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.
This amazing sausage will surprise you. This probably the biggest sausage you will ever eat. This two feet long sausage served up on a fresh toasted French baguette with cooked onion will make you have a mini heart attack. This sausage is very tender and freshly made. You have to wait a while to have your order, but it will be worth it. One piece of advice: share the sausage among two or three friends.
There are also different types of hot dogs sold at the Fhat Dawgs, if you’d prefer something smaller.
First, before I immerse myself in explaining the complex processes behind drawing hands, I’ll give you a short intro on what you need and a few tips while drawing. First, have an HB pencil and at least two pieces of paper (trust me, if you have never drawn a hand before, I can’t guarantee the safety of your eyes being scarred by the ugliness… in other words, unless you are a prodigy, it might be extremely bad and you might want to start over). Next: always draw lightly. I’ve noticed that many of my friends and fellow artists that need help always press too hard with their pencils… I don’t know, is that just something people do? (I used to as well, so no hard feelings) Lastly, if you have difficulties just sketching a hand from scratch, use basic shapes that you can recognise in your drawing to form an irregular shape. Take heed to these tips since they will mean the life or death of your to-be-drawn hand and it will determine your life’s meaning through unimaginable ways.
Now… drumroll please… Here is the tutorial! I created a YouTube video tutorial (which is kind of broad and a little rash… sorry for the lack of art skills and effort). Hope you enjoy! 🙂
Brandon Stanton, creator of Humans of New York (source)
What is Humans of New York?
In the summer of 2010, photographer Brandon Stanton equipped with a camera and an idea, ventured out to the New York streets to take portraits of citizens and share their unique stories. Humans of New York (HONY) is the name of this undertaking, and similar projects have appeared in other cities following the “Humans of ____” moniker. The Facebook page has over 7 million likes and continues to stimulate meaningful conversations while reminding us of the humanity behind each face.
With all this success, one has to wonder: How does he do it?
Since I was introduced to HONY by my fellow Youth Are Awesome bloggers, I have been intrigued by how Brandon has been able to approach strangers on the streets. Not only does he convince them to take a photo, he also somehow capture the essence of that person, whether it be light-hearted joke or a deep personal story.
Fortunately, I stumbled upon this video, where Brandon explains his technique after thousands of interviews.
As someone who has nervous breakdowns when it comes to interviews, I’ve found Brandon’s advice to be valuable. However, his tips are just as applicable in your everyday interactions with friends and strangers alike.
Some of his main points are: your energy is more important than what you say, treat it like a conversation with anyone else, and start with broad questions and narrow it down.
Ever wondered what it would be like to see Spiderman in action in real life? I recently saw the Sony Spiderman commercial on the YouTube home page and was ecstatic as two of my most treasured things collided: Spiderman and parkour. The video advertises Sony products and of course, their Spiderman franchise. But this is no average commercial. Sony takes on a more strategic method of advertising and grasps the attention of the masses by inputing some parkour action into the video. The stunts are performed by Pip Anderson, who has been practising parkour and free-running for seven years. Not only is he easy on the eyes, Anderson has worked with other companies as well, such as Audi, Nike and MTV. You can see more of Anderson in action on his YouTube channel, PIPTRIX.
Sure this video may have been released a year ago, but seeing anything related to parkour again never hurts. In fact, you could say that it is a bit like saying hello to your friendly neighbour.
The Outernet is a project funded by the Media Development Investment Fund. The project aims to launch tiny, cube-shaped satellites into Earth’s orbit.
The reason why the satellites are being sent to space is to provide internet to everyone worldwide, while preventing governments from censoring whatever they want.
This is all to satisfy Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This article states that everyone should be able to access media, regardless of what position they are in.
Overall I think that this is a pretty cool idea, and if you think so as well, you can support this project at their website.
Vendor: TAO Rex (Near Nashville North on far side of park)
My wallet may have been crying in purchasing this, but I do know that my stomach didn’t regret it. Priced at $12.50, I feel that you get more than enough your money’s worth, with a mix of perogies, cut up sausages and fries all drenched in gravy make for quite the mouth-watering combination. It looked great, so I dug right in. I have to say, it certainly didn’t disappoint. The sausages were juicy and chewy, and tasted amazing with the fries. The perogies were soft and chewy, not too watery or too crunchy. Combining everything together, I had the distinctive taste of sour cream and gravy mixed with all three foods that was just amazing. It’s not completely poutine, but it was good nonetheless.
So, soooo good. Like really. Mouthwatering!
Overall, I highly recommend this to anyone who isn’t afraid to take on a few extra calories and is a lover for some good food. The price is my only complaint, as it made me quite wary, and although I feel like it could have been priced a dollar or too lower I still think it was worth it. What are you waiting for? Head on down to the Stampede and check this out!
One of the new 32 foods joining the Calgary Stampede this year is a classic Asian food with a twist: sushi, deep fried! Lets get down to business.
Vendor: Joey’s Urban Bus
Priced at $7, the deep fried sushi at Joey’s not only contains eight pieces of actual deep fried sushi cut in halves, but also contains a side of fries, if you decide you don’t exactly like what you taste. I think the sushi rolls were California rolls, but i’m not certain. In terms of first impressions, the layout of the food was quite nice, with the sushi put on top of the fries and pairs, and everything was drizzled in sauce.
Skeptical at first, I wasn’t sure what to make of it. But then i took a bite, and wow, were my expectation blown away. Believe it or not, sushi deep fried isn’t as bad as it sounds. There’s an interesting combination of crunchiness and chewiness in deep fried sushi, and this is combined with the tangy taste of the sauce put on the pieces, along with the taste of the fish mixed in. The fries, also covered in the sauce, were a nice addition, and were a change in taste and texture from the sushi.
Better than you think
My only complaint is the fact that I felt like therewas too much of the sauce, and too little of the sushi, and it made the taste quite overly salty if I ate too much of it. All in all, deep fried sushi was much better than I thought it would be. The price is decent enough to not get less than what it’s worth, and the taste was pretty good, even if it was a little too salty for me. Even the appearance of the food was great. I moderately recommend this to any fried food lovers or sushi lovers who want to try something new.
Now the question is: Do you eat this with a fork or with chopsticks? Don’t know about you, but eating fries using chopsticks sure was interesting! 🙂
Summer… it’s the perfect season for fun under the sun and getting more than sufficient amounts of vitamin D. However, with the season comes the nagging need for skin care; exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays can cause skin damage and in some cases, skin cancer. But don’t fret! It isn’t too late yet. To learn new and easy ways to take care of your skin, feel free to read on!
1. For all girls who have freckles or skin that always gets really dark during the summer, sit tight!
First, a little biology lesson. Our skin’s main form of protection against the sun is melanin, which has higher concentration depending on the darkness of your skin. People with lighter skin tend to get freckles or dark spots because of this lack of melanin. However, eating fruits with vitamin C can actually help prevent darkening over a long period of time, and if you apply sunscreen often (an obvious solution) you can prevent them from darkening. (Same goes for dark skin).
If you are looking for a solution for dark freckles or skin use the old and easy remedy… lemons! Lemons act as a natural astringent, lightening your skin where it’s applied. They work well over short periods of time, but if you’re looking for a long term lightener, you can also apply lemons to your skin on a weekly schedule. Click on the image below for a full recipe for a lemon-sugar face scrub that leaves your skin smoother and lighter!
2. For all those going on a vacation to a sunnier region than your own, click on the images below for sunscreen and skin protection tips against strong ultraviolet light.
3. For those who can afford it, here are some tips that are for all ages. Click on the image below.
4. Summer means there is bound to be dry skin. There are many natural moisturizers that you can find around your house to use for this DIY. Click below for detailed ingredients and remedies (yes, I know the website is for winter skincare, but I tried some and they work for summer remedies too).
Summer road trips can be a hassle to pack for, as are all packing adventures. The endless driving on an endless road can be painful, but some of us love the drive, and the many stops along the way. However, there is fun to be had watching the scenic trees slip by. I personally enjoy watching the wild animals that loiter around the highways. To maximize your experience on the road, consider including these five road trip essentials for the drive:
from [http://www.lizrabideau.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/sunscreen-300×200.jpg]
Sunscreen – This is the number one essential for all travel packing lists, regardless of location. Even if you can’t see the sun through a cloudy sky, be aware that there are still harmful UV rays that are being absorbed by your skin. Protect yourself from sunburns. Sitting in your car will also cause some UV rays to hit your skin, so apply sunscreen half an hour before leaving, and again typically every few hours.from [http://www.zombiehunters.org/wiki/images/thumb/Insect_Repellent.jpg/300px-Insect_Repellent.jpg]
Bug spray and bite cream – Beware the bite of the fearsome mosquito! It seems that no matter where you travel, some species of biting or stinging bugs will be present. It’s best to be prepared with some bug spray and bite cream to make sure that itchy or painful bites don’t end up as major annoyances to your vacation.from [http://media.onsugar.com/files/2010/04/17/3/192/1922729/500ab2d0a7d2cf9b_sliced-fruit.jpg]
Car friendly snacks – Road trips mean long drives, which have lots of potential for snacking. Buying or making food that minimize crumbs will help you to have a more comfortable trip, and reduce your after-trip cleaning tasks. These foods include fruits, cut veggies (such as baby carrots and celery sticks), candy and chocolate. Sandwiches and crackers and cheese are also okay for in-car food, but tend to leave crumbs if you’re a messy eater. Always remember to bring water!from [http://drivethenation.com/files/2013/05/car-dashboard.jpg]
A good playlist – Long silences can get tiring, so keep a playlist of good music ready in your car. If you are going to play the music on the stereo, make sure not to bring music that would lull the driver to sleep, and are not too much of a racket that would cause a headache. You can burn the music onto a CD, or save it in your phone or iPod.from [http://babyramacanada.com/xcart/images/P/Sleep%20Time%20Neck%20Cushion%20by%20Jolly%20Jumper.jpg]
Comfortable clothes – Get ready to sit long hours in a car! Face it, there are not many positions a person can sit in while belted onto a car seat. Wear clothes that are stretchy, because they are more comfy to sit in and move around in. Also, a good investment might be a neck pillow for naps, so that your head won’t bounce around while you sleep.
Last but not least, every trip should be planned out well, or have a basic structure with lots of free time for creativity. It’s good to plan a number of stops along the way to the final destination, so you can have brief breaks and stretch out. Depending on where you’re travelling to, there will be lots of different little attractions on the way, so keep a look out for them. Always bring a printed map of the area, just in case you get lost. Happy travelling!
Festive and jovial celebrations often call for the consumption of cake. Cake is one of those things that is well understood around the world, somewhat like a universal language. Yet, what isn’t as worldwide and universal is how you distribute this delicious treat. The common, simple, and ever popular pie cutting method allows equal and fair portions of cake to be shared amongst friends.
Yet, science offers a different method. According to science, this method fails to address the problems of refrigeration and storage. Utilizing many scientific principles such as half life and geometry, we as humanity have found a way for cake to store itself in a nifty, magical, and complicated fashion. This is what I call progress.
Who doesn’t love a hot, steamy, delicious… bowl of macaroni and cheese? Another one of the new eats being served up at the Calgary Stampede this year is Reel Mac And Cheese’s Million Dollar Baby Mac and Cheese. Let me tell you, this isn’t your standard KD by any stretch of the imagination.
Omnomnom…and yes, those are two forks. I shared.
Now, before you even order it, you must know that the Million Dollar Baby Mac and Cheese is a special menu item and is NOT found on their regular menu. You’ll still get it when you ask, but that’s just something worth mentioning. When you place your order, you’ll definitely notice that at $25, it will be the absolute most expensive macaroni you’ll ever order. However, there are multiple reasons for that. Most of Reel Mac and Cheese’s other dishes come in at $8-9, but this particular dish is something quite special.
To begin with, Million Dollar Mac and Cheese is pretty much twice the size of any of Reel Mac and Cheese’s other offerings. On top of that, it’s made with truffle oil, real crab meat and sun-dried tomatoes, all of which come regularly at a fairly hefty price, thus somewhat justifying the higher cost. It’s still a bit overpriced though.
The mac and cheese itself was very tasty, blending together ingredients that are rather unconventional in the world of macaroni. It was, by far, the best mac and cheese I’ve ever had. I’m not just saying this because I just want to be positive, but I’m being completely honest. It was mouthwatertingly d-e-l-i-c-i-o-u-s.
I can’t complain about the service as a whole, because they were friendly and accommodating, but they did neglect to tell me that it takes about five times longer to make Million Dollar Baby Mac and Cheese as opposed to their other dishes. Not that I had a problem with waiting (it was very worth it), but I just wish that I had been informed about the extended wait time.
Price:$18 (the size of the kebabs worth the price)
This is my first year at the Calgary Stampede; it was amazing to see such an event. The food trucks at the Stampede grounds make me feel like I am in heaven. There are 32 new foods at the Stampede this year. The one I am going to present to you is the amazing garlic chicken kebabs. Flesh juicy chicken with sweet pepper and zuchini on the stick and grilled is the way you want it. This dish will make your mouth water.
These garlic chicken kebabs have the great taste of smoke from the grill. Before I tried it, I thought the chicken would be dry because the look of it. It was the exact opposite of what I thought. The chicken was very juicy. The addition of sweet pepper and zuchini make a great companion. This kebabs are one of the biggest one I have ever tried. The only thing I think the kabobs are missing is seasoning. The kebabs don’t have a lot of flavour, but there is salt, black pepper and chili pepper on the table for you to add.
Every summer, the Calgary Public Library helps people of all ages fight boredom while promoting reading, literature, and the arts. Some of you may remember doing reading adventures (Summer Reading Club) back in the good ol’ days of childhood. But guess what? The fun doesn’t have to stop now that you’ve matured.
Teens ages 13-17 can join Youth Read, and online program where you complete weekly challenges to be eligible to win awesome prizes. Free books, gift cards, weekly bonus prizes, or the grand prizes ($250, $150, $75) could be yours if you participate.
Youth Read isn’t just about reading! Yes, each week reading is one of the challenges, but there are also challenges that ask you to write, listen to music, draw, and be overly creative and imaginative.
Do you need something to do this summer? Are you wasting too many hours on Facebook or Instagram? Do you like the idea of winning awesome prizes?
As much as Stampede is a novelty for Calgarian, I have come to realize that the Calgary Stampede might be overrated. Here are a few reasons why:
Prices
General Admission is $16! As a broke teenager, now a huge chunk of my money is missing just for entering the grounds. Not to mention the astonishing prices for rides. For 55 ride coupons, it costs $50. Most rides require five or six coupons. You are now spending roughly $5-$6 on each ride, which only last for roughly a minute, while the wait is about a half hour long. And as good as the food is, you spend roughly twice as much money on food at Stampede than you would at the mall. At Stampede yesterday, my friend Jade and I spent $9 on six mozzarella sticks! As interesting the activities at Stampede are, is it worth the money?
Crowds
The amount of people attending Stampede is incredible! That said, it might not be a good thing. The crowds at Stampede are only getting larger, and they are only getting more and more rude and rowdy. At the Tokyo Police Club concert at the Coca-Cola Stage on July 6, me and fellow blogger, Bryna, spent most of our experience being shoved around by other concert goers. And the more busy the grounds become, the more people push and shove you around. It is becoming increasingly difficult to get around the park without running into others.
Heat
With the summer weather and growing crowds, Stampede has become a hot and sweaty endeavour. While standing in line for rides in the blistering sun, I spend a lot of the time fanning myself to avoid the heat. And with the close proximity of others due to the large amounts of people, it’s easy to say that I have been sweating quite a bit at Stampede!
Although I have some complaints, I do enjoy myself at Stampede and have gone a total of four times this year! Stampede is really fun and it is quite the novelty to attend every year.
I had the amazing opportunity to attend World Pride 2014, which was held in Toronto this year. World Pride celebrates the LGBTTIQQ2SA (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, transgender, intersex, queer, questioning, 2 spirited, allies) community in Toronto and around the world. This week long celebration included many events such as concerts, shows and art exhibits throughout Toronto including a Human Right’s conference and the oh so famous Pride Parade. Here are some pictures I took during the parade and throughout the week.
Every shop and restaurant in the city had rainbow flags hanging in their windows, including this cafe on Kensington St.The Pride Parade was filled with love, laughs and rainbows.This David’s Tea featured a different gay celebrity on their shop sign every day. This one is of “Teal” Patrick Harris
The fashion at Pride was incredible. These people were sporting colored hair, sparkly skin and a “Born This Way” flags.
