Behold, the Fruit Ninja plushies! I swear they have plush toys for everything nowadays. =P
Top 10 jobs of our future
Do you know what you want to be when you grow up? In today’s society, people don’t realize that there are constantly new jobs available. Everyone is under the assumption that they have to be a doctor, engineer or scientist. NO. There are plenty of other options where you can make money and have a happy life! According to msn.com, these are the 10 jobs of our future:
1. Cyber security specialist
Everyone loves technology, especially in our society. If you haven’t noticed, there is a rapid increase in the amount of hackers. The cyber security specialist would be able to protect these websites and find out where these hackers are coming from.
2. Genetic counsellor
Everyday in science we learn about genetics because it plays such a vital role in our life. It truly is fascinating. Now, pregnant mothers are able to change their genes to ensure that they produce a specific sex hormone. The purpose of a genetic counsellor is to provide families with the knowledge on options for modifying their genetics. This is a great occupation for those of you who are passionate about life sciences.
3. Organic food farmer
The demand for organic food is on the rise! Why? Organic foods aren’t contaminated with pesticides or fertilizers and therefore they are completely natural. An organic food farmer will be able to develop skills and new techniques on how to efficiently provide more organic foods for the citizens of the future.
4. Medical records administrator
Are you organized and an honest record keeper? This is the job for you. A medical record administrator is a person who takes written documents and uploads them on the computer. This job is extremely important as these documents need to be kept in a safe and protected place.
5. Mobile application developer
A mobile application developer creates new and creative apps that interest people of all ages. These apps are innovative, unique and addictive for cell phones. Yes, you can create apps and get paid for it!
6. Robotics technician
If you love technology and working with mechanical systems, then this job is for you. We all have heard about robots but who knows how to make them? A robot technician can build a robot, sustain them and ensure they are working. They do several tests to check if it’s up to the consumer’s standards.
7. Simulation engineer
This is definitely a vital occupation in our society. We need our youth and children to be completely educated to ensure they are qualified for future opportunities. These engineers would be required to make structures to imitations of technologies and devices to help train people who will be specializing in that area.
8. Social Media Manager
Social media is the foundation of our society today. Companies use Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, YouTube, and the list goes on. We need social media to get events, causes and information out there and therefore we need social media managers to maintain these communication sites.
9. Stem cell researcher
Archaeologists study fossils to see what life was like when dinosaurs were life. Now, we examine stem cells to learn more about living things. By looking at stem cells, people are able to find cures for diseases and find ways to modify genes. The responsibility of a stem cell researcher would be to examine these cells and find ways to enhance the lives of people in today’s society.
10. Sustainability officer
Sustainability is common issue as people don’t realize how important it is. Have you ever heard the expression: if you give a man a fish, it’ll feed for him a day. If you teach a man to fish, you’ll feed him for a lifetime. If we apply sustainability to our everyday life, we can ensure everything will run smoothly and efficiently. The job of a sustainability officer would be to research beforehand on environmental concerns and ideas to improve these issues. After this process is done, the officer would start to put these ideas into action and implement policies. The person would contact eco-friendly organizations and preserve our land to the best of their abilities.
Overall, all these jobs show give you a perspective on what’s changing in today’s society. The spread of media, environmental concerns and technology is what’s constantly changing our lives. This is it. A chance for us to be a part of making a difference through research, construction and farming while receiving money!
For more information visit: http://www.careerbuilder.ca/Article/MSN-483-Job-Search-10-jobs-of-the-future/?sc_extcmp=INT_MSN_Articles_CA_EN483&lr=int_camsn&cblang=CAEnglish&SiteId=INT_MSN_Articles_CA_EN483
To sell or to give?
I know, you’ve already read a ton of blog posts regarding giving and whatnot during the holiday season. But can you blame us? It’s Calgary, and there are just tons of opportunities to help people!
I was just browsing through Kijiji recently and I thought to myself; boy, a lot of these things aren’t worth buying or even selling, so why are people bothering? Is getting a few dollars for old trash really worth your time and effort? I’m sure the money could add up if you really tried, but if it’s not something that’s in near mint condition, what’s the point? Is making $10 from your scarf more gratifying than giving your sweater to someone who lives on the streets? And since it’s Calgary, I think that scarf would be quite handy.
There are tons of people out there that would think your trash is a treasure. And it’s not just clothes either (and I’m not advocating towards giving away really worn or stained clothes to charities); around the world, people can use your coat hangers and transform them into awesome usable utensils. Imagine that!
So before you try posting an advertisement up or giving your clothes to a second-hand store (most of them are simply businesses instead of actually giving their funds/clothing to places that need it), think about the over-used quote, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”
Your winter break reading list
While this winter break may be more of a study-fest than a relax-fest, there will still be time to sit down and enjoy a good book. I love spending time off catching up on the pile of novels in my room, as well as reading the cool new releases. So, if you find yourself sick of studying (or having holiday-themed fun) over the break, try a little reading! I’ve written up a list of a few books I’d like to read over the break, and I hope you’ll consider them too!
1. Before I Go to Sleep
Okay, I’ll admit it, I just finished this one. But at least that’ll give me a chance to review, and I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes thrillers! Christine Lucas is a woman who wakes up every morning with no idea where she is, and no who the man lying next to her is. A horrific accident twenty years ago left her with amnesia, and an inability to form new memories. As Christine tries to piece together her past and find the truth, things start to get a little crazy. It’s definitely one of those books that makes you go, “wait… what?” and it is completely worth it.
2. The Hunger Games
Everyone has been freaking out about these books (especially with the upcoming film adaptation next March), and I have yet to read them. Set in the cruel Capitol, sometime in the future, a boy and a girl are selected from each district to fight to death on live television. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her younger sister’s place in the competition, and will have to decide between morality, love and survival. Since I’m the type who has to read the books before seeing the movie, I’m especially excited about the world’s latest teen phenomenon.
3. The Lake of Dreams
When I saw this brand-new book in the store a few weeks ago, I knew I had to have it. Written by Kim Edwards, the author of The Memory Keeper’s Daughter, The Lake of Dreams is sure to be another stunning family drama filled with compassion, suspense, and of course, love. Lucy Jarrett returns to her hometown, The Lake of Dreams, after being haunted by her father’s unresolved death for a decade. Late one night, she discovers a hidden collection of objects which unleash a dark secret from her family’s past, changing everything. The Memory Keeper’s Daughter was such a mesmerizing and heartfelt read that I cannot imagine I will be disappointed with The Lake of Dreams.
4. The Night Circus
Since I happen to spend more time than necessary in Chapters, I’ve seen this book everywhere and have become quite curious about it. At the mystical Cirque des Rêves, a competition between two young magicians is underway in which they must use the powers of illusion to beat one another. Little do they know, the game is actually a duel to the death, and the circus is the stage for this astonishing battle. I have heard nothing but praise for this debut book, and look forward to reading it.
5. The Lady Of The Rivers
As I made clear in my earlier review of The Other Queen, I am a huge fan of Philippa Gregory. Her latest book, The Lady of the Rivers, is the story of Jacquetta, a descendant of the river goddess and a woman who has the gift of second sight. In the time of King Henry VI and Joan of Arc, Joan must fight for her king, her queen, and her daughter, for whom she can sense a future on the throne of England. Continuing on with her magnificent telling of history, Gregory writes of the life of Jacquetta, the mother of Elizabeth Woodville, the White Queen. (I should note that Gregory has also written a book called The White Queen, centering on the story of Elizabeth Woodville.)
6. The Great Gatsby
While I know this book is rather old and rather famous, it is still on my list. The story of the fabulously wealthy Jay Gatsby, his love for Daisy Buchanan, and the luxurious parties on Long Island, The Great Gatsby is a classic tale of America in the roaring twenties. I love classic books, but I don’t read them as often as I’d like. However, this one has been near the top of my list for a while now, and winter break would be the perfect time to read it, especially so that I can be prepared for the new movie adaptation next year.
What are you planning on reading this winter break?
Study hard, party hard
It’s that wonderful time of the year again – snowboarding, family bonding, gaming all day, sleeping in, hanging out with friends… WINTER BREAK!
Now not to be a total party pooper, but finals and diplomas are also coming up quickly.
Although we should spend time relaxing and having fun during the winter break, getting a head start on our studying would also be very beneficial.
Preparing for finals during winter break will ensure high marks and less stress when exams are only three days away!
First of all, there are numerous diploma prep courses that many students recommend for thorough review of courses to help us ace our diplomas.
It is definitely time to register for these classes, as some of them are in the last week of winter break and are filling up fast!
Here are a list of diploma prep:
In addition, there are many study resources that have course review notes and practice diploma questions such as:
- THE KEY Study Guide (can be found at book stores)
- Alberta Education
- Quest A+
So here you go! Study hard, party hard.
Inspired to make New Year’s Resolutions
The other day I saw the new movie, New Years Eve. It reminded me that New Years is coming up so fast and I haven’t even started to think about my resolutions.
Welcoming in the new year provides us with a time to reflect on our actions and choices of the past year. For some it is a time to make a change, and for others a chance to look forward to what will be coming in the new year. Some of the most common resolutions are to:
- Spend more time with family and friends
- Fit in a workout routine
- To lose weight
- Learn something new
- Reduce stress and enjoy life
Life is always filled with complications and unexpected events, but what a resolution does is bring you away from your day-to-day life and lets you experience something new. Everyone needs a chance to have fun and feel the success of having achieved something. I hope you all experience that great feeling of checking a completed resolution off of the list.
Best photos of 2011
Here are some of the best photos of 2011 from National Geographic:
Camel Thorn Trees, Namibia
Photograph by Frans Lanting, National Geographic
Tinted orange by the morning sun, a soaring dune is the backdrop for the hulks of camel thorn trees in Namib-Naukluft Park.
Oceanic Whitetip Shark, Bahamas
Photograph by Brian Skerry, National Geographic Oceanic whitetip shark and diver in the Bahamas
Skyscrapers, Dubai
Photograph by Catalin Marin, Your Shot Every year around the month of October, Dubai experiences heavy fog due to the still-high humidity and the falling temperatures. With all the new high-rise buildings (including the tallest in the world, Burj Khalifa) this provides a great photographic opportunity.
Swimmers, Lake Superior, Minnesota
Photograph by Nick Otto, My Shot I love all the empty space around the swimming platform. It shows how the lake is both huge and peaceful. The figures of the people become very small, and what makes the shot is the person jumping from the platform and appearing especially tiny surrounded by all that water.—Catherine Karnow
Blacktip Reef Shark, Maldives
Photograph by Paul Wilkinson, Your Shot Smaller fish keep their distance when a blacktip reef shark swims amongst them in shallow water in the Maldives.
Autumn Woods, Germany
Photograph by Jonathan Manshack This photo was taken during autumn in Hameln, Germany, which is the birthplace of the infamous Rattenfänger—or Pied Piper as we Americans know it. This shot is actually on top of the last few hills that soon sink into the state of Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony). This area is essentially lowland plains—hence the name Lower Saxony!
And -drumroll- taken right here in Alberta! 
Alberta, Canada
Photograph by Dwayne Holmwood, My Shot Beautiful frost at sunset in Alberta
Image and caption courtesy to National Geographic and all photographers.
How to donate without spending a penny (part 2)
Amid all the glitz and glamour of the holiday season (coughconsumerismcough), it can be quite easy to forget its true meaning:
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giving.
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Continued from last week, here are more ways to bring out your inner Santa without breaking the bank:
- Old clothing/toys/electronics/furniture/everything-but-the-kitchen-sink
You know that sweater that doesn’t fit anymore? That teddy bear gathering dust in your closet? It’s time they moved on to someone who can really use them. There may be bins sitting year-round in your community waiting for your white elephants to be dropped off.If not, this website has a really helpful list on where your gently used items can find a new home. (There’s a TON of resources on the web. Just give it a quick search.) For example, there’s Life Without Limits from the Cerebral Palsy Association in Alberta and Clothesline from the Canadian Diabetes Association.Not only do the funds raised provide needed programs and services for a wide variety (your choice!) of causes, they also reduce your impact on the earth. You can even have them picked up at your doorstep!You can also pop by Recyle Logic (in Currie Barracks) to drop off old electronics and donate to the Food Bank in one trip.
Image courtesy: randybehavior.hubpages.com NOMS!FoodMade By Momma is “a Calgary-area volunteer group providing wholesome nourishment and nurturing care” to families dealing with tough times.You can become a Freezer Fairy, unleash your inner Bakeaholic, or start/join a Chop Squad and whip up yummy food in your own kitchen to drop off at freezer locations.Once again, the Food Bank is always looking for extra non-perishable food items.
Image courtesy: spoki.lv -
Time, energy, passion! (I saved the best for last.)This, is my opinion, is the best way to get in holiday spirit, have fun, and get that incredible warm, fuzzy feeling inside.You can volunteer just about ANYWHERE for ANYTHING you care about ANYTIME with ANYONE (bring your buddies!)(especially at http://youthcentral.com/ and http://www.volunteercalgary.ab.ca/)
Look – Sheliza has conjured up a list of holiday volunteering for you!
3 Ways to Shine!
I have to admit, I think Calgary is a pretty neat city. Having lived in so many different places in both the States and Canada, it’s hard not to have an immense appreciation for this place. However, perfection doesn’t exist, and there is ample room for improvement. Improvement is exactly the aim of Mayor Nenshi’s 3 Things for Calgary initiative… think about three things you can do to make Calgary better, do those three things, and encourage three more people to do the same. Basically, we start a chain reaction of good deeds all throughout our city!
So, what are my 3 things for Calgary?
- Involve! My first goal is to involve myself more with positive influences in the city. Life is so much better when you’re in the midst of the action. Volunteer organizations, sports teams, and school clubs all offer this opportunity. I began this initiative by joining the Mayor’s Youth Council of Calgary, a great decision might I add.
- Include! We all have a lot of friends. And I don’t mean the Facebook ones… I’m talking about the real-life ones. The close friends we see daily, our classmates, those we volunteer with, our neighbours… the list goes on and on. My goal is to use these people! No, not in a manipulative way! I plan to use them in a way that allows them to showcase their talents. An example? Last month, I got my friend to sign up as a Best Buddies volunteer at my school. (Best Buddies is a program in which we undertake a mentally disabled child as our buddy for the year. We eat lunch with them, socialize, etc. in order to make them feel just like any other high-school kid!) Yes, maybe I dragged her in with slightly exaggerated explanations of the amazing food that always accompanies the meetings, but it definitely worked. I am proud to say she is presently an active and enthusiastic volunteer! “Tell me and I’ll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I’ll understand.” – Chinese Proverb
- My third and final ‘thing for Calgary’ is to INSPIRE! How? Social Networking. I plan to blog, photograph, status update, share, and do everything else I can to let people know about the things I’m participating in along with my friends. I know I’m always inspired by blogs and photos of people’s experiences. I’ve always been a watcher though, never a do-er. I usually find myself seeing what other people are doing and staring in awe. “WOW! I wish I could do that!” Not anymore. This initiative, hopefully, will allow me to let people know of what I’m doing and all the details that go along with it. I’ll keep it in a simple enough format that others will believe it is easy enough for them to undertake similar activities. I really hope that people become inspired, but also that they act on this inspiration.
And that’s it! My 3 Things for Calgary. With all the buzz that this is causing, I definitely hope to see more people around the city participating. In fact, I’m already beginning to see signs of it everywhere! The lady in the office next to my mom’s desk at her workplace came over and introduced herself. Her initiatives include becoming more familiar with the people she works with. There are so many ideas that have come about with Mr. Nenshi’s proposal of this initiative and positive change really has become more prevalent. So here’s to a better Calgary; who says our city can’t design the formula for world peace?
Photo of the Day: For each other
I just found this picture very interesting and decided to share it with everyone.
Animals like horses have helped humans with agriculture and other tasks throughout history. This picture was really interesting because it is the owner that is pulling a sick horse.
Express your inner Picasso through “Picassohead”
“Picassohead” is a website that allows you to create your own abstract art, with simple shapes and designs that reflect the art of the renowned artist: Pablo Picasso (surprisingly enough). Feeling creative? Go check out the website and give it a shot. Who knows, you might be the next Picasso the world is waiting for!
Video of the Day: Stippling Maniac
If you’ve made it through the gruesome hours in Biology, having to stiple drawings of plant cells, you know how strenuous it can be. Below is a video of Miguel Endara who draws his father entirely out of dots! How many dots in total? 3.2 million!
Craziness in its art form:
[vimeo 33091687]WeTopia
Love to play games? Addicted to Facebook? Recently, on Facebook, a new game has been attracting several people across the globe. This game is called “WeTopia“, where you create your own village and help out your neighbors. However, the part that fascinates majority of gamers is the part where the “joy points” you collect throughout the game helps fund projects in Haiti and the U.S. A chance for you to help others by playing a game! The idea came from a focus group called “Games For Change“. Here is a link to Ellen Degeneres’ video on what she thinks of WeTopia!
CPO thunders the rafters with Tchaikovsky and The Rite of Spring
Tchaikovsky, the beloved Russian composer and considered one of the greatest musicians of his time, was an extremely troubled man. He was homosexual but desired to conform to the norms of society, and married, out of convenience, a devoted and endearing female fan of his. The marriage quickly deteriorated and ended in disaster, compelling Tchaikovsky to recover in Switzerland. Along his journey, Tchaikovsky encountered the violinist Iosif Kotek, whom he quickly became quite fond of and created the violin concerto with the violinist in mind.
The Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) concluded their amazing festival of Virtuosity, displaying the incredible and superhuman talents of many critically renowned artists, including violinist Yi-Jia Susanne Hou. I have since personally fallen in love with the violin and, accompanied with the world class CPO, have made for the guaranteed perfect night.
The bill for this performance opened with the high energy and extremely appropriately titled piece, John Estacio’s Frenergy. Imbuing the piece with the words “frenetic” and “energy”, this wild music emphasizes a rapid tempo and energetic pace, with a fast paced-scherzo that brought the piece to a exciting end. This piece literally had me at the edge of my seat, as my eyes were visually stimulated by trying to keep up with the whizzing motions of the instruments and following with my ear the rushing sound. A fast and furious feast for the ears and eyes.
The second piece of the evening was Tchaikovsky’s, Violin Concerto in D Major, showcased the amazingly talented Yi-Jia Susanne Hou. Her dress however was ready to fall apart at any moment, held precariously together with safety pins – unknown to the audience until the end of her performance. This also highlighted her admirable bravery as a performer. She plays with great technical skills and enchantment, as her style and clear mastery of the violin highlight the richness and elegant parts of the piece, bringing fire to complete the wild chase to the ending. Such awesome talent compelled the audience to an outburst of applause after the first movement, making Hou jokingly comment, “…for my encore, we shall perform the second movement.”
She subsequently enraptured the audience with her (real) encore of Ysaye Obsession (Solo Sonata for Violin No.2). Not only had her first performance made my jaw drop the first moment I heard her play the piece (on YouTube, she had created her own music video, “The Devil’s Delight” with chocolate, so make sure to listen!), she smiled warmly at this comment when I met her during the intermission. A personable musician and to my delight and privilege, a light conservation was struck of her previous performances and violin.
Finally, Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring and Villa-Lobos Chrous No.10 “Rasga o coracao” are pieces that must be experienced. The Rite of Spring is a wild and electrifying score, a rapid tempo and explosion of outbursts of various instruments, not simultaneously, created a frantic melody. This piece was unlike any classical musically piece I’ve heard, the piece’s unique rhythm and melody so concentrated and with explosions of sudden outburst, brings the audience to their feet. Chrous No.10 “Rasga o coracao” highlighted the fabulous powerhouse, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, moves with the upbeat dance rhythms of the score, with their beautiful arches of harmony expressing contagious and moving energy. I am sure you would have also been drawn to the elegant and beautiful sustained notes sung by the Calgary Philharmonic Choir, praising their articulation and exciting dynamics.
Thanks so much to the CPO for providing me the opportunity to enjoy such epic and exhilarating music! Come one, come all, to experience the wonderful music of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra LIVE, as their is simply no substitute that can capture the grandiosity and virtuosity of the CPO and Calgary Philharmonic Chorus.
Heritage Park donates gate passes to Youth Week
As the holidays roll around, Youth Week Calgary 2012 is getting some cool gifts under its tree. Organizations and companies are already donating prizes for us to hand out at the wide variety of events taking place in April, which should spice up everything from school events to competitions. Youth Week will be a great time for Calgary’s youth to get together and become more involved in the community (though super fun activities!), and we couldn’t be more pleased that Heritage Park is adding to the prestigious list of Youth Week prize donors.
Heritage Park is donating 2 gate passes to Youth Week, which will join the ranks of our prizes (including coupons, gift cards and more) in events next April. Thank you, Heritage Park! Also, don’t be sure to miss Heritage Park’s special events in December: from a winter carnival to a Festival of Lights celebration, there will be great opportunities to enjoy some good old-fashioned winter fun with the family.
You can check out other Youth Week prizes on this blog, and learn more about Youth Week at youthcentral.com/youthweek or on the Facebook page. Last week a lucky Facebook fan won 25 McDonald’s coupons; help us get more “likes” and we might have another giveaway, so you could be a winner, too!