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.
In our world today, modern technology is evolving faster than ever and the objects we make are becoming more and more innovative. One such field of science that is rapidly expanding is Bionics. Bionics is the study of mechanical systems that act like living organisms. These studies are currently being used to create human body parts for people who are missing parts of their body or parts of their body do not work as well as they should. The bionic parts are made to mimic or surpass those of nature.
To read more about the history of bionics, click here.
One interesting accomplishment was made on Dec 17, 2013; the world’s first functioning bionic man was made of prosthetic parts and artificial organ implants. The engineer who designed this robot made adjustments to “The Incredible Bionic Man.” The robot currently is worth about $1 million of materials after billions of dollars of research.
These aren’t your regular old Elementary school snowflakes, they’re way better! Here’s some instructions on how to make, Adventure Time inspired paper snowflakes!
1. Take a rectangular piece of paper and fold it diagonally so it looks like a triangle shape
2. Cut off small rectangular side so the paper is a triangle
3. Fold the paper again so it looks like a smaller triangle, and then flip it so one point is facing downwards.
4. Fold it into thirds
5. Fold one side, then the other over top.
6. Cut off access paper so it looks like one triangle.
7. Draw any shape you want to and cut it out! (make sure it is on the unfolded edge, so the pieces aren’t separate)
To make my Ice King snowflake, I simply traced out his silhouette onto the paper
8. TADA! There you have it; your very own Adventure Time paper snowflake!
Christmas is over, and it is time for some serious studying (I can feel your pain there!) For people writing diploma exams, this is make or break point. So here are some useful study tips I found while I was planning to study.
Step away from highlighters
To those of you who like to paint printed pages with those fluorescent colors, this can be a hindrance in your studying process. With the ever-popular strategy of highlighting, students often emphasize individual facts rather than making connections between concepts.
Multitasking will screw you up
In other words, multitasking is multi-distracting. Texting, eating, studying and listening to music, all at the same time is going to get you nowhere. Do one task at a time. That way, you will complete the task faster, leaving ample of time for other activities to be completed.
Try being a teacher
When you are learning new concepts and ideas, try to explain those concepts to an imaginary class. I know it sounds insane, but it really works. Try doing it once and you will have that concept nailed in your brain forever.
Link your ideas
Our brain can remember connections better than individual items. Try linking ideas to one another. You need not limit these connections to one subject, rather, inter-subject connections will help you remember more things.
I hope these tips will help you. Set realistic goals and make full effort to achieve those goals. You can do this! Stay positive and…
Ah, New Years. The one time of the year where tens of thousands of people make plans to become better people, to achieve personal goals or to maybe just try something new. But how can we create New Year’s resolutions that matter and can actually have a lasting impact on our lives, and most importantly, that we can stick to?
1. Personal Health/Fitness
This is a big one. A lot of people, myself included, try to make resolutions to get into shape, kick a habit which can detrimental to our health (i.e. smoking or eating tons of junk food) or to generally be more mindful of what we do to our bodies. Making plans to become a healthier person is a great thing. The biggest piece of advice I can give to all of you out there is to MAKE PLANS YOU CAN CONCEIVABLY STICK TO. Nothing is worse than making a great plan and then to be in over your head and having to give up. Start off small. For example, if you want to become more fit, a good place to start would be to work your hardest in phys ed class and maybe make an effort to go for a 20-minute run once or twice a week and move up from there.
2. Character and Personal Attitudes
We all have those annoying habits in the way we act that can drive others (and sometimes even ourselves) crazy. I, for one, have a bit of a sarcasm problem. I use sarcasm way more than I should and through excessive use, it has become my automatic response to anything said to me that I deem as being dumb, rude or pointless. Even people asking me the same question over and over again sets me off. If you want to change something about the way you react to certain
things, stopping and thinking is a great place to start. How does this affect me as a person? What do people think of me when I do this? Can this have a negative impact on my personal and professional relationships? If you know that something needs to change, try to be conscious of it and how it manifests itself in you. Going back to my personal example, I would say that I need to be more understanding and aware of my reactions, that way my sarcasm stops being such a natural retort. Overall, a resolution to change an attitude is really great, but be warned, it will take a lot of effort and commitment on your part.
3. Relationships
Is there that one person who just makes your heart flutter every time you see them but you don’t know how to make your feelings known? Do you have a significant other and want to improve upon your current relationship? Do you want to be a better friend? There’s pretty much only one way of putting this. Relationships are complicated, regardless of your situation, and they will never stop getting more complicated. An improvement in any given relationship requires effort from all parties involved. Communication is the key. You need to TALK. Make a plan. If you don’t know how to proceed, consult someone you really trust, who gives good advice and who won’t judge you. If you don’t have someone in your life like that, the Internet is always a viable option. However, be wary and don’t believe everything you read online. Another key point to consider is to not be afraid to step out of your comfort zone, provided that the action you will be taking will not have definite negative consequences. Also, don’t do something drastic right away. Slow and steady will win the race.
This week, I had come across something breathtaking. An extraordinary artist, by the name of Simon Beck, had created several designs, demonstrating his artistic skills. Using just his feet, Simon had turned a layer of snow into something unimaginable. Simon walked for miles across the snow, in order to accomplish the unthinkable. The art pieces are amazingly detailed, having been done by foot. If you look at it carefully, you can see that an immense amount of effort was put into these designs. Here are some pictures that display Simon’s amazing work of art:
This is usually the time of the year when I go back and re-watch all my favourite movies (Christmas-themed or not)…and I came across some that I still watch from my childhood days, so much so that I know most of the lines by heart. So, here are a few of my childhood Christmas movies that still never fail to entertain me to this day.
1. Home Alone
This is the quintessential family classic that I watched over and over, and at random times of the year, and is one that never fails to make me laugh out loud. Of course, with the cuteness and intelligence that Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) exudes when he outsmarts Harry (Joe Pesci) and Marv (Daniel Stern), who can resist re-watching this movie multiple times?
2. Mrs. Doubtfire
With funnyman Robin Williams (Daniel/Mrs. Doubtfire) in the lead, this movie is sure to make one wipe tears of mirth from their eyes. Other than being uproariously funny, this film is also very sweet and touching in that it shows how much Daniel loves his family because he is willing to go to any lengths to remain with them (even by dressing up as a woman, which can be an icebreaker for sure!)
3. Dunston Checks In
Sam the orangutan aptly plays the part of Dunston who was trained by his master to steal jewelry from the patrons of the 5-star Majestic Hotel. He is befriended by the hotel manager’s young child called Kyle (Eric Lloyd), when Kyle saves Dunston from being taken away by his avaricious master. With the pair getting into all sorts of trouble with the guests of the flashy hotel, this is one movie that’s sure to keep one entertained from the start to the finish.
4. Jumanji
Drama, seat-gripping action, climaxes, laughter-inducing and sentimental moments…this creative screenplay has it all. Robin William (see a pattern here?) stars as Alan who is trapped inside this intense and life-like board game, and is finally released unknowingly by two siblings when they discover this old, worn-out game and play it. They recruit Sarah (Bonnie Hunt), Alan’s lady love, and vow to finish the game no matter what (and the consequences loom large, with a huge flood, loose large animals and massive trees growing out of the house, among others).
5. Baby’s Day Out
What better way to close off a list than a picture of one of the cutest babies on film. Twins Adam and Jacob Worton play Baby Bink in this charming classic about a wealthy baby being kidnapped by three antagonists and against all odds, outsmarting them (see another pattern here?) to be returned safely to the bosom of his family. This film contains all sorts of hilarious antics involving the kidnappers and the baby (one of which involves one kidnapper to remain hung from a crane overnight) and is sure to make you alternately laugh and “awww.”
Have you seen any of these movies? If so, what were your thoughts? If not, are you planning on watching any of these films?
Christmas Day. The day that everyone anticipates near the end of the year, and the one kids look forward to the most. But when all the presents are opened, all the food eaten, and the day finished, what do you do next? It’s inevitable that all good things must come to an end, and Christmas Day is no exception. With the day over, you suddenly find you have a few days until new year’s to do what you want, and only a week after that before it’s back to school. You don’t have to think too much about it though, because I have made a list for those who suffer from post-Christmas blues:
1. Go shopping
After Christmas comes another much anticipated day for shoppers-Boxing Day, where everything is on sale. This can be an ideal way to do some really early Christmas shopping if you were a last minute shopper this year. Not only that, but you can catch some great deals and finally buy the things that you’ve been eyeing for a while that are now on sale. And usually, the sales can last for a few days, so there’s quite a bit of time to go out.
2. Spend time with the family
Seeing as how everyone in the family is usually home for Christmas, you ought to spend time together. It doesn’t matter how you spend it, but the memories you make with your family, especially during the holidays are the ones you treasure the most when you’re older.
3. Have a movie marathon
There’s nothing like watching a barrage of movies all at once, especially when you have all the time in the world to do it. The possibilities are endless with the movies you could watch, and it’s always good fun if you have family or friends with you. It doesn’t even have to be multiple movies, if you’d like it can just be one.
4. Be thankful for what you have
With some families living in hotels because of power outages in Toronto, you have to think about how fortunate we are to be with our families. The year is coming to a close, so you could take some time to reflect.
5. Hang out with friends
In this age, relationships are something that we value very highly, so you should take some time while the holidays are ongoing to go out with friends and have fun.
So you’ve made your fruitcake or your cookies, but they’re missing something, a bit of oomph, holiday cheer, that “wow” factor (or “aww” factor) that’ll light up the table more then the turkey dinner itself. For decorating I have two main “weapons:” royal icing and marzipan.
Marzipan:
In my family, marzipan has always meant Christmas, and I don’t think I’ve ever really eaten it other then then. Generally, I use it to top my dark fruitcake but it can be used by itself to make cute little Christmas figures (snowmen are easy and fun to make, especially with little relatives) and it is also used in stollen. Still, I don’t think any fruitcake can be considered complete until it’s topped with marzipan.
Like with my fruitcake, I use my grandma’s recipe for marzipan. Here’s what you need:
1 and 1/2 c. finely ground almonds (almost made into powder)
I made a “holly” marzipan decoration for the top of my fruitcake
If necessary, grind the almonds. Then mix them in a bowl with the icing sugar. Add the almond extract and one egg white. Knead the mixture with your hands until the texture becomes to consistent. If the marzipan is too crumbly and is not sticking together separate another egg and lightly beat the white, adding small amounts gradually while kneading the marzipan between each addition until the crumbliness is eliminated and the marzipan sticks together readily. Sprinkle a sheet of wax paper with icing sugar and place the balled marzipan in the centre, sprinkling more icing sugar on top. Place another sheet of wax paper on top and roll out the marzipan to about half inch thickness using a rolling pin.
Heat the apricot jam (do not substitute, this recipe was designed to work best with apricot jam) in a sauce pan until hot, stirring frequently to ensure it does not burn. Coat the fruitcake with the apricot jam (this will act as a sort of glue to hold the marzipan in place) and then flip the wax paper onto the cake, marzipan side down. Peel the wax paper off and trim any marzipan which is hanging over the cake’s edge. Using any remaining marzipan, patch up any “holes” which have not been covered.
If there is extra marzipan you can use it to create little festive figurines like mentioned before, or it can be used as a garnish for the cake itself. Some examples include holly or a wreath, and once the shape has hardened onto the cake (which should be left to set overnight) food-colouring can be painted on with a small brush to add colour.
Royal Icing
White icing on gingerbread adds a cute finishing touch
Royal icing is the prime decorating icing, it is thin and easy to work with in a piping bag, yet dries hard within a short time frame. I made my royal icing using a recipe from Allrecipes.com for my gingerbread cookies, but this recipe could also be used to decorate the festive sugar cookies I also made, as well as being useful in the construction and decoration of gingerbread houses. Luckily, because it can be used for so many things, the huge amount of icing I had left over after decorating my gingerbread cookies was not a problem, as the recipe I cited above makes a lot of icing!
WARNING: Both royal icing and marzipan are made using raw eggs (egg whites). Those with a sensitive digestive system or weakened immune system should exercise caution.
I hope you enjoyed my “festive foods” adventure as much as I did, and please leave comments about any experiences you might have had making the recipes I have posted here. Have a very happy holidays from myself and of course from all of us here at Youth Are Awesome!
For how delicious fruitcake and gingerbread are, when baking for an event there will always be those fussy eaters who just don’t like the texture or spice-filled flavour. That’s when sugar cookies come in, an easy and delicious alternative or addition to one’s holiday spread. For my sugar cookies I used one of the many of Martha Stewart recipes, and I would definitely go to the same one again in the future.
That being said, I made a double batch which I probably wouldn’t do again, a recipe calling for four cups of flour which is then doubled made for a lot of work cutting out shapes (think over an hour on a batch of
Even Santa can’t resist a delicious plate of sugar cookies
cookies) and gave my pretty solid kitchen-aid stand-mixer a run for it’s money. That being said, the cookies turned out chewy and delicious. For a more doughy cookie, simply roll out the dough thicker, and for a crisper cookie roll it out thicker. While this will vary the time your cookies take to bake, keeping an eye on them and taking them out when the edges begin to turn golden will work just great.
These cookies are great for small children, they are mild in flavour and because of their sugary texture tend to be universally enjoyed. I took some of these to a school Christmas party and long before the party’s end they were all missing, so they must be good!
For tips on using cookie-cutters effectively see my blog on gingerbread cookies.
Gingerbread men. Simply put, these jolly little cookie creations are classic Christmastime. Its just not right without them. Gingerbread is so classic, Starbucks made a drink for it. And lets face it, gingerbread men are so classic for a reason, not only are they delicious, a great accompaniment for a hot cup of cocoa after wintery outdoor activities, but they are so fun to make and decorate, especially with little ones helping!
It might have been just of me to forewarn you, but as you will come to notice, the bulk of my Christmas recipes do in fact come from my grandmother. My recipe for gingerbread, in fact, comes from her cookbook, Prairie Cooking Past and Present, which also contains the recipe for one of last Christmas’s blog posts, her shortbread (this is my all time favourite, the best shortbread that exists, I swear by it). The recipe claims to yield a whopping eight dozen, but I’d say I got somewhere more in between two or three dozen. Still, that’s a great amount to share with friends and family, especially with all the other Christmas baking I’ll be doing (stay tuned for more recipes to come!).
But now, on to the recipe.
1 c. butter
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1 c. molasses (I used 3/4 cups black strap instead, since black strap is stronger)
2 tbsp. vinegar
5 c. whole wheat or all purpose flour
1 and 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
Collect everything you need around your work area so you don’t have to go get anything with messy hands
1 tbsp. ginger
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. cloves
Cream together the butter and sugar. Stir in the egg, molasses and vinegar. Note: if you’re substituting black strap
molasses add about 3/4 cup, and 1/4 cup oil, to keep the cookies moist while avoiding an overpowering molasses flavour. Sift together the dry ingredients, then stir them into the molasses mixture. Chill for about ten minutes (this will make the cookies easier to work with when cutting them out). Roll out the dough on a lightly floured board.
Instead of cutting out the cookies one by one, arrange all the cookie cutters onto the dough, while not pressing down, like so:
Once you’re happy with how they fit, press them all down and pull the remaining dough out from between the
Decorated cookies ready to bake 🙂
shapes. Now is the time to add any sprinkles or decor like smarties or m&m’s that you want to stick into the cookie.
Place the cookies on a lightly greased cookie sheet and bake them for six to ten minutes on 375 degrees F, checking them periodically to ensure they do not burn. Cool on wire racks, then if desired, ice the cookies using a piping bag with a fine tip.
And then enjoy! These crunchy, spicy cookies are a great way to add some holiday cheer to an afternoon snack or as a gift to friends and family. Or, include your friends in the festivities and decorate cookies as a group, its a fun way to include everyone in the season’s festivities!
I think scarves make wonderful gifts; not only as a matter of personal preference, they often prove to be useful in the coming cold months. This year I made two, one of which is incredibly impractical, and one that turned out surprisingly nicely.
Both are very simple, particularly as I have an irrational fear of knitting patterns (something to do with all the intimidating abbreviations that I usually don’t understand).
This post about Christmas gifts is rather last minute, but I also ended up knitting these gifts last minute as well, just in the past few days.
Rabbit pattern scarf
For one of my cousins, I thought I would try to make something a bit more interesting. I used four balls of relatively thick wool—it was a bit tight with the background colour, but I had plenty of the other three remaining.
My design did have plenty of flaws though; as I ran the wool along the backside of the scarf, I had to choose between either having a puckered scarf, from pulling the excess wool too tight, or knitting very loosely, which resulted in a very messily knitted scarf.
In addition, as you can see below, flat areas, like the top of the rabbit’s head, are only held together by strings of excess wool, thanks to the two different colours.
This is the basic rabbit face design. For a chemistry metaphor, you can consider it a monomer that can be repeated as many times as you like to create a full polymer (scarf). I pieced together seven (each face took me around 20 minutes, but mostly as I kept making mistakes) with seven rows of background colour between each.
20 stitches (horizontal) by 21 rows (vertical)
I found it very useful to mark which rows are knit and which are purl (as the pattern has an odd number of rows, you will always begin with the same stitch) to keep track of my place.
It turned out messily, and considering the scratchiness of the wool, not something I would consider wearing that often. I suppose I could call it a novelty scarf in that case.
Pinned for blocking
Infinity scarf
I based this off this “pattern” (but really more of a guide) except I substituted a different stitch. I found that knitting together the ends of the scarf into a circle with the tail of the cast off end was clever and worked well. To knit this scarf as a circle would take a very long pair of circle needles.
The stitch I used (I’m afraid I don’t know the name) is pretty loose and is useful for making a longer scarf with less wool. It is the same as a knitting stitch except you loop the yarn around both needles once before pulling the yarn through and knitting the stitch.
I think I might end up borrowing this one occasionally.
Happy holidays, my fellow tech lovers. The last days of this glorious holiday season is upon us. To celebrate this precious time, I will be presenting my top recommendations for tablets and such devices in my final edition to this series. I hoped you all enjoyed this journey thus far. Here are my top five picks for the hottest tablets this season:
1. Mac iPad mini– Perfect for on-the-go browsing, reading and so much more. This 7.9-inch retina display packs in a plethora of apps and functions all on a pristine screen.
Its small size makes this device easily portable and great for those jet-setters in your life.
2. Amazon Kindle Fire HDX– Kindles are usually known for their e-readers, but 2013 was the breakthrough year for their full HD tablet that offers great content and live tech-support built into the tablet.
The 8.9-inch screen makes it perfectly suitable for watching videos.
3. Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1- 2014 edition– With its newly improved pen features and its striking 2560 x 1600 screen, this tablet proves that it is worth its price tag. The pen on this tablet makes it especially great for note-taking, great for any student.
The new faux-leather backing makes this tablet easier to grip.
4. Google Nexus 7-2013- The sleek and light design of this tablet is the revelry of the tablet market. The Nexus 7 boasts an HD 1920 x 1200-pixel screen, giving users a vibrant display of colours on screen. All of these features and more are wrapped up in a fair price, that will make both parties smile this season.
The Nexus 7 is equipped with a high-density battey life.
5. ASUS Transformer Book T100– Combining a battery efficiency with Intel’s quad-core Atom “Bay Trail,” the T100 is a multitasking device that is also available at a low price. Best of all, the tablet comes with an attachable keyboard as well as a free copy of Microsoft Office Home and Student and Windows 8.1.
The T100 is transforming the tablet realm with its keyboarding dock.
Deep underwater technology is awe-inspiring and is used all over the world to surprise tourists. Here are four of the world’s most stunning underwater resorts:
1. Dubai’s Water discus complex:
Consisting of 2 discs (one above water and one below), the discs allow tourists to enjoy both the underwater scene and Dubai’s perfect weather.
Again, there is an above water part and an underwater part. This hotel was built in an abandoned, partially flooded rock quarry in Shanghai. The next 2 pictures will show the difference:
2013 saw me going from someone who didn’t like my name online to realizing that it is impossible to stay off the internet. However, I decided to use it for something positive. Be it arts, sports, or breaking news, I now use social media to take part in developments in the world. I also help others access news faster.
A friend of mine studied in Norway for a year, and she told me that over there, nothing happens without using social media, not even school. I believe that this is what everything is moving towards: we like to be more comfortable, not chasing the news, but having it brought to us. Social Media gives us exactly that: the news delivered to us in the comforts of our homes.
Here parts of the Metro Calgary article “If it’s not online, did it happen?” from the weekend of Sept 6, 2013 by Neil Morton as part of “The Metro List.”
1 Upworthy
One of my favourite sites is upworthy.com, which posts highly shareable, inspirational, meaningful videos about how people can change the world – from issues like child poverty to body image or climate change. As their @Upworthy Twitter bio simply puts it, “Things that matter. Pass ’em on.” So check it out and spread the word.
2 Rob Delaney
Comedian @RobDelaney tweets gems. Here’s a sample: “Bad news: Doctors can’t figure out my wife is constantly sneezing blood everywhere. Good news: That hair gel I like is on sale at CVS.” He has a new boo, Rob Delaney, about his life (sobriety, depression and happy things) coming out in November. He has no filter, he is a survivor, he is hilarious. Follow him and buy his book.
4 The Social
This tropical Canadian news show debuted this week on CTV and its approach to social media is bang on. The show connects to viewers via real time tweeting @TheSocialCTV. Many of the show’s topics and discussions arise there, and the hosts read tweets in real time from viewers. Great use of social media to fuel a show and engage with an audience.
5 @KirstineStewart
She is the head of Twitter Canada (former CBC exec) and as such is an active tweeter, tweeting and RT’ing interesting tidbits showing how people are leveraging the power of Twitter in the business, media and pop-culture worlds. Unfortunately, as her Twitter bio says, she doesn’t “know how to get you ‘verified’…” I just sucked up for no reason.
10 Twitter etiquette
I always find it amusing when someone complains about what you’re tweeting about. Comedian @rickygervais summed it up best this week when he tweeted, “Following someone on Twitter & complaining about their tweets is like secretly stalking someone & telling them they’re going the wrong way.”
In the spirit of social media: Follow me at @YAAMueller and share what social media meant to you this year with #yearinreview or #2013!
Every year, we often seem to think “wow, that year went by fast.” While it may seem that way, each year is chock full of important headlines, jaw-dropping events, and even those that never fail to bring a grin to our face. 2013 was a busy year in that there was tragedy and terror, but also hope and laughter. From the perseverance and strength shown after the Typhoon Haiyan and the Bangladesh Factory Collapse and among the chaos and destruction, to the new beginnings with the christening of Pope Francis and the birth of Prince George, to the whimsical and often head-shaking selfie and twerking trend, humans are truly a wonderfully diverse species that stand up after they’ve been pushed down and find the joy in life, even among the darkest days. Here are a few moments from 2013 but it’s up to us to choose which moments we take away from 2013, and add it to our portfolio and use it as a guidance to be the best we can be.
