Home Blog Page 275

Common health problems among teens: Eating disorders

S
-
0

I will actually be writing a series on this topic because I think that every teen should be aware of some general common health problems among their age group. As a teen, we believe that we have great health, but the smallest decision can have life-long effects. Teens can get health problems just as much as a baby, or a person in their 70s or 80s. As a teen you should be aware of the risks today so you can help yourself and anyone else from having them in the future. Also, it is critical to know the different kinds of health problems, so you can prevent them before it is too late.

EATING DISORDERS

It doesn’t matter what age you are; eating disorders can attack you at any time. The most prevalent health problems for teens nowadays are eating disorders. Many people believe that females are the ones who usually suffer from this, however, eating disorders in males are also on the rise. Girls who are as young as 11 or 12 are complaining about how they look and feel. It is important to consider that if someone you know is suffering from an eating disorder, it is not a joke. It is scary to see how not only teens but even children now are wanting to lose weight in an unhealthy manner. It is okay to realize that you’re overweight and work towards losing those extra pounds, but there is a proper way to do it. Losing weight doesn’t mean to stop eating or throwing up after meals. As teens go through puberty they become more and more aware of their body and its natural curves. Puberty is time where you start to question your likes and dislikes as well as fitting in becomes a challenge. Many teens do not intend to lose weight but subconsciously adapt an eating disorder that affects their life. What teens today do not realize is that skipping a meal here and there or going on a strict diet can lead to much more. It is important to be aware of what side effects can come with the decision you are making, so you can find a better way to have a healthy body image. You should be eating nutritious food that will keep you fuller longer, and help you be more confident. Also if you notice below I have added some infographics that will visually explain to you eating disorders as well.

 

There some big numbers showing how impactful eating disorders are on people of all ages!
Some of the symptoms that you would notice, if you or anyone else has an eating disorder.
Other facts about eating disorders that many of you may not know about.

 

 

Chinese New Year: Pot sticker recipe

Mavis Li
-
0
from [http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4rWaL8r4b6E/UJoR88BW8hI/AAAAAAAAAEY/md19cZZpLRM/s1600/jiaozi.gif]
Cooked Dumpings, [web]
It’s almost Chinese New Year! This special Chinese holiday occurs on the first of every year in accordance to the lunar calender. This year, it happens to fall on Jan. 31 on our traditional calender. It is a festive celebration that involves meeting up with friends and relatives, lots of music, and cultural spirit. Of course, many delicious foods are eaten at this time of year. In the yearly Chinese celebration, this Thursday, New Year’s Eve, is the occasion for dumplings!

Although cooked dumplings are traditionally eaten on New Year’s Eve, here is a yummy pot sticker – basically just fried dumplings – recipe for everyone to try out; good luck!

Ingredients:

  • Dumpling dough
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 cup boiling water
  • Filling:
  • 8 ounces celery cabbage (Napa cabbage)
  • 3 tsp salt, divided
  • 1 pound lean ground pork
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped green onions, with tops
  • 1 TB white wine
  • 1 tsp cornstarch
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • Dash white pepper
  • Dipping Sauce:
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • Other:
  • 2 – 4 tablespoons vegetable oil

Preparation:

  1. Cut the cabbage across into thin strips. Mix with 2 teaspoons salt and set aside for 5 minutes. Squeeze out the excess moisture.
  2. In a large bowl, mix the celery cabbage, pork, green onions, wine, cornstarch, the remaining 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon sesame oil, and the white pepper.
  3. In a bowl, mix the flour and 1 cup boiling water until a soft dough forms. Knead the dough on a lightly flour surface about 5 minutes, or until smooth.
  4. Divide the dough in half. Shape each half into a roll 12 inches long and cut each roll into 1/2-inch slices.
  5. Roll 1 slice of dough into a 3-inch circle and place 1 tablespoon pork mixture in the center of the circle. Lift up the edges of the circle and pinch 5 pleats up to create a pouch to encase the mixture. Pinch the top together. Repeat with the remaining slices of dough and filling.
  6. Heat a wok or nonstick skillet until very hot. Add 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, tilting the wok to coat the sides. If using a nonstick skillet, add 1/2 tablespoon vegetable oil. Place 12 dumplings in a single layer in the wok and fry 2 minutes, or until the bottoms are golden brown.
  7. Add 1/2 cup water. Cover and cook 6 to 7 minutes, or until the water is absorbed. Repeat with the remaining dumplings.
  8. To make a dipping sauce, in a small bowl, mix the soy sauce with 1 teaspoon sesame oil. Serve with the dumplings.

Recipe taken from http://chinesefood.about.com/od/potstickers/r/potstickers.htm

Find a delicious traditional cooked dumpling recipe here: http://chinesefood.about.com/od/dimsumdumplings/r/jiaozi.htm

Want to get into the spirit of Chinese New Year? There are currently many activities taking place around the city, especially in downtown Chinatown. Check out http://chinatowncalgary.com/events.html for more details.

Frozen takes the world by storm

Jessica Mai
-
0

Top 10 reasons why Frozen is a fantastic film

SPOILER ALERT!

Now that that’s been addressed: if you noticed the joke in the title, two points to you.

Disney’s latest Frozen film becomes a new fan favourite – and for good reason too. Frozen is a refreshing film that steps away from the traditional Disney plotline, and perhaps this is why it became such a hit. Rather than the traditional man-saves-princess and a suffocating love story, Frozen focuses more on familial love and an endearing subplot. Princess Anna goes on an icy adventure to save her sister Queen Elsa, who has run away from Arendelle into a kingdom of ice-solation.

Listed below are the top 10 reasons Frozen is a fantastic film:

10. The animation – I think this one speaks for itself.

9. Sven – he’s adorable. Particularly when he was dancing in the trees (right before they meet Olaf).

8. Duke of Weselton – red herring anybody? His hair may be floppy, but his dance moves are fantastic.

7. Anna – how relatable is she? Disney has addressed the fact that women don’t sleep like supermodels and wake up with perfect hair – our hair is a bird’s nest and we drool. She’s awkward when she meets Hans – I’d be awkward too if I met a gorgeous prince.

6. Hans and Anna – I just really love the fact that they addressed the issue of MARRYING A GUY YOU JUST MET. Ariel and Snow White, I’m looking at you.

5. Queen Elsa’s transformation – speaks for itself. I fell in love with her hair, and now I’m seeing the purple eyeshadow/cranberry lip EVERYWHERE. Talk about a beauty icon.

4. Olaf – I honestly thought I was going to hate him. He was your typical sidekick who was only there to provide comedic relief. While Olaf certainly did that, he had his wonderful shining moments that made me tear up a little*.

3. The soundtrack – from “Let It Go” to “For the First Time in Forever”, the soundtrack was beautifully done. Thumbs up to Idina Menzel and Kristen Bell. (watch Disney’s “Let It Go” here!)

2. Prince Hans of the Southern Isles – we all hate this guy. I have never met a Disney villain I hated as much as Hans – and I think I speak on the behalf of everyone in the theatre when I say we all hate him. But that’s the point – he was a genius villain. He wasn’t prince charming – he was evil! Can anyone say biggest plot twist ever?

AND FINALLY

1. The love story – it’s not your typical prince charming love story. In the end it wasn’t true love’s first kiss – it was Anna sacrificing her life to save her sister. Plus she managed to find “the one” on her way to save her sister – two birds with one stone.

Of course there are so many other things that I loved about this film, but I’m on my way to watching it (again).

 

*Understatement. I bawled my eyes out.

Do we need exams?

Rebecca Yang
-
0

Exam season, the most traitorous season of all for some. Ahead of Calgary winters, exam season is a dreaded time in which students diligently put to work their accumulated knowledge in a final leg to “prove” to teachers, parents and themselves that they have actually learned something in the past few months. But as the student body becomes immersed in this insatiable realm of studying, more studying, and yet again, more studying, we begin to lose the grasp on why. Why must students be required to take an exam of fifty or more questions in order to prove to society that they have the capacity to succeed? As exam season is nearing its blissful end, we must raise this question and seek the purpose of exams. For what is the point of doing something, if it serves no use in the grand scheme of it all.

Exams are not the best tool of assessment for every student.
Exams are not the best tool of assessment for every student.

The rudimentary purpose of exams seems to be the fact of achieving grades in order to gain acceptance into the university of one’s choice. But why are exams taken into consideration more than other essential skills of a well-rounded student, such as diligence, volunteering and social and leadership skills. Thus, we are led to the fundamental idea that exams are not the best way to assess a student. One student is different from the other, with distinct learning habits. Some students may excel in written exams, while others may thrive in presentations and projects. It is inequitable for a diverse population of students to be assessed by the same type of exam. For many years in Calgary, Diploma exams have counted towards 50% of a student’s overall grade. Half of a student’s grade clings onto the results of one exam. Therefore, students who bear better with different methods of communicating what they have learned are not given the opportunity to do so. The fact of the matter is, that some students are not test-takers. They should not be discriminated for having different skill sets.

Then of course, there is the factor of stress. Life is stressful. However, exams provoke the “stress factor” in students, preventing some from rightfully excelling in their studies. Schools advertise that they want their students to do the best that they can achieve. Yet, by enforcing the pressure of the large weight of exams in classes, students are hindered from showcasing all of their skill sets. Mr. Bower, an innovative blogger and teacher in Red Deer, stated in one of his blog posts, “It has been shown, many times, that the more a student is told to focus on their marks, the less engaged they become about the learning. Classrooms should have less of an emphasis on achievement and marks, and more emphasis on autonomy, mastery, and purpose.” (See his full article on his own perspective of the purpose of exams here). By having such an immense focus on exams, the education system is constraining the type of student that they are manufacturing into the world. When in fact, the leading world is not all composed of great test-takers.

Since when have Canadian politics ever been this interesting?

Laurie
-
0

Canadian politics have always been interesting, but only as I’ve emerged from my shell of general oblivion to the world outside of school and homework have I come to appreciate it. 2013 was perhaps Canada’s year: sure, the US government shut down, but Rob Ford probably got more attention then that.

Needless to say, here are three reasons to continue paying attention:

1. Harper vs. Trudeau

Justin Trudeau makes a fantastic character foil for Stephen Harper. More for his name and the attached allusion to his father’s legacy than his own abilities (perhaps best indicated by the misplaced word–from admitting to smoking pot to promoting marijuana legalization to school children or expressing “admiration” for some aspect of China’s dictatorship–he has made to other parties’ delight… could a rendition of the aggressive “Just Visiting” campaign be upcoming?), his charisma contrasts Harper’s seeming coldness and composure. The Liberal Party has certainly been taking advantage of Trudeau’s “saleable” nature: donations to the party result in a chance to win a dinner date or one of 12 special edition Justin Trudeau scarves.

“The Conservative Caucus” method of wearing a limited edition Justin Trudeau scarf (Image source)

Harper on the other hand, has been known for his composure and control of the situation, sometimes criticized for restricting media access, such as the “5 question limit.”  It is rare for him to make a mistake compared to the gaff-prone Trudeau, yet recently, primarily with the Mike Duffy scandal and the resignation of his right hand advisor Nigel Wright, he too has come under fire. Although, perhaps in response to Trudeau’s personable campaign, Harper does have his own reality show now (albeit, only a webseries). The cats probably worked better.

The interesting things you find on the internet. Harper’s legacy? (Image source)

 

2. New Democrat Party revival?

The last election heralded a great change to the Conservative-Liberal era, but the new opposition party’s success was dampened by the death of Jack Layton. Now the question of the NDP’s future lies with the seemingly enigmatic Mulcair, the “man no one hears.” At the same time he’s been complimented for the NDP’s new effective, efficient, and direct approach at question time—but whether it is turning the  heads of voters appears to be a question for the next election.

“This is how we do things in Canada. When you get tired of the Liberals, you throw them out and bring in the Conservatives. When you get tired of the Conservatives, you throw them out and bring in the Liberals.” – Thomas Mulcair (Image source)

 

3. Scandals galore

Ford, heralded as “Canada’s biggest news export” and “most successful comedy export” (this list is evidently out of date) is hardly the only one. Once you’ve got your fill of him, turn to the former Laval mayor’s charges of gangsterism or Brampton’s questionable spending. No wonder some are questioning the accountability of the municipal system and the lack of “big city control” for growing populations—still, trust for municipal officials remains much higher than that of federal.

Yes, this familiar face again (Image source)

After all, when we turn to the federal level: Patrick Brazeau, Pamela Wallin, and Mike Duffy have only increased the demand for the abolition of the Senate (some of it strongly championed by the NDP) and revealed the strain that the institution is under.

With all this, I don’t know why we need celebrities.

 

Sick of winter yet?

Magdalena Mueller
-
0

Another drop in temperature this week again showed that winter isn’t over yet in Calgary.

The past week had summery temperatures, but now we have to put on those hats and mittens that we had almost forgotten about. But despite of dwelling on how unpleasant winter is, let’s scoot forward and see how some countries say goodbye to winter, and hello to spring.

Growing up, I remember the yearly ceremonies for “Wintervertreibung” that the public could attend. Wintervertreibung stands for “chasing away winter,” and many different communities have their own ways of celebrating it, yet always with the same core traditions.

I remember one year specifically:

That year we decided to go see the Wintervertreibung outside a town that held it in the Palatinate forest. The first step is a parade, where all attendees are following a cart that carries a snowman made out of hay. It normally is still cold at the time of the parade, since it is in the morning, that the parade normally doesn’t take that long.

Upon return, the attendees will be able to warm up at a wonderful bonfire, sipping some hot chocolate and eating special pastries.

Now, how does that chase away winter?

Well, remember the snowman made out of hay? Well, at the end, the snowman is burned to symbolically chase away winter, and celebrate the arrival of (hopefully!) spring.

 

Winter is a time a lot of people really dislike, but it also allows for special celebrations as Wintervertreibung, which actually makes winter my favourite season!

14 everyday things I enjoy

Obayd
-
1

Here’s a list of things that many of us do everyday, and make us feel ever so delighted:

 

1. Peeling the plastic off of something you had recently purchased.

imgres

2. Going into bed with the covers and pillows feeling “cold.”

imgres-1

3. Completing an everyday task, such as cleaning the dishes

imgres-2

4. Having a clean, organized room.

images

5. Jumping into a cold pool after vigorous training / Jumping into a pile of leaves

imgres-3

6. Putting on a fresh pair of socks

imgres-4

7. Driving through the night during a long trip

images-1

 

8. Going to the airport during the night/arriving in a different country during the night

imgres-5

 

9. Exploring a building all by yourself, or walking around by yourself

images-2

10. Winning a game

imgres-7

11. Learning a new move after trying 100 times

imgres-8

 

12. Checking something off of your to-do list

imgres-9

13. Getting food out of your mouth

imgres-10

14. Blogging!

imgres-11

 

 

 

 

How well do you see colour?

Ailin Li
-
0

While “studying” for exams, I came across a very interesting test on the Internet; the Online Color Test. In this test, you are given four rows of different coloured squares and asked to arrange them according to hue. Seemingly easy, I thought that I would for sure get a flawless score (after seeing several comments bragging on Facebook). I was surprised to see that that, although I had a relatively low score, it was still higher than many others.

These are the different colours that you are asked to arrange.
These are the different colours that you are asked to arrange.

Although no two people see colours the same way (you can learn more about this from Vsauce) due to our rods and cones, everybody still should be able to distinguish between hues. In this test, the lower the score the better, with the lowest score being 0 and the highest being 1520. As a female age 16, an optimal score would be 0. Obviously, I didn’t do that well (I passed with a 38), which makes me wonder if I can’t distinguish hues properly, or if my computer just couldn’t properly display the colours (I know, excuses). Below is a picture of my results from the test. The score everyone should aim for is 0, which will have no bars. The area of colour where there are bars indicates hues that I had problems distinguishing. (Pretty neat how my pink-ish colours were flawless while my green/blues had issues.) Although not much about a person’s character can be determined from this test, it can determine if you have colour recognition problems.

This was my final score.
This was my final score.

After seeing several people with scores such as 8, 7, 2, and even 0, I was feeling slightly discouraged. Then again, there were others who had in the 60-80 zone. All of the same age but different genders and varying degrees of seeing ability, it made me wonder if there was some type of correlation. Or were the results contributed to our computers not being able to display the colours well enough to distinguish between all the hues?

According to the website, “1 out of 255 women and 1 out of 12 have some form of color vision deficiency.” Could this be why women see 40 different shades of pink while men believe that all pinks are just pink? (Show these results to your ladies, fellas. It might save you from the next argument over whether it’s fuchsia or magenta.)

Comment down below what your score was!

 

5 interesting websites

Eryl David
-
0

So you’re on study break finally done all your exams, and find yourself with loads of free time. What are you going to do? Well, if you’re like me you end up scrolling through the internet. During these hours long expeditions, I find some pretty interesting websites that are worth the look at. So if you’re still  dying of boredom and looking to be entertained, here are 5 Cool Websites you can check out:

1. Upworthy–download (4)

Upworthy is one of my go-to sites because it always posts interesting and innovative content. They share things that are both entertaining and thought invoking. Some posts can encourage debate and heavy thinking, and I always find it interesting when I see people’s different views on an issue. If you feel like you want to be entertained and educated at the same time, check out this site. It’s worth a look for sure!

2.Mental_floss–

http://Mentalfloss is a quirky site, but that’s what makes it so good. From countless amazing facts to interesting questions answered, to lists or things you didn’t know, mentalfloss has it all. If you’re the type who loves to learn random things and facts, this is the site for you. The more you read, the more you can amaze your friends with your factual knowledge. And not only that, but it has a YouTube channel hosted by John Green. If that doesn’t make you want to at least look at this site, I don’t know what will.

3.Freerice–

free-rice

Freerice is a site that I had found out about long ago and had forgotten about until I remembered it by chance recently. Its concept is simple: a game of sorts, you answer questions on a certain subject. If you choose correctly, you donate 10 grains of rice to feed the hungry. It’s simple and easy enough, and you can learn quite a bit if you play extensively, all the while helping those in need. A great trade-off if you ask me. There is some understandable skepticism behind the site, however it is run by the United Nation’s World Food Programme (WFP) supplying the services free of charge. Its a great site that can help you learn new things for a cause and if you still feel unsure, they have an extensive FAQ about what they do.

4.Sixbillionsecrets–banner

Everyone has a secret, and this website lets you submit them anonymously. If you ever feel the need to get something off your chest, or want to give some support to those in need, you can go to this site. A lot of the secrets on here may very well be similar to what you are going through, and can tell you that you aren’t alone in what you are facing. Sixbillionsecrets just gives a voice to those who wish to be heard by someone somewhere, and that is why I love this site.

5.Thisissand–

If you feel creative today and have a lot of free time on your hands, check out thisissand. It’s basically a site that turns pixels on the screen into digital sand, where you can change its color and create a cool picture. If you have enough time, patience, precision and artistic ability, you can create some pretty amazing pieces. Patience it key in making a cool art piece here though, because it does build itself up pixel by pixel. When you are done your masterpiece, you can showcase it by sharing it in the gallery.

1498938-922x449
An amazing piece I found in the gallery.

 

1498746-738x418
Another creative piece I found.

And that concludes my list. I hope you take the time to check some of these sites out, you won’t regret it! 🙂

Why is there an Olympic craze?

Emm D
-
1
Olympics sports and the irony
Olympics sports and the irony

As winter Olympics approach us, we seem to approach something I like to call extreme athleticism. For those of who are unaware of Olympics, excuse me as I lift up the stone under which you have been living- Olympics began in Athens in 19 1896, and this year, the Winter Olympics are being held in Sochi, Russia1. While we are at it, I personally believe Russia should abolish anti gay laws especially considering (Stereotype AHEAD)* Vodka reduces healthy sperm count and increases estrogen levels in men. 2 I personally am against stereotyping (and anti gay laws) however I appreciate when people are able to make similar neuron connections as me and take a “only joke intended” comment as a “joke only.”

Let me begin by defining extreme athleticism. It’s the –ism that explains the emotions and passion we people have for a bunch of people who play games. What else justifies the situation when a flames game sounds like scream fest? (WOW, he’s skating!?!!!)

Many people will actually go to Sochi, and many more will watch live telecast of the games as I sit and watch TV (also known as procrastinate on homework). I have never been able to understand the adrenaline of watching a few people get concussions for a rubber ball, sorry puck. As you can tell, I have minimal interest and knowledge about games elegantly called sports. In fact, another important term that I feel obliged to introduce is extreme lazism. This is the default nature of superior Homo sapiens. Those who watch Olympic sports on TV holding a bag of buttered popcorn also deserve a spot in this Society of Extreme Lazy Organisms.

This criticism of athleticism and activity in general is a result of lazism. I can’t play sports, which is why I am lazy, so I don’t appreciate athleticism, so I don’t play sports, therefore I can’t play games, which is why I am lazy.

If you think about this too long, you can actually end up exercising some neurons, so STOP.

1http://www.olympic.org/sochi-2014-winter-olympics

2http://www.fertilityfactor.com/alcohol-sperm.html

 

First World Problems: last but not least!

Magdalena Mueller
-
0

The last edition of my favourite problems from Marc and Craig Kielburger’s awesome book, My Grandma Follows Me On Twitter.

#50

If I walk to the nearby polling station to vote in the election I will miss voting for my favourite Canadian Idol singer.

FYI:

2.6 billion people lack democratic rights. And if you don’t vote, you’re not allowed to complain about anything that our government does.

#52

I’m out of perfume so I’ve got to smell like NOTHING all day.

FYI:

Every morning the average woman dabs 12 personal care products on her face and body, exposing herself to 126 chemicals. And let’s not forget one in seven Canadians have a breathing problem affected by chemicals in scented products.

#53

My laptop battery died in the middle of streaming “Grey’s Anatomy”. Gotta grab a cord while wondering whether or not Derek will forgive Meredith this time.

FYI:

Derek’s just a grumpy pouter with fancy hair. He always forgives Meredith.

#57

I missed “Pretty Little Liars” yesterday – now I have to avoid talking to my BFF’s until it’s online.

FYI:

More than 1.3 billion people do not have access to electricity, and thus have no idea that “A” is actually Mona and Toby! OMG!

#58

I’m dizzy from licking the envelopes of the Christmas cards I just mailed to my 100 closest family and friends.

FYI:

Canadians buy 185 million Christmas and New Years greeting cards every year – enough to fill a football field over four feet high.

#60

Having four bathrooms means having to clean four toilets.

FYI:

A Canadian family uses 20 to 40 litres of toxic cleaning products a year – including carcinogens, reproductive toxins, and endocrine-disputing chemicals that can affect both humans and wildlife.

#63

My friends caught me humming “The Backyardigans” theme song and now they say I’m too happy to be a goth.

FYI:

Studies show that a happy brain is more efficient and productive than a stressed or negative one.

#64

There’s no pizza joint on the beach in this Mexican resort town.

FYI:

Tourism is the main export in a third of all developing countries.

#67

I can’t see the winter wonderland outdoors because my windows are fogged over from keeping it nice and toasty inside for shorts and t-shirts.

FYI:

If every Canadian turned down their thermostat by two degrees in the winter, we’d cut 5% off our heating bills and 2.200 kilo-tonnes of carbon dioxide a year out of our climate.

#68

I can’t hear the TV over the sound of mom vacuuming.

FYI:

98% of Canadian teenagers don’t know where the “on” switch is located on the family vacuum cleaner.

#69

The drive to the grocery store isn’t far enough to warm up my seat heaters.

FYI:

The average member of a car-sharing program reduces their driving by 50 per cent, which reduces 1.2 tonnes of CO2 per year. Every shared car replaces six to eight private cars on our roads.

#73

I’ve sent my friend three text messages in the past hour and she hasn’t responded to any of them.

FYI:

Canadians send 220 million text messages a day (seven per man, woman and child).

Bronies are awesome: Male fans of My Little Pony

A N
-
1

Brony: “A name typically given to the male viewers/fans (whether they are straight, gay, bisexual, etc.) of the My Little Pony show or franchise. They typically do not give in to the hype that males aren’t allowed to enjoy things that may be intended for females.” – Urban Dictionary

I recently watched a documentary on Netflix all about bronies. If you don’t understand who they are based on the definition I gave you, let me explain. There is a TV show called My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic that had a targeted audience of young girls ages 5-10, but there is a large group of bronies, who are male fans of the show who are aged anywhere from 13 to 100. Now I am 100 per cent on board for gender neutralism, however, before I really knew anything about these fans I was skeptical about whether they actually did like the show, or if they were just pedophiles or if the television company hired them in order DSC_0997to get more publicity. The only reason I was lead to believe they were fake was not the fact the show is “meant” for girls, it was their ages. I for one have never seen an episode of the television show however I have seen clips and loved playing with the toys when I was younger. I have found a new respect for these Bronies, because I realized that they actually do love the show and we should encourage everyone to do so, especially young boys. Some parents raise their children in a manor where their son would get a talking to if they played with their sisters barbies constantly, and hardly touched their G.I Joes to the point where they are collecting dust in the toy box. I believe we should encourage people to play with whatever they want and stop putting gender labels on things like My Little Pony. This show teaches the viewer about kindness, that you need to work as a team sometimes and that friendship is magic; if we encouraged younger boys to watch this show, they would learn about treating people fairly rather than teaching violence for example playing Call of Duty. We should also stop putting labels on men, the fact that if they act nice and are kind, they get called “Gay” or “too feminine” is ridiculous. Since when did males have to behave a specific way just to be considered men? And why is gay being used as an insult? Males shouldn’t have to have this tough guy image and I believe this is the main reason Bronies are getting made fun of and it needs to stop. So before you consider judging anyone again just because they like something “not made for their gender,” please go do yourself a favor and watch the documentary or consider this post.

NaNoWriMo and writer’s block

Magdalena Mueller
-
0

Every year, November is when young authors get writing to finish a novel before the month is over. The novel can be on any topic, according to NaNoWriMo presenters. So what does NaNoWriMo stand for? It means National Novel Writing Month.

NaNoWriMo

A friend of mine participates yearly, and she truly enjoys it – the participant with the best book even gets a sweet reward!

However, as with anything requiring creative thinking and writing, sometimes it is hard to come up with something, and young authors especially get stuck.

I have started quite a few novels in German, and writer’s block hence isn’t new to me, not with novels nor with blogs, nor is it to the many young authors that follow their passion every November.

NaNoWriMo’s website is a treasure chest when it comes to seeing help for writer’s craft, since one can get help from like minded young people going through the same things when wanting to write a whole novel in one month!

NaNoWriMo Logo

So here some of the advice Young Writers shared to help others get through the hardest times of being an author to any type of text!

———-

Step 1: Admit you have a problem.

Step 2: Identify your problem. Do you need a villainous motive? A unique magical power? A scene between two that you already wrote? Well, if you’re like me, there’s no answer. When I get writer’s block, I have absolutely no idea how to move forward… and I lack a plot. If that’s your problem, then proceed to Step 3. Otherwise, identify what you need to find to continue on.

Step 3: Listen to a few songs and pick out a random lyric. Maybe you’ll find something that will give you inspiration. If not, maybe you’ll just find a great song.

Step 4: If you’re still stuck, then just step away. Don’t forget about it completely- just lead your novel to the fringes of your mind. Your muse will impart upon you great wisdom if you become unsuspecting enough. – frogdaisy

———-

Give it a break. If you’ve been staring at the computer for hours, you’re just hurting your brain. Take a walk, play a card game, read a book, practice some yoga, whatever it is that helps calm you down and doesn’t involve a screen of any kind. –amazing_grace_for_peace

———-

Don’t think of it as “writer’s block.” Try thinking of it as “writer’s crevice.” You’re on one side of the crevice (or have fallen in), so build a bridge (or ladder) to get yourself where you need to go. – emeraldgem99

———-

National Novel Writing Month - Press Start

Those young creative minds have some pretty great advice when it comes to being stuck while writing a novel or (short) story. Being stuck when trying to come up with an idea for any type of text is a different story, and one that most people probably couldn’t truly answer – or can you? Share in the comments if you have unique writer’s block advice, or advice how to come up with a good idea!

Source: NaNoWriMo Advice Website

Get your TomTom on in 2014

Rebecca Yang
-
0

Trying to get fit in 2014, but struggling to find the inspiration, or knowledge to go on that much-required run? The TomTom GPS powered Nike+ SportWatch (find them here for $169.00) is the next stride to rid you of your running burdens. This innovative gear will not only equip you with the ultimate tracker, but the built-in personalized coach will motivate you onto a healthier and better you. I, myself, am embarking on a new journey towards a fitter body. But like most people, sometimes I feel discouraged to go for that morning run. With Run Reminders and recognitions for your runs, anyone will feel more willing to go on that frighteningly despicable run.

These smart watches are available in a wide range of snazzy colour combinations.
These smart watches are available in a wide range of snazzy colour combinations.

TomTom’s handy watch has a Nike+ foot sensor that tracks your every stride. Not only does it mark the distance you have run, but the GPS sensor inputed into the watch also tracks where you have run. The best part of this device is that all of these convenient features are in a compact form of a wrist watch. Lightweight and durable, this device will surely alleviate some of the running anxiety that the majority of us feel at the start of our 2014 journey.

Sure, this watch may seem like a gimmick, with all of its neon lining, modern screen and that renowned check mark. A watch will suddenly not thwart your displeasure for running. But sometimes the little things are what makes going the extra mile worth it. We all make resolutions that we “promise” to keep in the new year, but most of us need that extra push to keep running towards our goal. Perhaps, your push in 2014 will come from the convenient proximity of your own wrist.

A cure for blindness: the bionic eye

Daisy
-
0

argus-ii-2-15-13-01

The Argus II bionic eye and the Alpha IMS are two of the ways that blind people can now see. The Argus II is like a cochlear implant that looks like the Google Glass, only signals are sent to electrodes that are implanted in the retina of the owner. The Argus II currently has 60 electrodes and the planned Argus III will have 240. The Argus II will cost about $115,000 and it will work for people with retina related blindness. Cameras from the glasses will send signals to the electrodes that will then give the patients a black and white view of everything and allow them to get an overall sense of their surroundings.

alpha-ims-x-ray-retinal-implant-640x526

The Alpha IMS is newer and allows an even larger range of activities it can do, however, it has not finished testing, and the population of blind people that will be helped will be less. However the Alpha is quite extraordinary. It will place 1,500 electrodes on the retina. The test subjects for the Alpha IMS have been able to see facial expressions, houses, and horizon lines. However, do know that the Alpha IMS only treats blindness that is associated with light processing.

To find out more about the Alpha IMS, click here.

 

1...274275276...517Page 275 of 517