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Book review: The Program by Suzanne Young

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(Age suggestion: 14 and up for sexual content and mild swearing)

Summary: This books is set in a future where teen suicide is an international epidemic.  It follows the life of a young girl named Sloane, who hides her depression, much like a lot of the other students in her school, in order to escape The Program, a treatment proven to  prevent suicide and depression by taking away your memories. With her brother gone, the only people she has left are her few friends and boyfriend James, who is just as unstable as she is. Constantly under surveillance; Sloane and James try their hardest to escape the pain they feels, but both her and James know that you can’t do this forever. Can they avoid The Program or will they lose all they have ever known trying?   DSC_1162

At first I didn’t think I would like the book that much. The beginning was a bit slow, and the writing a bit too weak, but then I was hooked. I successfully finished the book in one day by speeding through all of my schoolwork, so I had “free time” during class, and although I should, I do not regret it. The message is a very important one; your actions affect others. It shows that suicide can lead to other people’s depression. Although the message was masked and covered by unnecessary sex scenes and simplistic writing; I appreciated it being there. Because it was subtle, you aren’t overwhelmed with the heavy topic as much as you could be. Don’t get me wrong, the book is incredibly sad, but it is also quite beautiful in the way she writes. Suzanne Young never uses big or grandiose words that you can’t understand, she uses words every normal 17-year-old would and gets straight to the point. All of the characters are well developed, even the ones that weren’t in the novel for a long time. Although I hated the character James, he was well developed and I see why he could be well liked. I thought he was arrogant, cocky and overly sexual, to the point where I was uncomfortable with how he acted towards Sloane. On the lighter side of things, I absolutely loved the character Realm, a funny and charming boy Sloane meets, who becomes a very complex and important character in the novel. Sloane was also a very interesting character who I connected to in some ways because she was sort of shy but also very strong minded, stubborn and sarcastic. The book was a great length and was a very easy read, but was still equally important as any 700-plus paged novel I’ve read. The only complaint I have is that there was a lot of unnecessary sex scenes in it, which I got uncomfortable reading on the city bus and in class, because I feared a teacher or even a friend would start to read over my shoulder at the wrong time. Other than that I really can’t complain. The book was great and definitely not one of your stereotypical teen novels.

Volunteer in Profile: Sara Abdelrahim

Laurie
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For Sara Abdelrahim, Calgary was a vast, abstract idea of a community, not one that she actually participated in.

This all changed when she joined the Immigrant Service’s Youth Volunteer Program back in February 2012. Since then Sara has accumulated well over 300 volunteer hours, and with her enthusiastic disposition and willingness to help and lead, has been recognized by Kids up Front and Pay it Forward for her exemplary attitude.

I was fortunate enough to communicate with Sara via phone and email, and found her to be confident, humourous, and well spoken.  I was taken aback by her friendliness, even to someone who had called and requested to interview her completely out of the blue.

YAA: How has volunteering changed your perceptions of Calgary?

SA: I came to Calgary about seven years ago, and like most immigrant youth I had a hard time adjusting and fitting in. While growing up in Calgary I really felt alone, and because I grew up in a neighborhood where there was a majority of Caucasians and there was no diversity or multiculturalism. I didn’t know about how much multiculturalism there was in Calgary and how important it was. I didn’t know that there were over 2,000 organizations in Calgary to provide a light in a dark tunnel for those in need. I didn’t know that I could volunteer, or how many friends, inspirations and experience I be gifted with when I volunteered. It definitely me see the vast diversity of Calgary and how much people cared about helping each other.

saraabdelrahim
A great smile and positive attitude! Photo courtesy of Sara Abdelrahim

YAA: What would the three best things that have happened to you while volunteering be?

SA: I’d have to say the three best things would be:

1. I met a woman this year at a seniors’ home we were volunteering at and it turns out her great, great, great uncle was James Naismith, the man who invented basketball!

2. I got to meet Alison Springer during an event I was volunteering at, she is one of my most favorite speakers who lives right here in Calgary!

3. A lot of times when we volunteer we get to sample a variety of foods, my favorite being when we volunteer for Latin community fairs and festivals and it was my first time having Latin food. My opinion is that they should have like a Latin take-out place….

YAA: How about your favorite volunteering project?

SA: I’d have to say my favorite is going to shelters that need our help, my favorite being the drop in center. It was the first homeless shelter that I volunteered at. I never actually knew what a homeless shelter was and just assumed that it was like what people told me, a “dirty” place full of “dirty” people. That was not what I saw when I went. I saw people who were normal; they just needed help to get to a better place in their life. I remember we were serving food there on my first day and as I was serving food to a man who was in a wheelchair and he smiled at me, I smiled back. It was a genuine smile. That night people had given me sad smiles, or just never smiled at all. This actually made me a bit sad. These people have almost nothing left to live for and yet a little plate of food could make them this happy. But it also made me happy because knowing that there was a place like this and volunteers to come help them so that they can be hungry free and a little bit happy at night.

YAA: Where do you see yourself going in the future?  How has volunteering shaped your dreams, goals, or aspirations?

SA: As a kid all I wanted was a job that made a LOT of money, I didn’t care it was and if it made me happy or sad. Now I have a passion to help others, I was thinking of going to medical school so that I could join Doctors Without Borders in the future. I want to be able to help people all over the world, especially those in third world and developing countries.

YAA: You’ve mentioned a number of issues in our conversation.  Any that you are particularly passionate about?

SA: I feel very passionate about helping others out; mostly I want to help them live a healthy life both mentally and physically and for them to be able to access these resources because everyone should be able to have access to healthcare no matter what. People should be able to talk to psychiatrists for mental health problems and not be judged. Mental health is a big issue for me because I find it is judged for the most incoherent reasons: religion, ignorance, biased views, etc.

YAA: Any advice or words for other youth interested in volunteering or getting involved in Calgary?

SA: For youth interested in volunteering I say right on and it’s really is fun! It will help you in ways for a better future and for a better you.

YAA: In your opinion, where are the best places to start volunteering as a youth?

The best place for a youth to start volunteering would have to be right in there community; always start somewhere small and close to home. This will help your community and help out, you’ll get experience then and you’ll be better prepared to volunteer with “bigger” places. After that if you have something that you are passionate about, it might be cancer, homelessness, women escaping abuse, what ever gets you riled up to fight for, keep a strong connection with them!

Thanks for the interview, Sara!  I wish you all the best luck for the future, and I’m certain you’re going to be one of the people to make Calgary an even more vibrant and incredible community!

What does the future look like to you?

Rebecca Yang
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In a recent French project, our class was encouraged to think about what the future would look like. We had to expand on all areas including, society, the environment, the establishments, the government and of course, ourselves.

In this gallery of pictures, we will explore the future of urban environments, technology and aspects of society.

Our cities:

Will our future encompass limited roads and more liberal sky travel? (Source)
Will our future encompass limited roads and more liberal sky travel? (Source)

Transportation:

Check out this impressive design by Siemens for their advanced design in electric vehicles. (source)
Check out this impressive design by Siemens for their advanced design in electric vehicles. (source)
Check out this sleek design by KTN. (source)
Check out this sleek design by KTN. (source)

Society:

How close will our relationships be with robots in the home? Photo: Peter Yang (source)
How close will our relationships be with robots in the home? Photo: Peter Yang (source)
A world, where society is solely dependant on technology. (source)
A world, where illnesses like cancer and heart disease is dissolved. (source)

 

 

A world of glass. (source)
A world of glass via revolutionaries, such as Corning (source).

You:

Photo courtesy of Gabrielle Lardner.
Photo courtesy of Gabrielle Lardner.

Most importantly where will you be in the future. Youth have the agility and the capability to accomplish things beyond common perception. Where are you going? What will you do? Who will you be?

Boston Pizza review

Dani Kilani
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With over 250 locations in Canada, Boston Pizza is pretty well-known. Although their food has been reviewed many times over, I decided to write this post to share my favourite choices at Boston Pizza.

Boston Pizza’s food is quite good. I have tried a few appetizers like the cactus cut potatoes and the Thai chicken bites, which are both delicious. For main meals I would recommend pizza, as it is their specialty, and the four cheese ravioli is particularly good. The whole dessert section is good but needs a bit more work and a larger variety of dishes. Overall the food is what you would expect for the price, while the desserts are slightly lacking.

The service at Boston Pizza is not always the same but for the most part, the service is great. The servers gave suggestions if I was unsure of what to order. I was served when I needed something, especially refills, which were given almost exactly when needed. Overall the service is, to a small degree, inconsistent, but overall I find the restaurant chain hires good servers.

Lastly, variety. The menu is large and has lots of different kinds of food made with many different ingredients, helping to accommodate to specific people. Boston Pizza also allows  for substitutions in many dishes, going that extra step to accommodate customers. Overall, I think the menu at Boston Pizza is perfect for everyone.Boston Pizza is a good restaurant casual and family dining with good food, service and variety that will cater to all people.

Video of the Day: Kiwi!

Eryl David
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This was released eight years ago, and I consider it to be a YouTube video classic. It still manages to tug on my heartstrings when I see it, and the message it sends to me it great. The mix of melancholy music and cute animation just adds to it, and that’s why this video is still a favorite of mine to this day. Enjoy!

 

Youth Week 2014 early bird events

Arron Lai
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Youth Week 2014 is fast approaching! Starting on April 20, 2014, the 16th Annual Youth Week Calgary (a program of Youth Central) will kick off! So gather around, and get your early stampede fever on, because Youth Week is going to be a blast! In this edition, I will be covering “early bird” Youth Week events, (events before April 20) opening day events, and whole week events! Next week will feature events from April 21 all the way to the last day, as well as “Youth Month” specials.

For more information or to get a head start on reading about the events from April 21 onwards, head on over to the Youth Week website! Here!

WHAT IS YOUTH WEEK?

–          Calgary’s youth of today are able to live in such a fantastic city because the previous generation of youth built and strengthened Calgary with leadership, dedication, hard-work, and everything in between. Today’s youth have maintained that tradition, and have even risen above the past generation of youth in order to continue the work they have started. In honor and celebration of the youth of today, Youth Week is a week-long festival, exclusively for youth.

–          Youth Week is a week-long celebration of youth in which agencies, businesses, and communities within the Calgary area host events, projects and offer free or discounted services in honor and celebration of youth.

–          Youth Week 2014 runs from April 20 to 27. Throughout the week, events will be held at places like Market Mall, the YMCA, Trico Centre, Calgary Public Libraries, Recreation Centers (Westside Rec, Beltline Aquatic) and many more.

EVENTS

*Denotes a week-long event

Early Bird Specials!

EVENT: Calgary Civic Symphony – Calgary Concerto Competition Winners Concert

WHAT: “Come discover the stars of tomorrow!” The best of Calgary’s instrumental performers will all perform under one roof! Accompanied by the orchestra, each individual will be performing one movement from major concerto works!

FOR: Anybody who likes good music! Featuring a special performance by the Calgary Civic Symphony, this event is sure to not disappoint anybody, especially music lovers.

PRICE: $20 (general admission), Kids (under 6) get in FREE!

WHERE: Jack Singer Concert Hall (205 8 Avenue Southeast)

WHEN: April 13, 2014 @ 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm

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EVENT: Market Mall Social Media Contest

WHAT: Starting on April 14 and running all the way till April 18, Market Mall will be giving away five $50 Cadillac Fairview Shop Gift Cards (redeemable at both Chinook and Market Mall). “The most creative Tweet, Facebook status or photo shared publicly on social media about youth and shopping every day from April 14-18 with the hashtag #youthheartmarketmall wins!”

FOR: Everybody and anybody! A chance to win a free gift card as a part of your daily routine of updating Facebook and Twitter with status updates, tweets, and photos? Why not!

PRICE: FREE! (+$50 for you if you win!)

WHERE: Market Mall (3625 Shaganappi Trail Northwest) [Note: You do not have to be at Market Mall to win, or participate in this event!]

WHEN: April 14 to 18, 2014

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EVENT: Calgary Youth Science Fair

WHAT: Come down to the Olympic Oval to see Calgary’s finest scientists! With a chance to view projects from many age groups, and various topics, this event is sure to be intriguing and fantastically fun!

FOR: Anybody who is interested in knowing more, or likes knowledge and cool things!

PRICE: FREE!

WHERE: Olympic Oval (2500 University Drive Northwest – University of Calgary)

WHEN: April 19, 2014 (All Day)

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EVENT: YMCA Hoop Extreme

WHAT: March Madness may be over, but re-live it with a mini one day three-on-three basketball tournament for males and females 12-17 years old!

FOR: Any ballers out there!

PRICE: $5

WHERE: Saddletowne YMCA (7556 Falconridge Boulevard Northeast)

WHEN: April 19, 2014 @ 12 pm – 6 pm

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EVENT: *Calgary Zoo Discounts

WHAT: Enjoy a free visit to the Calgary Zoo! (Limited quantities available, contact youthweek@youthcentral.com for your pass!)

FOR: Anybody who likes animals, especially elephant enthusiasts! Our elephants will spend approximately two more weeks here in the Calgary Zoo before departing for the capital of the United States of America.

PRICE: FREE!

WHERE: Calgary Zoo (1300 Zoo Rd NE)

WHEN: April 20, 2014 – April 27, 2014

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EVENT: * Capture the Flag Discounts

WHAT: Head on over to Cochrane to play some paintball, laser trek, or airsoft! Youth Central is offering coupons so you and your buddies can have a good time without busting the wallet! (Contact Youth Central at youthweek@youthcentral.com to get coupons)

FOR: Paintball, laser trek, and airsoft fans! Also for anybody who wants to try something new (at a discounted rate!)

PRICE: Varies

WHERE: Cochrane, AB T4C 1A5

WHEN: April 20, 2014 – April 27, 2014

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 EVENT: *Color Me Mine Pottery Painting and Glass Fusion

WHAT: Go on over to Color Me Mine and participate in some “paint it yourself pottery,” or glass fusing (among many other things!)

FOR: Anybody with an arty limb!

PRICE: 15% Discount off normal prices

WHERE: 3 Locations (334 14 St NW, 333 Aspen Glen Landing SW #115, 41 High St SE)

WHEN: April 20, 2014 – April 27, 2014

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EVENT: * Talisman Centre Youth Week 50% Off

WHAT: Gym Space, Weight/Fitness Centers, Tracks, Olympic sized pools, all for half the cost!

FOR: Anybody who wants to have a good time and take a breather from school!

PRICE: 50% off all youth and child drop-in admissions

WHERE: 2225 Macleod Trail S

WHEN: April 20, 2014 – April 27, 2014

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EVENT: * Trico Centre for Family Wellness Youth Week Discount

WHAT: Swim, Skate, Play, all at a discounted rate!

FOR: Anybody who wants to have a good time and take a breather from school!

PRICE: 2 for 1 admission for youth and Trico Centre members bring a friend for 50% off

WHERE: Trico Centre for Family Wellness (11150 Bonaventure Drive Southeast)

WHEN: April 20, 2014 – April 27, 2014

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EVENT: *Tutti Frutti Youth Discount

WHAT: 20% off Froyo! Tutti Frutti is a very popular “self serve” frozen yogurt joint within Calgary. During Youth Week, April 20-27, all five Tutti Frutti locations will offer 20% off for any youth who reference Youth Week Calgary (an additional 20% does not apply to kick-off or wrap-up youth cups).

FOR: Anybody who has taste buds and a mouth!

PRICE: 20% off froyo!

WHERE: All five Tutti Frutti locations (858 16 Ave SW, Unit 23: 4307 – 130th Avenue SE, Unit #100, 3800 Memorial Dr. NE, #Unit 232 390 Baseline Road, Unit #244, 2 Hebert Road)

WHEN: April 20, 2014 – April 27, 2014

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EVENT: * Youth Week at Market Mall

WHAT: “To show their support for the young people that have been an important asset to the Calgary community, participating Market Mall retailers are providing a “special deal” or discount for Youth with a valid student ID during Youth Week 2014.” Come shopping and get special discounts and deals for being an awesome member of Calgary’s community of outstanding youth!

FOR: Anybody who likes to shop, and save!

PRICE: “Special Deals” and Discounts in participating retailers

WHERE: Market Mall (3625 Shaganappi Trail Northwest)

WHEN: April 20, 2014 – April 27, 2014

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EVENT: Tutti Frutti Youth Week Kick-Off Event

WHAT: To kick off Youth Week 2014, Tutti Frutti, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., will be offering “Youth Cups.” Available for a $4 flat rate, youth will be able to fill up their cups with as much froyo and toppings as they would like!

FOR: Anybody who likes dessert!

PRICE: $4 special per cup

WHERE: Tutti Frutti 17th Ave (858 16 Avenue Southwest)

WHEN: April 20, 2014 @ 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

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EVENT: Youth Synrgy Class

WHAT: Participate in a high energy circuit “geared towards youth wanting to increase their physical fitness in an engaging and unique way.” Talisman Centre’s fitness team will be leading you through a class filled with battle ropes, TRX, rebounder, weighted vest and the new Synrgy 360 equipment. Talisman experts will be “there to guide you in a safe, supervised gym environment. Come on your own or bring a team with up to six of your friends or classmates.” Snacks and refreshments will be provided for all participants!

NOTE: To participate, you must sign-up by contacting the Fitness Centre team at 403-233-8393, ext. 3127. Participants must be 13 years or older and have written consent from a parent or guardian in order to participate. (You must sign-up by April 18, 2014 if you wish to participate)

FOR: Anybody who likes to exercise, get fit, or have a nice day doing something different!

PRICE: FREE!

WHERE: Talisman Centre (2225 Macleod Trail South, Calgary, AB T2G 5B6)

WHEN: April 20, 2014 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

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For more information or to get a head start on reading about the events from April 21 onwards, head on over to the Youth Week website! Here!

 

Thanks for reading this week! Stay tuned next week for the conclusion of the run down on every Youth Week event!

Embracing an upstart: Pride in the Acts of Greatness

Wentao
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Image source.
Image source.

To put it simply, we are all about youth. Us youth come in many different personalities and beliefs; each of us are a part of different cultural and religious groups and have developed our own values. That being said, these differences are not always respected. Take sexual and gender minority youth as our featured group; half of surveyed LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning) youth stated that they did not feel safe at school. Further statistics show that their suicide rate is 14 times higher than their heterosexual peers.

It’s not just resilience that’s being built up but also the upholding of every youth’s right to develop that versatility. As Camp fYrefly had shown us, the right to expression and exchange regardless of sexual orientation can be fostered. As the local initiative Acts of Greatness will show us, we can so forth bestow these high school youth an award for how they have participated in society and then lead in their right.

This non-profit organization is a part of the breakthrough into this unknown field; the lack of awards and funds in Canada as a whole for LGBTQ youth is a reason why founder Yiorgos Boudouris started this program in the first place. It’s a sentiment I would have to agree with, one that hits close to home as a one-time parade marshal at the Calgary Pride Parade. I highly recommend that you read an interview on him here. There’s potential for this sentiment to expand, but there will always indeed be a Calgarian edge from this first year on for the city’s first-ever award towards this group.

So here come’s my cliche; readers, if you’re an LGBTQ youth in high school, apply for the award and $500 bursary through this form. Either way, check out the insights on pride advocacy from both their website and their official Twitter account. Look onto their blog and perhaps share your own story. Come May 30, the application period may be over, but not that better understanding of this community or the works of an upstart organization.

Image source.

Why zebras have stripes

Daisy
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For centuries, scientists have made many guesses as to why zebras have stripes. In Charles Darwin’s The Descent of Man, he concluded that zebras use their stripes to attract potential mating partners. On the other hand, Alfred Russel Wallace believed that the stripes of a zebra help them camouflage into the background in twilight. Some other hypotheses include using the stripes to confuse predators through optical illusions and motion dazzle (when zebras run together and their stripes make confusing configurations).

To find the answer to their long-sought-after-question, we turn to look at what Tim Caro has found and published here. Caro’s team at The University of California, Davis, studied zebras, horses and asses (with seven species, and some subspecies). They found out that zebras have stripes in order to ward off flies.

“We found again and again and again [that] the only factor which is highly associated with striping is to ban biting flies,” said study leader Tim Caro. Zebras, it seems, are more susceptible to the bites of flies because their hair is shorter. Then due to evolution, they have developed the way of striping to repel biting flies.

Tsetse fly (Glossinia morsitans) vector of sleeping sickness & rinderpest

This is thought provoking because not only does it answer a question humans have asked for centuries, but it also opens up the door to new studies. Is vision something to think about when bug repellent is designed? Why do certain shapes and configurations repel flies?

Interested? Read more here and here!

10 reasons why you should listen to Ed Sheeran

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1. He writes his own music.

2. His vocal range is amazing.

3. He has written several songs for One Direction including “Moments” and “Little Things.”

4. He says things like: “And I don’t get waves of missing you anymore. There more like tsunami tides…”

5. But he also says things like: “I’m not you, now that would be disastrous.”

6. He likes to integrate rap into his singer/songwriter styled music.

7. He designed a Martin & Co guitar, then gave the proceeds to a hospital.

8. All of his songs are made by using only his voice, his guitar and a loop pedal.

9. He does amazing collaborations, such as the songs: “Everything Has Changed” (with Taylor Swift) and “Be My Forever” (with Christina Perri)

10. He just released his new song, Sing. (And it’s amazing!)

My four biggest pet peeves

Obayd
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Today, I thought I’d share four things that I absolutely despise…

1. When a person can’t whisper

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I find it extremely annoying when I come across someone who just doesn’t seem to know how  to whisper! The point of whispering is to communicate “classified” information to another person without anyone else hearing. I’ve come across several people who whisper extremely loudly. It gets even worse when the person that is whispering to you is talking about another individual that happens to be right beside you. And if he doesn’t know how to whisper, then the person that is “being talked about” will hear every single bit of your conversation.

2. When a person talks with their mouth full

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To begin, this picture doesn’t really show someone talking with their mouth full, but you get the idea. I just thought it would be a bit gross if I put up a picture with someone talking with their mouth full. Anyways, I really do hate it when a person eats with their mouthful. To begin, you can barely hear a word their saying with all that food in their mouth. The worst part is when little bits and pieces of their chewed up food flies onto your face/body. I get the chills just thinking about it. Yuck.

3. Being put with lazy people for group projects

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I wouldn’t necessarily consider this to be a pet pet peeve, but I do not like it at all!! It drives me crazy! During group projects at school, you’ll always come across the lazy person in your group who gives you all of his or her work. If you’re one of those people who wants to do well (like me), you’re going to have to accept the fact that you’re doing double the amount of work you’re supposed to. The worst thing is that person who did nothing gets the credit for the work you did. It gets even worse. You might have other members in the group who completed their work, but at a very low standard. Even though you did everything you could, you still end up with a poor mark. All I have to say is that group work can either be absolutely amazing, or absolutely dreadful. If you end up with diligent students, then you’re in luck. If you end up doing everything, I feel your pain. This alone definitely has to my most annoying pet peeve.

4. When a person can’t keep a secret!

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Big mouths… I really, really don’t like them. It usually plays out like this: You tell a person that you know something really cool, or something he is unaware about. You end up telling him, but restate numerous times to not let anyone else know about this classified information. But in the end, he breaks this promise and word spreads around the entire school. It gets even worse when you tell him something again, and he does the same thing again! These days, its really hard to find people who keep secrets.

The controversy behind monthly food promotions

Malika Daya
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I apologize in advance for whining. But excuse me – what happened to the buffalo chicken wraps at McDonald’s? Does anyone know why they would take the best McWrap off the menu?

McDonalds-Logo-1

I want to rant over an issue that completely ruined my appetite. I’m not a regular McDonalds consumer, but a month or two ago I went with a friend and ordered the buffalo chicken wrap and fell in love with the taste of the hot sauce. I felt like it was relatively healthy, so I occasionally stopped by to get one every now and then. And then guess what happened? I went back and it was GONE. Poof, gone, kaput, taken off the menu! So of course I had to ask and I was told it was just a promotional item. Really, just a promotion? So all my hopes and dreams of having a spicy buffalo chicken wrap had been crushed and stepped on. From there I began to wonder why monthly food promotion items get taken off the menu.

There had to be some kind of controversy. Was it not selling? Or was it in high demand and the supply was low so they took it off the menu? It had to be one or the other. I have a feeling it was quite delicious and cheap so many consumers wanted it, meaning there was a high demand for a low price, but what about the supply? Did McDonald’s not have a high supply of buffalo sauce? Or was this promotional item taking away from their main meals like the big macs and chicken nuggets? Was the spicy buffalo chicken wrap threatening business because its low price and good taste grabbed more attention than the Big Mac, with a higher price? What was the real reason for taking it off the menu? Could it have been a lack of interest or a lack of product? What was it really and why was it taken off the menu?

This often happens at many restaurants and fast food locations where they have a dish on the menu that is on promotion and is never returned. How come? Why has it disappeared? Lack of quality meaning a lack of demand, or a great quality meaning a high demand but perhaps a low supply? We won’t ever reach an equilibrium but that doesn’t mean we should take these delicious dishes away. So long goodbye my dear spicy buffalo McWrap, you will be missed.

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Three tips to be on time

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There could be several reasons that may cause you to always be late. This blog will show you some ways to combat them. Begin to think about what reason(s) make you run late. Also, think about ways that you can fix them. Can these strategies help you to feel hopeful, and can you fix your running late problem(s)?

1. YOU GET DISTRACTED

 

You might be getting distracted when you are getting always ready. You may be pulled into a television show. Of course all of us have that one show we love, and want to complete and catch up on. Perhaps another reason could be that a friend is texting you, and thus you have an urge to text back. Whatever it may be, it can be changed. You have to begin by understating that you can refuse to be involved in activities that distract you from your purpose so that you have more time to get ready, eat, and pack your backpack in the morning. Now you will start to be on time more often!

2. YOU SPEND TOO MUCH TIME DECIDING WHAT TO WEAR

Okay, to be honest, I take a while to decide what to wear in the morning. Naturally, both girls and guys want to look presentable no matter where they are going. In the morning, the decision can be hard because you don’t want to walk out the door in flip flops, zebra print leggings, and a green shirt! To fix this problem decide what you want to wear the night before. In the morning all you have to do is get dressed, and it will save you so much time that would have been consumed in picking the perfect outfit.

3. THINKING THAT OTHERS SHOULD JUST WAIT ON YOU

This is one problem that is a one that is hard to fix. The reason for that  is because you have a difficult time managing your time thus leading you to think that others will just wait for you. This can be a deeper problem than just not being on time. It may mean that you think your time is more valuable compared to another person’s. Time is money! I am sure you have heard that line a couple times before; you should understand the other person’s situation and consider them. Inconsiderate behaviour doesn’t leave the best impression on others. When you understand both your needs as well as others you will have a better understanding in time management. There is a mutual benefit for everyone when people are on time.

What is politics? Forum for Young Canadians

Aaron
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In March, I had the opportunity to participate in Forum for Young Canadians, a one week program for youth ages 15-19 to learn about the world of federal politics in Ottawa. Run by the Foundation for the Study of Processes of Government in Canada, the forum allowed me to see the role that young people play in a democratic Canada. From visiting Parliament Hill to listening to speeches to meeting my MP, it has really changed the way I see government.

During my short time there, I met some awesome youth just like me from all corners of Canada. Together, our group of 146 participants bonded and immersed ourselves into government together. “Forum Magic” as they called it, is what really makes this a unique experience. In addition to meeting Diane Ablonczy at the MP dinner, I was able to watch Question Period live in the House of Commons, listen to a session from both the Speakers of the House and the Senate, and learn what lobbying is all about.

Forum for Young Canadians is truly a life changing experience that I would recommend to anyone with an interest in politics and leaders. There are multiple sessions each year, and the subsidized cost is $895 per participant, including travel and accommodations. Additional financial assistance is also available. To get the 2015 session times you want, apply early!

Here are a few of the many pictures I took in Ottawa!

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Meanwhile in Ontario: Maple syrup season!

Julia
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DSCF9785 I don’t care if it aligns nearly too much with Canadian stereotypes, maple syrup season in Ontario and Quebec is amazing (eh). Festivals, candy, events, jams, spices, fudge, pancake houses, taffy, hay rides; all devoted to the glorious sticky sweet stuff. Forget candy stores, I’d rather be at a sugar bush (a sugar maple tree operation) enjoying a pancake breakfast and some freshly made taffy.

My mom and I were in Ottawa visiting relatives near the end of March, so we made sure to visit a sugar bush. There was a gift shop full of maple-everything, the pancake house (with delicious breakfast and an endless supply of maple syrup, plus maple mustard too), a taffy stand (they pour syrup onto clean snow, then wrap a popsicle stick in it and ta-da! Sticky, sugary goodness on a stick), and a wide array of activities.

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Most of us have probably had maple syrup before (I’m talking about the genuine stuff – no Aunt Jemima’s here), but experiencing maple syrup is another thing. During the maple season, plenty of sugar bushes are open for visitors, and that often includes being able to see where/how they process the maple tree sap, and of course, the maple trees themselves. I went on a short walk through the forest with my uncle and cousin at the sugar bush we were at, and we could see the taps and pipes set up to bring the sap to where it was processed.

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I should probably end off here, but I’ll leave you with one last thing: go have some (***real) maple syrup.

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The sugar bush I went to was Fulton’s.

 

Three fears we all face

ife
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From my understanding, fear is an emotion that limits us from experiencing what life truly is. In today’s society there are fears that are minor and pretty weird and then fears that we as humans all share. I can personally tell you that there are a couple of fears that I hold in regard which are fear of the unknown, fear of disappointment, and the strongest fears of them all – fear of failure.

Fear of the unknown:

I personally see the fear of the unknown as being my mind telling me that I cannot move forward unless I know what is ahead. It plagues so many young kids because when some of us where little children we were afraid of the dark because there might be some monster there waiting. Nevertheless from what I’ve seen in my life, fear of the unknown limits our progress and makes us harder for individuals to understand and discover new things.

Fear of disappointment:

The second fear that most people in society face today is fear of disappointment, which has a detrimental impact on an individual. The fear of disappointment reveals itself in two ways, which are the fear of disappointing others or of suffering in disappointment. As kids in today’s society, we all go through excruciating experiences, which we have done something wrong, and were expecting some sort of punishment, but instead we got this horrifying look of disappointment. I believe that in our society today, fear of disappoint is just that sense of dissatisfaction that we never want to see. In our society, individuals like me try to do their best to avoid the pain, which resides in our minds as regret.

Fear of failure: 

The last fear that seems to be an epidemic in our society to today is fear of failure because it basically has control over our actions and decisions. Failure expresses it self in several ways which can be failing a test, no succeeding in your plans for the future, and even hitting the lowest of the lows. Although failure is viewed from different point of views, one similar thing between all perspectives – it affects us or people around us. This failure is so nefarious that whenever I try so hard to do something giving in a 100%, nothing ever seems to go my way. From my experiences, I can truly say this is the worst of them all.

So what fears do you have and how have you handled them?

 

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