recognizable since human beings talk in the same manner as musical phrases. There’s even what’s called a “question” phrase and an “answer” phrase in music theory. Going back to my piano song, 0:57 to 1:00 is a question phrase. Somehow, our brains are programmed to interpret that section as a question. This question is then answered on 1:01 to 1:04.

Was I thinking about theory when I wrote this song? No. It just sounded good so I kept it.

[Source]
While I found a Eureka moment here, this realization turned out to be a lone piece in the 100 piece jigsaw. Stay tuned for Part 2 for the rest of the jigsaw puzzle, plus some other cool tracks 🙂

Featured image here.

A Former Athlete’s Reflection

Sarah Nolin
-
0

As new doors open in one’s life some doors musts be closed in their past.

Almost nine months ago it came to my attention that I needed to leave the sport that had been my life for 10 years. Figure skating was a demanding sport that took around 25 hours a week of training on and off the ice but was something I was passionate about. The decision was the hardest I had ever made and I was making it alone. Many people, when put under pressure, blame others around them for their poor decisions but in my case it was all up to me. I have to admit my circumstances were anything but fair, but when it came down to the yes or no choice I was on my own.

The year leading up to quitting:

Injury:

The most important competition of the year in early November 2014 went better than I could imagine. I finally had my spunk back and felt like I was improving after my year and a half plateau. Although I wasn’t at the top yet I was nearing it. Then my circumstances shifted during my post competitive season when I fractured my growth plate in my right ankle, on my landing leg. I was casted for six weeks and underwent a good two months of rehabilitation before I was 100% back. Even then I had pain in my ankle caused from the weakening of the muscles and the placement of the fracture. Late February 2015 preparation for my first competition of the season was beginning and all of my motivation was lost. Psychologically I was changed by the injury. While others improved over my recovery I was not only in a standstill but slowly going backwards because of the effects of the injury. Nothing changes an athlete quite like an injury. I doubted myself more and more as the competition approached and felt nowhere near ready to compete.

Unlikely circumstances:

As March wrapped up I received news that inevitably pushed me over the edge of my decision. My father lost his job and with the state of Calgary and the recession it was in I knew finding another job would be difficult. The reality of the sport was the price everything cost. Figure skating is most likely one of the most increasingly expensive competitive sports. I knew I would eventually have to leave if my family’s circumstances didn’t change. However, nobody pressured me into my decision when the time came.

The final decision:

The first competition of the season had arrived and although my nerves had been tackled there was no doubt I was unprepared. My run-throughs were full of errors and in competition anything that can go wrong will go wrong with the added pressure. The competition went more poorly than I could imagine. I scored worse than I had before. Rather than being discouraged by the reality I was inspired to have a turning point and change the path I was on. That night I created a new plan on how I could improve and explained how excited I was to start training again to my parents. The next morning on my way to the rink without any pressure, people, or even doubt, I decided I would be quitting that day. It wasn’t a matter of my circumstances, I had finally come to accept my reality. I needed to put my focus on school and I knew I couldn’t continue having the grades I wanted, have a job on the weekend and continue improving from where I was in my sport. My time had come and even though to this day I regret leaving, I am glad it happened because I don’t know if I would have had the strength to continue.

 

Sarah

Featured Image

What’s Really Affecting Climate Change?

Sarah Nolin
-
0

Certain factors that cause climate change come to mind when you think of global warming, like the burning of fossil fuels, excess usage of water, overuse of landfills, etc., and these factors are all covered by the news and government workers attempt to fix and cut back on these issues mildly every year.

It has been eye opening to learn about some unknown facts about climate change. It is very difficult to find the real statistics but from what I have learned from some heavy digging is that over 50% of global warming and carbon emissions is caused by livestock and the methane that they produce. Not to mention the amount of water it takes to keep them all alive and the amount of land they need to live. Beef accounts for a large majority of all the carbon emission alone. This makes you think twice as to what the government truly wants the people to know about the environment and the factors changing it.

Rainforests:

The number one reason for the clear cutting of the rainforests in the amazon is to create clearings to raise cattle. Sometimes the trees that they cut down are not even used for lumber back in North America. Before I did my research I would not have assumed that livestock had this much of an immediate affect on the environment. Many of the statistics out there currently have forestry and land change covering a large majority of carbon emission but the forestry is largely related to the usage of livestock and this is not mentioned.

Effects of methane:

Methane is 86 times more environmentally destructive than carbon dioxide over a 20 year period. Agriculture is expected to grow by 80% by 2050 so even if transport is improved and fossil fuels were to be cut in half the green house emissions would continue to rise.

Water usage:

Animal agriculture uses 34 – 76 trillion gallons of  water every year. Many people try to keep their water usage down by taking shorter showers, watering their grass less and being conscious not to waste what they can use. Per pound of beef approximately 2500 gallons of water must be used. The truth is simple, it will take more than conscious water consumption to change the overall water usage anywhere in the world. Drought is largely caused by livestock and purchasing beef and dairy products is contributing to their usage.

 

Facts can be shoved in the face of all individuals but true impact won’t happen until big change happens.

Feature Image

Feel Good Reggae to Cure Your Winter Blues

Caitlin Yardley
-
1

 

The holiday season is over, and the short, dark days of winter make it difficult to find the motivation to do nearly anything. Combined with finals and the stress of school, this time of the year can easily seem like too much to handle. So, in order to lift spirits out of the winter blues, music is a great option, especially reggae. While studying for exams, or stuck in snowy winter traffic, listen to some of these feel good reggae hits to be transported to a stress-free paradise. 

Toots and the Maytals – 54 46 Was My Number

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjg6flu3zuc

If you are ever feeling down and need something to lighten your mood, I highly suggest listening to Toots and the Maytals. The light beats in their infamous hits such and “Pressure Drop” and “Take Me Home Country Roads” provide an instant pick me up, and “54-46 Was My Number” is no exception. The song (released 1969) describes the group’s lead singer Toots’ time in prison, and while the content of the tune may sound heavy, if you are looking for a song to pull you out of your blues this is definitely it!

 

Jimmy Cliff – Wonderful World, Beautiful People 

 

“Wonderful World, Beautiful People” is another reggae hit to be released in 1969, as one of Cliff’s more popular tunes along with his other hit many may know: “Clearly Now“.  Cliff’s song provides a joyful tune along with a beautiful message. Telling listeners to love one another instead of fighting. This sound gives the  perfect message to stop fighting and appreciate all of the beauty the world has to offer.

 

Shaggy – Oh Carolina 

Oh Carolina was written in 1958 by John Folkes of the trio the Folkes Brothers, and was popularised in 1993 by Shaggy. This was the first of many hits from the artist, having the song reach the charts internationally for a number of weeks. Some of Shaggy’s other hits include “It Wasn’t Me” and “Bombastic“. The song  provides listeners with samples from 1958 original, along with Shaggy’s distinct voice, which can be found along with his other reggae fusion hits.

 

Musical Youth – Pass the Dutchie 

“Pass the Dutchie” is the first hit from the group Musical Youth. The song (released in 1982) became a huge hit, topping the UK charts for three weeks in a row. The song is a combination of two other reggae hits: U Brown’s “Gimmie the Music” and “Pass the Kouchie” by the Mighty Diamonds. The Musical Youth were made up of two sets of brothers, who were put together by famous father, Frederick Waite Sr. from the reggae group The Techniques. Musical Youth’s song is  a great, positive track to listen to while studying for exams.

Inner Circle – Sweat (A La La La La Long) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkAUrka9bJY

In 1993 the Jamaican reggae fusion group Inner Circle (originally called Inner Circle Band), released their hit Sweat. The song reached the top of the charts in several countries including New Zealand, Germany and Belgium. Many have also gone on to cover and parody the song, such as Malaysian artist Poe, creating his version “Alalalala Tuk” (Please Officer Don’t Fine Me). This song is an undeniably great summer party song, as it instantly makes you want to get up and dance.

Bob Marley – One Love (People Get Ready) 

Finally, Bob Marley and the Wailer’s hit One Love. Because no great reggae playlist can be completed without a song from the reggae legend . In 1981, a few years before the song’s release Bob Marley was awarded the Jamaican Order of Merit. An award that can only be given to 15 living individuals, and is the fourth highest honor awarded in Jamaica. One Love reminds people that with the power of love, everything will be okay. Bob Marley’s message transcends through the light tune and lyrics of the song, instantly uplifting listeners.

 

Hopefully at least one of these songs will give you the positive boost to get you through your winter blues. “Let’s get together and feel alright” during this exam season!

Intersted in listening to the full playlist? Check out yaa feel good reggae on Spotify.

Featured Image: 1

Videos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Calgary’s 2016 New Years Resolutions

Mayor's Youth Council
-
0

2016 marks the beginning of a new year for Calgary, filled with new projects and plans to work towards a stronger and more connected community. As Mayor Nenshi put it, despite the economic uncertainty, there’s great potential in Calgary.

In Calgary’s 2015 Citizen satisfaction survey, a high rating of 80% of Calgarians conveyed satisfaction towards The City’s services, programs and customer services, a definite improvement from the 69% shown in the 2014 survey. Apart from previous City surveys, the 2015 survey decided to observe how citizens felt about affordable housing. Results presented that this topic is an important area for The City to invest and improve on. It has been observed that citizens seem more content in road maintenance, cleaning and snow removal. However, 36% of Calgarians still feel that “infrastructure, traffic or roads” still remains to be the most important issue in Calgary. Another 21% of Calgarians believe transit is the city’s most important issue. All of this data will fully be taken into consideration The City. A proposal for this year has been made to invest $2.5 billion of capital on building roads and bridges, more fire halls and parks recreation facilities, and improving transit, water services and flood mitigation.

The City council has decided to establish an economic resiliency fund under Mayor Nenshi’s proposition. The fund will use $30 million in budget savings and divide it into three main parts:

  1. $5 million would become designated as an emergency fund for city departments and non-profit organizations that are in tough times. This investment will support any non-profit organizations that are losing corporate donations and company sponsorships, in order to keep people employed and contribute important services for Calgarians. A recently conducted survey by the Calgary Chamber of Voluntary Organizations discovered that 47% of social agencies have seen decreases in their total revenue, as well, the other 53% were experiencing drops in donations.
  2. $10.6 million would go towards freezing transit fares and recreational pass prices at 2015 rates to allow citizens the ability to get around the city, stay active and have fun. Transit fares were planned to increase as of January 1st of 2016. Since the January adult transit passes have already been printed, the freeze won’t begin until February. As for the youth transit passes and regular single ticket rides, the fares will remain the same until next year in 2017. This also goes for leisure center admission tickets.
  3. $14.4 million would be dedicated to be used for affordable housing debuts. The budget would be split between construction use, matching funds from government orders and/or for operational assistance purposes to help those in need of housing.

On behalf of Calgary, Mayor Nenshi and The City of Calgary will continue to provide quality services to Calgarians, expand on how their doings will make it better for people to live and do business, and make the best out of 2016.

Sources:
Mayor Nenshi’s words for Calgary in 2016
2015 satisfaction survey
Economic resiliency fund
Featured Image Source

Great Grad Quotes from Unlikely Sources

Maddison Zapach
-
0

Most high schools allow grade 12 students to choose a quote for the caption of their yearbook photo. But for many students, myself included, it’s a toss up between submitting something serious and opting for something a little, well, sillier. To make your decision a bit easier, I have compiled a list of possible yearbook quotes-some profound, and others ridiculous- from some interesting and unlikely places.

 

Kim Possible Quote
background photo from commons.wikimedia.org

When I found this, I liked it immediately- it’s clear, it’s profound, it’s proactive… But what I liked the most about it is that it’s from the children’s cartoon Kim Possible. Quite recently, I… well, I re-watched the entire series. I came across this little gem on episode 76, during a scene in which an evil side character is convincing the show’s villain to open a cupcakery.

 

Watterson Quote
background photo from funny-pics-fun.com

On the serious-silly spectrum, this one definitely falls among the silly, but it’s still a great quote to use in your yearbook. And if any of your classmates are curious enough to Google “Bill Watterson”, they’ll discover that he’s the writer of the Calvin and Hobbes comics. I dare you to try to find someone more worth quoting.

 

Eminem Quote
background photo from www.vectorbg.net

Any profound statements made by rap artists, pop singers, or Kardashians are perfect grad quotes. In these, you have the perfect recipe for a memorable yearbook caption: they’re surprising, they’re current, they’re funny, and, despite all of this, they can still be pretty insightful.

 

Trump quote
background photo from www.youtube.com

This is probably the perfect quote to use if you want to quote Donald Trump ironically. (I’ll just assume that everyone who wants to quote Donald Trump is doing it ironically; if you want people to think of you as an asshole, there are probably more effective ways to go about it than by choosing a sincere Donald Trump quote for the yearbook.) As far as ironic quotes go, Trump is a safer bet than someone like Hitler or Joseph Stalin, whose words, no matter how uplifting, people will take offence to. The quotation I have included above is likely your best bet, but basically any Donald Trump quote you use is going to sound ironic, especially if you’re known for opposing many of Trump’s ideas. In fact, you could always opt for one of his more inspiring quotes, like “You have to think anyway, so why not think big?” and still get the same effect.

 

Jaden Smith Quote
background photo from photographyblogger.net

At the very least, quoting Jaden Smith’s Twitter feed is sure to give your classmates a laugh, and will probably leave them with a lasting impression of you that three years of high school together was simply not enough to create. The beauty of Jaden Smith quotes is that they are sometimes completely ridiciculous, and other times just comically profound; for every post that says “Dying is mainstream #money” there’s a “We need to stop teaching youth about the past and encourage them to change the future.”

 

grandma quote
background photo from www.gettyimages.com

 

Now, this isn’t something my grandma said as much as it’s some total bullshit I just made up on the spot, but it is presumably something that somebody’s grandma might have said at some point. Basically, what I’m saying is that you should quote your grandma. Quote your grandpa. Quote your great uncle Lou. Or better yet, ask your grandma what her favourite saying is and just attribute it to her, because this is a high school yearbook and not a fully cited term paper.

Attila Quote
background photo from www.desktopwallpapers4me.com

Life is too short NOT to quote Attila the Hun. (And while I feel that the previous sentence would make an equally interesting grad quote, maybe just stick to an actual quote by Attila the Hun.) Not only is his name inexplicably fun to say, but enough time has passed since his barbaric rule that it is almost completely okay to use him in your yearbook. If Night at the Museum can get away with it, then so can you.

Ellen Quote
background photo from weknowyourdreams.com

 

And when all else fails… just quote Ellen. Everybody in your school could use this exact same quote and it would be okay, because it’s Ellen. Quoting Ellen in your yearbook is like getting a speeding ticket- if enough people didn’t, they’d have to raise taxes.

 

 

1...175176177...517Page 176 of 517