Youth Are Awesome, commonly referred to as YAA, is a blog written by youth for youth.
YAA provides the youth of Calgary a place to amplify their voices and perspectives on what is happening around them.
Youth Are Awesome is a program of Youth Central.
Any views or opinions expressed on this blog belong solely to the author and do not represent those of people or organizations that the blog may be associated with, unless explicitly stated. All content is for informational purposes only.
My first memories of Star Wars consist of quality lightsaber battles with my brother—he used a maple leaf umbrella, whilst mine was adorned with Winnie the Pooh characters—and an uncanny infatuation to Chewbacca. As we celebrate the great legacy of Star Wars on May 4th (and my epic lightsaber skills) here are some of the greatest lightsaber duels from one of the most iconic tales of our time and beyond…
April, for me, has so far been the most hectic month of the year. With more homework & tests than I could have imagined, taking on extra-curricular activities, and having weekly volunteer commitments, where do I find time to relax? The answer is: music, reading, and naps. I’ve found that putting those 3 together gives me solace amidst my busy schedule. While they’re not the most exciting things in the world, they sure have the potential to be! So when you’re feeling like a zombie on Monday mornings, ready to take on the world on Friday nights or somewhere in between on Sunday afternoons, here are some tunes to get you by:
• I Bet My Life by Imagine Dragons
“Please believe them when they say that it’s left for yesterday.”
• Believe by Mumford and Sons
(Mumford and Sons will be coming to Calgary on Wednesday, August 12th! Other tour dates here.)
“So open up my eyes, tell me I’m alive.”
• Black Flies by Ben Howard
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPXJXxfauis
“Comfort came against my will and every story must grow old.”
• The Unknown by Imagine Dragons
“After the people and places are gone, you will come back to me.”
• Honey, I’m Good. by Andy Grammer
(Check out the music video below; too funny and cute!)
“I will stay true.”
• Guns for Hands by twenty one pilots
“Let’s go outside and all join hands, but until then you’ll never understand.”
• Work Song by Hozier
“No grave can hold my body down.”
• Tranquilize by Finish Ticket
“I don’t wanna know, I’ll just let it play out.”
• I Am by AWOLNATION
(Fact: this song was newly featured in a Red Bull commercial!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcX6niK9rQU
“All of these things make me who I am.”
• Someone New by Hozier
“Would things be easier if there was a right way?”
• I See You by Luke Bryan
“Stuck like a melody in my head.”
• Mirrored Sea by Passion Pit
(Still loving Passion Pit this month; truly a great band!)
“…leave me be.”
• Apollo by Magic Man
“We’ll stop this little game and save ourselves.”
• Unclear by Kodaline
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTgFOPZlPW8
“You gotta be tough if you wanna survive.”
• Love Like This by Kodaline
“We’re running ’round and ’round like nothing else could matter in our lives.”
Last Sunday I had the pleasure to meet May’s blogger of the month, Kandance Peroramas, to discuss topics ranging from writing to music. Though having only been writing at YAA for over a month now, Kandance has already established herself as someone who posts quality material about many different topics. What struck me from our conversations was the fact that she was not afraid to vouch for issues she is passionate about and can relate those issues to many different topics. She is certainly a very friendly person as well and we quickly realized our similarities after talking and there were many!
We met up at the Shawnessy Library, which is also attached to her high school, Bishop O’Byrne. Kandace was able to show me around some places she visited regularly such as the choir room (she values music highly and is a member of her school choir) and the main hallway leading up to classes, all of which she is taking at the honours level. Coincidentally there was also a small market there as well, and we were able to have a meaningful conversation over some tea. Read some of what she had to say below:
Q: I really liked the fact that you wrote an introductory blog post about yourself, but for those who haven’t read it, let’s start with some basics. What are some things about yourself you would like readers to know?
A: Well for starters, what I want others to know is that I really identify with school, traveling, and music; those are some things I covered in my introductory blog. I’m very dedicated to my education. I love school, I’ve always loved school and I think that I’ve been influenced by my parents to continue my studies. For aspects like the arts, I love singing and performing in front of a crowd. I started with church choir and then I joined regular choir in high school. I also love to read. I think besides sleeping, that would be my favourite hobby. I’ve also recently been into travelling. Considering that I just had a trip to Europe last year, I’ve been really influenced by the world and I would like to see more of it.
Q: All of us at Youth Are Awesome joined for a reason, what made you want to start blogging in the first place?
A: When I started Grade 10 I decided to take all honours classes so that meant I couldn’t have any option classes. One of the option classes I was interested in was the Leadership Club, which is dedicated to volunteering. Since I couldn’t do that I started searching up youth volunteering opportunities in Calgary and specifically for mental health associations. I came across Partners for Mental Health, the Canadian Mental Health Association, ConnecTeen, and then the Youth Volunteer Corps and from there, I also found the Youth Distress Centre and they had a volunteer opportunity for blogging and that’s where I saw Youth Central and YAA. That wasn’t the first time I had heard about Youth Are Awesome but then I was scared about blogging, I wasn’t really confident. However, I soon figured that if I wanted to participate in the community more and have my voice be heard, then I might as well join, I have nothing to lose.
Q: You are an avid volunteer with various organizations, what is the most rewarding thing about helping others?
A: Personally, the most rewarding thing is just being able to help people and being able to dedicate time to others. We’re always so busy with other different things that it’s nice to just take a breather and help people out. I love bringing a smile to people’s faces because I feed off the positivity and happiness of others so volunteering makes life a litter bit easier and less stressful that way.
Q: As a passionate writer, what are some important things to consider for you personally while writing?
A:I need to consider the fact that I myself must be attracted to what I’m writing about and that I’m not writing a post because I have to meet a deadline. I need to be able to write form the heart and think about what I personally would like to read about such as music, drama, and travelling.
Q: What post of yours up to date have you identified most with and why?
A:I think either the YYC Festival Volunteering post or the How to Reconnect with Yourself blog because those focus on taking time for yourself as well as helping others, both of which are very important to me. If I were to read those posts, I feel like it would be something I would refer to time and time again.
Q: What are some topics that you would be interested in writing about in the future?
A:In the future, maybe more about my experience in Drama. I haven’t really touched base on that because I’ve been writing a lot of posts about music and volunteering. Also, teaching people to express themselves through drama and public performance would be something I would be interested about writing about too.
Q: And because I’m a huge fan of hearing about peoples’ music tastes, what are some songs and artists that you listen to?
A: At the moment, I’ve been very interested in Kodaline. They’re an Irish band and they’re also coming to Calgary. I think they’re playing in a 18+ bar though which is unfortunate! The problems of being underage! Songs that I’ve been liking by them are “Unclear” and “Love Like This”, they’re pretty different but both very inspiring and one of them features a children’s choir, which is really nice. I also like Lana Del Rey (insert interlude of mutual fangirling over our love for her and how her albums make us shed tears of admiration) she’s been my favourite for a very long time and I hope she comes to Canada — not just Toronto or Montreal.
Q: Finally, to wrap it all up, if you could say anything to a crowd of people, what would you say?
A:I actually was given a question like this in one of the courses I had to take! The answer would probably still be the same; I would like people to be more aware of youth empowerment, women’s rights, and how education is important to reach your goals and ambitions. I want people to realize that the first step in doing something is to be educated about it and to learn about it. Definitely stay in school guys! There are many inequalities in this world and I would like people to know that just because you’re a female doesn’t mean you cant do something. You’ll be able to do anything you can as long as you put your heart into it. Also, just because you’re young doesn’t mean you can’t do some of the things adults think that they can do because there really is no limit in your ability to achieve your dreams and to change the world.
Get involved with the community of Calgary this weekend with these extraordinary events! West Coast Swing at the Haysboro Community Centre
West Coast Swing is a smooth, cool, sexy style of dancing that allows for improvisation and can be danced to rock, blues, pop, hip-hop, Motown, disco, funk and swing music. Come for a Free Lesson at 7:30- 8:30pm. There is an open dance every Friday from 8:30-11:30 p.m. All Are Welcome! $10/person Valid Student ID – FREE
The Market Shop Local The Market Shop Local will be holding a Mother’s Day Shopping Event at the Eau Claire Market all weekend! Stop by and find the perfect gift for Mother’s Day which is next Saturday, May 10th. 2015 Spanish Festival – Spanish Cinema Experience at the University of Calgary
The 2015 Calgary Spanish Festival has been celebrating all things spanish for the past five days. From Wednesday April 29th to May 1st the University of Calgary (2940 – University Way NW) will be presenting the following movies with free admission at 7:00 p.m. in room CHC 119 (Craigie Hall Block C-Room 119). Thursday April 30 – El laberinto del Fuano (Pan’s Labyrinth) Friday May 1 – Living is easy with eyes closed
The festival ends with a bang on May 2nd at the Montgomery community centre (5003 16th Avenue NW). Enjoy an unforgettable Spanish experience without leaving Calgary during an evening of Spanish arts performed by local and national artists. Tickets for this incredible event include food, entertainment and one beverage of your choice.
Members of España en Calgary – 15 years old and older – $45
Non-members – 15 years old and older – $55
Members and non-members – Children 8 – 14 years old – $15
Children 7 years old and younger – Free
The New Gallery
If you’ve ever gone through Calgary’s China Town you may have noticed The New Gallery. The non-profit centre for contemporary art was created by Clouds & Water Gallery and Visual Production Society est. 1975. Until May 9th 2015 the work of Krista Belle Stewart, titled “Riprap” will be showcased. “The term “riprap” refers to the stacks of rubble that armour a shoreline from impending erosion or flooding. In the context of Krista Belle Stewart’s work, it acts as a metaphor for the archive: the precarious attempt at avoiding deterioration and disorder through preservation techniques and the authorial role of the collector that selects, edits and organizes a historical narrative.”
The Witness Blanket at Central Library
The Witness Blanket is a national monument that recognizes the atrocities of the Indian Residential School era. Inspired by a woven blanket, the large scale art installation is made out of over 800 hundred items connected to residential school experiences in Alberta and across Canada. The exhibit will be running at the Central Library from April 13 to May 9.
Live Music: Dean Selby at Cornerstone Music Cafe
This event gives youth the opportunity to see live music in an intimate setting. All youth will receive a 25% discount on food and drink orders when they tell their server they are here for Youth Week.
unchARTed: Youth ARTivist Laboratory
“unchARTed: Youth ARTivist Laboratory is a multi-art disciplinary event where youth will explore, create and discover new and inventive ways to use art as a tool for social change in their schools, communities and city.
Join us for an action packed weekend of arts, exploration and discover how you can become an ARTivist to represent the things that are important to you in your community and beyond.Explore Dance, Theatre, Music and Spoken Word!
THIS EVENT IS FREE FOR YOUTH AGES 13 -20
Pizza, snacks and beverages will be served for everyone
Register now and be a part of building a vital, prosperous and connected city through the arts.
Location: Genesis Centre – 1000 Voices
7555 Falconridge Blvd Northeast Suite 10, Calgary, AB T3J 0C9
Time: 11:00AM – 3:30PM
For complete details, visit http://www.antyx.org/special-projects”
Crowfoot YMCA – Wandmaking
“Enter the world of wizardry and witchcraft at the Crowfoot YMCA to end our Youth Week with a bang! We will be learning the delicate art of wandmaking and then go outside to learn the fast-growing world sport of Muggle Quidditch! Meet in Multi-Purpose Room 2 Dress for the weather and for running outside, Quidditch is a mix of rugby, dodgeball and flag football played on brooms. Be Ready! This is a Free Youth Week event for members, Non-members need only pay the YMCA drop-in fee. Please register online or at the desk with the Barcode #102718 Remember! All through Youth Week we are having a Photo Scavenger hunt! Post your selfies and team photos on Instagram with the hashtag #CFYYouthWeek to win prizes!” This event is organized by Hillhurst Sunnyside Youth Food Council
Garden Swap
“This event is for gardeners – experienced, less experienced, and wannabes – and creators. Together we’ll learn garden skills, like vermicomposting, and building and planting a raised garden bed, and then we’ll have a Swap! A Swap is a non-monetized opportunity to trade homemade goods, whether it be art or craft, baking, or garden gear like seeds saved from last season or starter plants. Get creative and then trade your creation for something you don’t (yet) know how to make for yourself! Go home with new garden skills and something made by a new friend with their very own hands! Please RSVP to Katie Husted, katie@hillhurstsunnyside.org”
12:00 to 3:00 at Memorial Dr. and 9A St NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Reading Town Canada in Calgary!
From May 2 to May 9, the communities of Inglewood and Ramsay will become the hub of Reading Town Canada in Calgary. Events and activities throughout the week include “the official Mayor’s passing of Reading Town from Moose Jaw (2014) to Calgary and Charlottetown; a LFL building workshop, ‘Read Aloud’ picnics in local parks and an evening event at Limitless for ‘Reading between the Wines’; free book drops; an evening ‘Reading Under the Covers’ event for parents and children; Parent Literacy CAFEs, author appearances and readings; a book exchange at the Lantern Church; Pizza Poetry; and much, much more!”
Ziriguidum
May 2 is your last change to catch Ziriguidum (ZEE-REE-GHEE-DOOM). “Ziriguidum is a Brazilian Portuguese word with a strong African tone that expresses the sounds of drums and other percussion instruments used in Samba and Carnival music. DJD welcomes Cia.Vatá, a celebrated dance and music company from Brazil, to share the stage for a highly theatrical evening of live music and dance. The production will feature Cia.Vatá and DJD, each performing half the show, with one piece combining the two companies. Don’t miss this bold and exciting international collaboration.”
May 3rd 2015
It’s Kind of a Funny Story Movie Screening
Come out on Sunday, May 3rd and help us combat the stigma surrounding mental health issues by watching this important film and hearing from great speakers including Dheny Rivas, Ashley Lamantia from CMHA, and Brett Rothery from the Crescent Heights #LetsTalkCHHS campaign. Admission is only 2.00$. Join us as we wind up Youth Week and kick off Canadian Mental Health Association’s (CMHA) Mental Health Week (May 4-10).
I hope you all have a wonderful and safe weekend!
À Tantôt
How many of you know individuals who have quietly battled through a mental illness? How many of those individuals are yourselves? Having a mental illness can be as detrimental to your health just as much as a physical illness can. Your mental health is important and it’s about time the stigma around your unhealthy organ (aka your brain) ends!
The Mayor’s Youth Council, Youth Central and CMHA have teamed up to screen this movie and bring you awesome speakers to hear from! Dheny Rivas, Ashley Lamantia from CMHA, and Brett Rothery from Calgary’s very own #CHHSLetsTalk Crescent Heights campaign, will all be joining us.
For a donation of $2.00, come out for a screening of a quirky movie that breaks it down for all those a little unsure, those wanting to be more educated and those who just enjoy this ridiculously good movie. Plus speakers who have experienced first hand and worked with mental health! All proceeds will be split between CMHA and Youth Central to carry out the objectives of this campaign; raising awareness on the importance of mental well-being and reducing the stigma associated with mental health issues.
Mental health awareness is something we as individuals and a community need to educate ourselves on. So come out and get enlightened and let’s reduce (and hopefully end) the stigma!
Entrance to the café, located at: 139 14919 Deer Ridge Dr. S.E.
A combination of great food and tasteful music can brighten anyone’s day or simply fulfill a craving for some yummy handmade foods. Calgary’s Cornerstone Music Café offers this great experience to all who step foot inside. The cozy, laid back atmosphere an attraction for young hipsters and elderly couples alike, and aside from the affordable food items, the café also serves customers with the option of music lessons.
Note:Until May 3rd, youth will receive a 20% discount at the mention of “Youth Week”.
Cornerstone is also hosting a free, live music event on Saturday, May 2nd,3:30-5:30 featuring local musician Dean Selby.
Photo taken from a previous Cornerstone “live music” show.
Aside from these special events, Cornerstone has been a popular “everyday” café for many years now! Here are 8 reasons why:
1. All menu items are of local grown, organic origins.
2. All menu items are 100% gluten free.
3. Soft, tasteful music is always playing in the background to complement whatever food or drink you’re enjoying.
4. They serve lunch and dinner, unlike most cafés which only have breakfast options.
5. Waiting times are very reasonable and never exceed a few minutes (at most).
6. Food prices are affordable. You actually get what you pay for.
7. The current owners are a husband-wife duo. Sylvia handles the food, and Jim does the music – they’ve created a very homey and welcoming space for customers AND employees.
8. The featured “Creation of the Day” is always unique and delicious – Sylvia’s talents lend themselves to creative dishes.
Owner Sylvia Johnston would love to see more youth visiting the café, whether it’s to catch up on homework or hanging out with friends. But regardless of age, next time you’re in South Calgary, consider stopping by the cozy little shop, enjoy a fantastic cup of coffee, and join the Cornerstone family!
There’s stigma surrounding mental health, here’s your chance to break those barriers down!
Kids Help Phone – presented by BMO: Walk So Kids Can Talk! This is a 5k walk/run dedicated to just that, giving the opportunity for those adolescents to reach out and get the well deserving help they need. Come out and support this nation wide cause for the better! 🙂
CALGARY, MAY 3RD, 2015 (aka this coming Sunday), register HERE and find details HERE. Get everyone involved! It’s for a good cause, folks, so get educated, come out and be a part of the solution!
*While this isn’t a part of Youth Week, but it definitely caters to the needs of youth, so come support!*
Hopefully by now you’ve all heard of Youth Week. Seriously, it’s a week of discounts, celebrations, and activities for YOUTH in CALGARY. Yep, that’s right. Those little cards we get from school with our picture that most of us loathe, a.k.a. your student ID, can essentially get you VIP access to the city.
When I discovered that The Coup(924 17th Avenue SW) was participating in Youth Week, I knew I had to go. For a long time now I’ve wanted to try this ethical, organic, local-based restaurant known for satisfying even carnivores, vegans, and regular foodies alike with their vegetarian fare, and so this week was my chance! After all, with a 10% discount just for being a teenager, why wouldn’t I go.
Even though it was a Monday night, the place was still filled with people. The majority of the crowd seemed to be in there 20s or 30s, and I felt like I was in a very hip place. In fact, when I walked in it smelt good, and not just in a “oh there’s food, yum” way. All the decor is modern, but it definitely still had a comfortable, sociable feel.
Unfortunately for me, I’m pathetic when it comes to spicy food, so that limited my options quite a bit. Beyond that, not only did it all sound yummy, it all sounded so interesting. Few places serve anything along the lines of “hazelnut & spice crusted eggplant, natural pastures cheese, shredded carrot & spicy kimchi loaded on ciabatta with a chimichurri aioli & hot sauce” or “spicy coconut tomato lime broth loaded with seasonal vegetables, lotus root, edamame, lemongrass and rice vermicelli noodles”.
I ended up sharing the falafel quesadilla, so that I could also have the soup of the day, which was some combination of yam and mango and goodness. Unknown to me, the soup was spicy, but I was able to still slurp up some of it to taste the complex, vivid flavours. Any disappointment about the spiciness of the soup was shadowed by the quesadilla, which successfully made my tastebuds happy. The grilled sprouted tortilla was satisfyingly crunchy and grainy, but not at all in a too-healthy, seeds-in-my-teeth way. Instead of being a generic falafel like so many these days, the pieces in the quesadilla were well-spiced and tender. I loved the rich burst of flavour provided by both the sundries tomatoes and the sheep feta. Long story short, it was really yummy, and I knew it was good ethically, nutritionally, and environmentally too.
We couldn’t pass on the dessert. After all, we’d heard about the chocolate torte, and wouldn’t be satisfied until it was ours. Since by then the restaurant was quite busy and a bit louder than was comfortable, we chose to savour the dessert on a bench in the park by Tutti Frutti instead. It was richer than I’d expected, but when it comes to chocolate, I have no problem with that. Knowing that the bottom was a chickpea brownie crust, I was curious to taste it, and let me tell you, I was not disappointed. Both the mousse and the bottom part were moist, rich but not over-sweet, and texturally they were contrasting but equally satisfying. My one regret is not using more of the fruit preserve sauce.
There’s no “perfect” restaurant, but The Coup provides both a culinary and cultural experience that would please any foodie in Calgary. My message for you: GO EAT AT THE COUP! Don’t you DARE tell me you’re turned away by it being all vegetarian. As the saying goes… don’t judge a book by its cover. Besides, The Coup is a place where people who are looking for vegan, gluten-free, or lactose-free options can dine easily.
To find out what else is happening all week around the city, check out the Youth Week 2015 event calendar!!! Don’t let yourself miss out on these great opportunities 🙂
Cozy and inviting inside, Big Cheese is a sure hit.
There is no denying poutine, a typically French-Canadian dish of fries slathered in beef gravy topped with Quebec cheese curds, is becoming increasingly popular. Several fast food chains have recently added it to their menus, and it’s hard not to notice a number of “poutineries” opening their doors. Big Cheese (738 17 Avenue SW) is a local poutinerie serving up some poutine that is absolutely to die for.
“The Notorious P.I.G.” ; topped with double smoked bacon, Carolina pulled pork and sausage.
Big Cheese takes poutine to a whole new level. As well as dishing out traditional, no-nonsense fries, cheese n’ gravy, they offer a wide variety of poutines topped with meat, different sauces and even a dessert version of the dish. Additionally, Big Cheese offers a vegetarian menu for those who still wish to indulge without consuming any meat or meat gravy.
The “Cluster Buck” ; topped with BBQ chicken and caramelized onions.
During Youth Week (April 26-May 3), Big Cheese is offering a 15% discount to any youth (age 12-18) who shows valid student I.D. Please note that this offer is only valid at the 17th Ave. location and not at the Kensington location. Head on down for great eats that are sure to satisfy any craving!
Who is not a fan of macarons? Delicate, tender and sweet, macarons are a classic French pastry that seriously fulfill your tastebuds. For anybody who has yet to try these adorable cookies, I encourage you to take your first bite this week!
As you may have heard, Youth Week is a week long series of events dedicated to youth around the city in celebration of, well…. us! Calgary communities, agencies, and businesses come together to feature discounts and special events for the youth of YYC this week, from April 26 to May 3. In participation of this, Yann Houte Patisserie (329 23rd Ave SW) is giving out a complimentary macaron for youth this whole week! Simply have your student ID card with you and mention Youth Week to the staff.
Knowing this, I took a short stroll along Mission Street in search of the most delectable macarons for my lunch. Yann Houte Patisserie is a quaint yellow shop that is found just across the street from Famoso Pizzeria and Starbucks Coffee. This local bakery serves a mouth-watering assortments of pastries, cakes, and fresh breads. Their rainbow-colored selection of macarons is even harder to choose from, though. From Rose, to Passion Fruit and London Fog, there is a flavor for everyone’s particular preference.
“Well, I started playing music not knowing where it’d take me. Now, I’ve been accepted at McGill and Humber for their jazz studies programs! Jazz connects all of me with everyone else on the bandstand as well as everyone in the audience. It’s an art form that really encourages individual expression while saluting the roots of this great tradition. It’s led me to some fantastic experiences and I never want to stop pursuing this love supreme.”
Have you heard of this frozen yogurt franchise that’s sweeping the nation? No? Well, now you have! And you should go out and try some Tutti Frutti for yourself as soon as possible. Those of us who enjoy Tutti Frutti on a regular basis will all attest to how amazing their frozen yogurt is. Each flavour is unique and the option to combine flavours into a swirl is genius. Since opening its stores in Calgary, Tutti Frutti has been the hot spot for dates, study breaks, post-sporting event treat, and just casual frozen yogurt trips.
When visiting a Tutti Frutti, you not only get healthy and delicious soft serve, but an amazing topping bar as well. Each location offers a variety of flavours, and new ones are introduced every week. For those of you who need them, there are dairy-free and vegan options! You can also take pride in the fact that you are supporting a Canadian company (starting in Edmonton in 2011).
From April 26th to May 3rd, Tutti Frutti is giving youth 20% off with the mention of Youth Week. So what are you waiting for? Get yourself down to one of their six Calgary locations and indulge!
FTC: This post is in promotion of Youth Week, a program of Youth Central, but I paid for my Tutti Frutti visit and all opinions are completely genuine. ♥
As humans we’ve developed over the span of centuries; from hunters and gatherers, to farmers, to capitalists. During the SOMA conference, I heard a professor of Anthropology speak on his wish for mankind to return to the era of hunting and gathering. However, I don’t necessarily find myself sharing this wish. Although hunting and gathering comes with its benefits, the benefits that the progression of the modern capitalist era brings are significant.
The few societies who still rely on the human hunting and gathering stage for survival base their lives on relationships with friends and family rather than on money. This is an excellent way to live, in a society where the focus is not on material possessions but rather on relationships. Surrounded by people who are not dependent on money and ability to follow western civilization thoughts on being successful but rather dependent on using the resources provided by nature for survival through the help of relationships they build.
The Batak of Northern Palawan is a society in the Philippines that still follows the traditions of a hunting and gathering society. While their appreciation for all life has to offer is rather obvious and they are people that enjoy the happiness that comes with a simple lifestyle; they are also people who represent the classification of the poorest in the world, have no official settlement, are secluded from the rest of the world, and do not share in the many benefits of the capitalist world.
As someone who appreciates the choices made by people to explore life in a simple manner, I also believe in not only the capitalist world but the progression of every single human with the global community as it modernizes every day. As capitalists, we take advantage of all the progression the world has to offer. The new technology that effectively reduces the barriers in communication and connects the global citizens of the world, the chance for economic growth, the chance to progress our lives in many ways, most importantly there’s the chance to be happy.
We don’t need to live in the past when the future offers everything the past does and more. We do not need to take steps backwards in human progression in order to be happy and minimize the negative effects on earth. We simply need to maximize the benefits as present day capitalists and strive to move into a socially responsible environment for the future.
A humorous skit during this weekend’s White House Correspondent’s Dinner was a good-natured collaboration with comedian, Keegan Michael Key, portraying the underlying parallelism of President Barack Obama’s so-called “rage.” Yet, as commentators fawn over Obama’s satire of American media, the president of the United States reveals a deeper message through the jokes and laughter.
The dialogue primarily details the frustrations of the 24-hour news cycle system and how it exhausts topics, such as the Ebola crisis, as pointed out in the clip. American news networks, such as CNN, have infamously exploited audience members with the broadcasting of the same news topics by allowing everything to seem “breaking” and “headlining.” As Jeff Sorenson of the Huffington Post points out, “Journalism is now clipped to a sentence that scrolls at the bottom of the screen.” Consumers of media and technology spur this cycle, as demand for constant information grows through the activities of social media and the expediency of the Internet.
But as some do not fail to point out, the battle for ratings between news networks drive the demand for the output of the most dramatic stories, rather than objective information reporting hard hitting evidence and issues. This is further stated in President Obama’s “rage,” portrayed by Key, as he focuses upon the “big challenges,” such as climate change and “passively” critiques the media portrayal of the Obama Administration’s handling of the BP Oil Spill in 2010.
Through these messages, thrown together with some shameless endorsement for the Democratic party (and a plug-in for Hilary Clinton’s fundraising for her presidential campaign), Obama succeeds in simply vocalizing what is and has been on everyone’s mind.
What is it that lure people into coffee shops and keep them in for hours? Is it just the coffee? The people you’re with? The atmosphere? I am guilty of spending too much time and money in coffee shops, and for me, it is all of these things. Whether you are catching up with work, reading a book, or meeting a friend, coffee shops make one of the best places to kick back or work in. After past experiences and a bit of research, I’ve compiled a small list of cafés in Calgary worth checking out.
Analog Coffee
Okay, so lets get the popular ones right away: I’m sure many of you (especially Western kids? Uh-huh.) have enjoyed a cup of coffee at Anolog. There are many gems around the city, but Analog on 17th remains my favorite and go-to place. What makes them stand out? Besides the cool/eclectic interior and friendly staff, this place is known for their specialty drip coffee.
The first time Corbeaux had opened, it seemed impossible to reserve a spot. It was (and remains to be) one of the most popular cafés on 17th. There is a good reason why, too. Corbeaux serves some of the most beautiful looking pastries along with great coffee. Their glass-roof structure gives the place plenty of natural light, creating a warm and open atmosphere as you sip your cup.
Phil & Seb has been awarded as the best coffee shop in YYC. My favorite location of theirs is in Mission, on 4th street (as in the photo below) because of it’s cool kitschy interior.
So I’m in here right now, and let me tell you, this place is worth the walk. I like to describe it as a little piece of France in central Calgary. La Boulangerie is located on 4th street and serves the richest crepes along with your coffee. Also, if you’re here for brunch – they’ll fresh press your orange juice – it’s the real deal.
DeVille Coffee used to have a shop in the second floor of Art central, and it was one of my favorite spots. Since they tore that down though, their location in Fashion Central serves your coffee shop needs just as well. This shop has great macarons and serves a nutella latté. It has a cool NYC feel to it that gives you an impression of a designer’s regular meeting area.
Monogram has one pop-up location in DaDe Art & Design Lab and one permanent spot that has just opened in Altadore. Though it’s slightly tight in space, it is a cute and modernly decorated shop quickly rising in popularity.
Hopefully by now you’ve all heard of 
yum” way. All the decor is modern, but it definitely still had a comfortable, sociable feel.
me, the soup was spicy, but I was able to still slurp up some of it to taste the complex, vivid flavours. Any disappointment about the spiciness of the soup was shadowed by the quesadilla, which successfully made my tastebuds happy. The grilled sprouted tortilla was satisfyingly crunchy and grainy, but not at all in a too-healthy, seeds-in-my-teeth way. Instead of being a generic falafel like so many these days, the pieces in the quesadilla were well-spiced and tender. I loved the rich burst of flavour provided by both the sundries tomatoes and the sheep feta. Long story short, it was really yummy, and I knew it was good ethically, nutritionally, and environmentally too.
busy and a bit louder than was comfortable, we chose to savour the dessert on a bench in the park by Tutti Frutti instead. It was richer than I’d expected, but when it comes to chocolate, I have no problem with that. Knowing that the bottom was a chickpea brownie crust, I was curious to taste it, and let me tell you, I was not disappointed. Both the mousse and the bottom part were moist, rich but not over-sweet, and texturally they were contrasting but equally satisfying. My one regret is not using more of the fruit preserve sauce.
