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.
With the winter holidays coming up, now is a excellent time to start ordering gifts. Sometimes it can be hard to figure out what to get someone, so today I am here to tell you about one of my personal favorite gifts: GIANTmicrobes.
Me with my E.coli GIANTmicrobe
Now, I’m sure you’re all wondering “what in the name of Newton is a GIANTmicrobe?!” Well, let me tell you: they are the single most amazing thing for every nerd–and even non-nerd–on your list! If you haven’t ever seen them, they are small plushies that can be held in your hand. Each one is a different (if you haven’t already guessed) microbe 😉 They have one for almost everything from a classic red blood cell to giardia to H1N1! One of my personal favourites is E. coli–it’s in my photo for the site 😉 They’re about $10 each.
If you’re looking for something with a bit more OOMF, I would recommend GIGANTICmicrobes. What are they, you ask? Well, imagine your average GIANTmicrobe. Now imagine it about the size of your pillow. Oh yes, nerdlings, THAT is amazing. Gigantics are about $30.
Lastly, if you’re looking for something smaller, you can’t go wrong with the microbe Petrie dishes 😀 They’re around $12 and have three mini microbes in a (you guessed it!) Petrie dish. So cute 😉
If you’re in the market for a new lens, but aren’t quite sure where to look, I suggest taking a look at the Canon 50mm f1.8 lens. Canon’s cheapest lens at around $130, this is a beautiful tool for portraits and filming. The wide aperture makes this a “fast” lens, meaning it lets in lots of light and lets you shoot at faster speeds in lower light. Another effect of having such a large aperture is the beautiful bokeh produced when you shoot with the lens wide open. This makes for stunning portraits and intriguing videos. Below you can find a sample of each, both shot with the 50mm lens on my Canon 550D.
One small problem you might notice from this picture is just how little of the picture is in focus. This is due to the small depth of field at f1.8. (Here, the focus starts at the right edge of the frame and ends right around the subject’s nose. You can really notice the fading focus if you look at his shirt.)
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This was a piece of our school’s morning television show.
So. For $130, this is the best deal you’ll get on a lens 🙂
My friends asked me to watch the movie Red. I had my doubts… but I am glad I went along with them.
The movie follows the Frank Moses, one of the CIA’s most impressive agents. He is now labeled RED (retired, extremely dangerous). Frank is struggling with the boring life of a retired agent, but a conspiracy drags him back into the world he is so familiar with.
Apparently some kind of atrocity occurred and a list of people are being hunted down and killed to cover up the crimes. Frank seems to be on the list since he is attacked by a group of assassins. Â He leaves his city, meets up with retired colleagues (who are extremely good at what they do) and a girl he met on the phone (a solid character but occasionally serves as comedic relief) and goes hunting for the truth.
Bottom Line – this movie is funny and action packed. Its interesting plot is accompanied by great acting. But there is no reason why a movie with so many great actors shouldn’t be awesome. Red is not the best action movie I’ve ever seen, but I would say that it’s the best action movie I’ve seen in 2010. I give it a 4/5.
Rob Ford is a contributor to high school football teams, donating over $20,000 for equipment and other needs. Image from the National Post.
… in CANADIAN POLITICS that is (sorry if you were expecting something else.)
Nenshi is the new mayor of Calgary as anyone keeping an eye on local news should know. Harvard graduate, business owner and Muslim, Nenshi targeted the young, the intelligent and those who wanted a gust of fresh air over the city. For the first time in many years we have seen a substantial voter turnout and whether that vote was for the better or not, we’ll just have to wait and see.
But something else just recently happened on the other side of the country in Toronto. Approximately a week ago, a man named Rob Ford became the next-in-line to be mayor of Toronto. And perhaps soon it will be clear exactly why this is so interesting.
Take a look at Rob and one might associate him with some tough, unintelligent brute who just stumbled in at the right time. Unlike Nenshi, Rob never completed his undergraduate degree in university. He has said certain things in City Council which others may consider to be no-no’s, like calling cyclists “a pain in the ass” and if they are killed by traffic it is their own fault. He has used some offensive language in public, was arrested in 1999 for possession of marijuana, and tried to purchase illegal OxyContin for a gay man. One might wonder how a man like him ever got to be near politics.
Rob Ford running for mayor. Image from the National Post.
When we speak of politicians, the suave suit-wearing man immediately comes to mind. He has all of the solutions and he can dress up his words in a way that appeals to the public. Well in that case, no wonder Rob Ford is now mayor. Rob Ford doesn’t try to sound intelligent or verbose, but rather he simply says what he thinks. When he confessed his D.U.I. arrest to the public, his popularity saw a significant rise. When he explained that he tried to purchase OxyContin for the man because he seemed to be disturbed and suicidal, the public sympathized with him. And when he proposed to cut down City Council spending and prevent events such as the Toronto garbage strike in the future, the crowd was tipped to its toes. As a result, as if overcoming all insults and ridicule and coming out stronger each time, Rob Ford won the race for mayor with 47% of the votes; almost a majority. Nenshi couldn’t muster 40%.
There is a significant public opinion of politicians here. After the turmoils and the mismanagement by former mayor David Miller, people were sick of the suited men who pretend that they all have the most perfect of answers. They are obviously tired of hearing the same spiel over and over again and never seeing their overly expected changes to actually happen. Here stands a man who is humble, relatable, and says exactly what he thinks should be done. Quite clearly, the public sees Rob Ford as a much better option than say, Smitherman, who won’t be mayor of Toronto anytime soon. Across the border we see the rise of the Tea Party, with their iconic politician as Sarah Palin, who too was ridiculed for her common straight-forwardness. Maybe in the future, we won’t see her in the same light.
Of course, Ford is now a major politician and unfortunately, all politicians are liars and he will probably be the same. The difference is how well you can cover up your lies while still keeping the public relatively satisfied. Ford is promising some pretty significant changes to the city of Toronto and like Nenshi, only time will tell how he will go down in history.
I recently had the chance to see Paranormal Activity 2. If you have seen Paranormal Activity, then you know what you are in for.
As for those of you who don’t understand how this series works… there aren’t any amazing cinematic scenes, all the footage is shot from a handheld camera or a stationary camera. The script is also improvised (they used a technique know as ‘retroscripting’ the same technique used in the Blair witch project). All this is done to make the movie feel realistic. Paranormal Activity 2 is composed of security camera footage and some occasional hand-held camera footage.
Paranormal activity 2 follows Kristi and her family. Kristi is the sister of Katie – the female character in the first movie. As for the timeline, Paranormal Activity 2 takes place before the first movie and ends a little bit after it.
Bottom Line – this movie is basically the same thing as the first (the door moves an inch and everyone starts screaming). That being said, I like the sequel better, it is definitely scarier than the first. This movie has more ideas (not just various objects moving for no reason), it also has a few terrifying scenes that catches the viewers off guard. I give it a 3.5/5.
It’s about as natural as the call of nature after a large slushy… if it’s the beginning of September and you’ve been on summer break, you start thinking of going back to school. It’s an unspoken rule, but that last week before class is also the most epic. In-between stalking up on stationary, most try to make the most of the free-time left. My first lecture wasn’t till the middle of the September, so my break between the end of my summer job and classes was a drive across the country.
It’s a road-trip that everyone has heard of, taking the TransCanada highway from one end of the country to the other. We detoured though…rather than taking Highway 1 all the way from Alberta to Ontario, my friend and I went through the states. The highways are faster, the route is shorter, and the shopping is totally amazing.
Stock photo
The drive took off after the night after a camping trip with friends. After sitting around at a bonfire laughing, joking around and eating delicious fire cooked food… we were pretty tired but excited to start the drive we’d talked about for weeks. The first leg of the trip was the longest but it was made better by lots of coffee and good music.
We were already an hour east of Calgary from the campsite, 7hours from Moose Jaw and another 14 hours from Minneapolis. The seven hour mark is where we stopped traveling east and headed southeast to the border. Minneapolis is home to the Mall of America, which speaks for itself. Host to 524 stores, an aquarium and the opportunity to have a lot of fun, this was worth saving up for. I went on a “shopping diet” when we were planning our trip. This meant only the most necessary purchases were made prior to the trip… it was really worth it.
Simple and affordable, an uprising popular trend. Basic white v-necks are an essential to any wardrobe, mens and ladies. Here are some quick tips and ideas on how to wear a basic white v-neck.
Men:
Jeans: A great way to accessorize a basic white v-neck with a casual spin is to pair it off with jeans. Whether they are skinnies, straight-cut, boot-cut, OR light-washed, dark-washed or black, jeans will help you stay casually fashionable.
Dress pants: Ever wonder what to wear on a semi-formal occasion? Try a clean, ironed, basic white v-neck tucked into dress pants, finished off with a plain black dress-belt and dress shoes! This way you suit the occasion while looking fashionably organized.
Over-piece: With winter coming up, wearing a white v-neck may not be ideal. However, v-necks look amazing underneath cardigans, hoodies, western-styled shirts (e.g. plaid button-ups), dress shirts or pull-overs! This gives you the option of buttoning, or zipping up your over-piece, so change it up! Don’t worry about the colour of the over-piece! White basically goes with everything.
Accessories: Many guys do not wear accessories. But wearing a basic chain-necklace, necklace made of braided string, thick bracelet, large metal ring or watch (preferably not all of these at once!) will help dress up the the outfit. If not, wear it plain! Don’t worry about accessories if it’s “not your thing.”
Further doubts? Don’t worry! V-necks for men have been popular for about three years so far, so it’s basically creeping its way into the norm of the daily fashion around us. Try going for one with a smaller “v,” nothing too deep, especially for your own comfort. You’ll see how well basic white v-necks go with everything! And if you don’t like white? Try any color! V-necks are popular everywhere.
Ladies:
Jeans: Jeans are a great way to stay comfortable while wearing a basic white v-neck. The wash and cut doesn’t matter! You can be casual and fashionable.
Dressy: Basic white v-necks are extremely versatile. They can easily be worn tucked into any skirt, whether it is a plain black pencil skirt or pleated floral skirt. They can also look great not tucked in, and simply placed over. However, if you want to maximize your trendy potential then I suggest tucking it in!
Boyfriend fit: Try getting a basic white v-neck that’s 2 sizes too big! This is equally as versatile, and trendy and can also be worn with anything mentioned above. With a baggy white v-neck you can even wear them with leggings! You can always try to belt the v-neck with either a loose one that hangs by the hips, or one that sinches at the waist. And if you can’t find one in the ladies section big enough, dare to go into the mens section to pick one up!
Over-piece: Basic white v-necks look good with any type of over-piece! That includes western-styled shirts, blazers, cardigans, pull-overs, and hoodies.
Accessories: Don’t be afraid to wear 15 different bangles on your wrist, or have four different necklaces layered together! A basic white v-neck is a plain canvas, so it’s okay to go overboard with accessories! But if that’s not comfortable then you can always go simple, wear your favourite necklace, ring or bracelet to brighten the look!
V-necks for ladies are more common, but I know many people are still not used to them! If you’re nervous about the chest area, make sure you wear a tank top or bandeau underneath. You can explore different colours to wear underneath which will give your v-neck a nice undertone. And if you are still nervous, try to find one that has a small “v”. Also try to explore different colors if you don’t enjoy wearing the color white. There are many different ways to wear a basic white v-neck, so explore your options!
Recently in Film Studies I had the privilege of watching Michael Mann’s Public Enemies. The film Stars Johnny Depp as John Dillinger, an American gangster in the Great Depression era. This exceptional film follows John’s life through the prison breaks and bank robberies. I’m not usually one to enjoy a gangster movie, however, this particular film stood out on many levels. The plot was packed with action, suspense and mystery. The visual aspects of the film were outstanding. Both the intense and low key lighting had a strong impression on the viewers mind. You’ll find yourself slowly shifting to the other side as you begin to root for the “anti-hero.”
If you don’t mind violence, profanity, and some sexual content you will definitely take enjoyment in watching Public Enemies. 8.5/10
On Halloween, the movie Saw 3D was playing in the theatre and it grossed over 23.61 million in the United States. This is the 7th installment of the movie Saw and its popularity doesn’t seem to be declining. Saw 3D was said to be the end of this series, but we will never know. I think is best for them to not have an eight just because an ending like seven is good enough for most of the fans.
This movie is about a bunch of Jigsaw’s students fighting over Jigsaw’s equipment while the suvivors in the past movies gathered together, seeking Bobbie for survival advice. However, Bobbie himself has a big, dark secret and everything just went wrong again.
This movie is much bloodier than the previous ones (thanks to technology) and it is very suitable for someone who loves to watch the human body torn to pieces.
I spent last Friday at a youth conference. It was not only fun but also extremely enlightening. We discussed some issues very pertinent to our society.
What did we discuss?
In short, racism and discrimination. Realistically, we talked a lot about a gamut of social, economic and even political problems streaming from discrimination in our society. We touched on everything from white supremacist groups to the feminism movement. We also spend a little time learning about Chinatown and its colorful history.
What does this have to do with Chinatown?
The event was sponsored in part by Calgary Chinatown. After a hundred years since its founding, Calgary Chinatown is celebrating its Centennial. As part of a campaign to celebrate, similar conferences are organized across the city to raise awareness of the hardships that Chinese immigrants faced when they came to Canada many years ago. The conferences are also meant to induce concern and participation from youths about racism and discrimination that still occurs in our society.
Who participated?
Over 40 youths. We are talking about a huge gamut of people. Some were attending school while others worked. A great diversity in terms of ethnic background was also assembled as well as fairly divided representation from various schools. Age differed in the youths as well as gender. Generally, the event gathered youths of all different backgrounds in Calgary to talk about racism and discrimination.
What did I learn and was it worth it?
The conference was an eye-opener. Despite the significant process that has been made, more work certainly have to done to curb discrimination. The horrid stories of discrimination in the past and of now reminds us all of the issue’s importance. Not only that, the conference was a great place for concerned youths to meet. The gathering of youth allowed for friends to be made and ideas to be shared. I am proud to say that I even registered for further activities to aid in the fight against discrimination.
Overall?
A great experience. Not just for for learning but also for meeting new people. The event was well-run and impressionable. Definitely an event worth returning to. Meanwhile, go and visit Chinatown for their Centennial celebration!
Last weekend was the annual Arab Film Festival. Held from October 22nd-24th, it featured films to increase understanding of Arab culture. On Sunday, I went to see the film, “Just Like Us.”
It was hilarious! It was based on a group of comedians, some of whom were Arab-American, who organized a comedy tour in the Middle East.
This documentary featured clips of their stand-up acts as well as their adventures with censorship and cultural revolutions. More importantly, however, the comedians achieved their goal to raise awareness for the similarities between Arabs and the rest of the comedy-loving world. They brought up issues such as dealing with pain through humour and the universal value of family.
Directed by: Egyptian-American Comedian Ahmed Ahmed (Yes, he makes jokes about his name.) Best scene: At one performance, some toddlers came up on stage and stole the show. Ahmed just embraced it and gave them the microphone. It was simultaneously adorable and hilarious. Bottom Line: Laughter works miracles.
DoTA Defence of The Ancients is a popular game that has been around for years. It is a real-time strategy game made in Warcraft where a player picks a hero and goes against another team, usually in 5 vs 5. This game has been big for any fan of Blizzard Entertainment. It has been changed around and remade thousands of times. For instance, it has been imitated in Starcraft as Custom Hero Wars, and on PC  as League of Legends and Heroes of Newerth.
A couple of the creators from DoTA Allstars have joined with Riot Games and implemented DoTA into an actual game instead of living in the shadow of Warcraft; they called this game League of Legends. Its popularity began to boom in late 2009, and recently has been nominated for many awards including the Gamespy Gamer’s Choice Award for PC Game of the Year, IGN Reader’s Choice Award for PC Best Strategy Game, PC Best Multiplayer Game and more!
A nerd such as myself found this game addicting. I thrive on competition and League of Legends feeds my hunger. If anyone has ever played games such as DoTA I recommend you try this multiplayer game out. The thing about League of Legends which appeals to me the most is that every game you start out fresh. You don’t have to play every day to be the best player, you can play occasionally and still be just as good as players who play daily.
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It is free to play, so if you are looking for a new game to play take a look at League of Legends!
If your lover or love’s blood type is A, your index of love is 25%
Guys with A blood type are shy. Girls, you should lead your boyfriend! B blood type guys are tough. But remember A blood type people are typically shy and vulnnerable! Don’t be harsh.
If your lover or love’s blood type is B , your index of love is 65%
Energetic couple! Outside activities would help your love. But careful not to blow all of your money.
If your lover or love’s blood type is AB, your index of love is 80%
Your love is like a sweet and sour strawberry! Even though you fight a lot, there is a great respect between you guys. It could be perfect but could be not, because AB girls could have hard time with B guys but it could be a fresh shock.
If your lover or love’s blood type is O, your index of love is 75-80%
If you are a girl, your couple is the combination of a lady killer and man killer!! However, it could work as a perfect combination. If you are a man, O blood type girl – don’t get frustrated! It seems like girl’s sunflower (one way) love but actually, your boyfriend also likes you so much.
