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The Rise of Animal Crossing: Why It Became a Pandemic Escape for People in 2020

Bowen Zheng
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The Rise of Animal Crossing: Why It Became a Pandemic Escape for People in 2020

        THE RISE OF ANIMAL CROSSING

 

Animal Crossing is a Nintendo game series about exploring, creating, and living in your own self made paradise. While there are 5 versions of this game released worldwide, we’re going to be focusing on the one released in March, 20, 2020; Animal Crossing: New Horizons. I’m going to specifically talk about how Animal Crossings New Horizons, became so popular, especially during the times of COVID-19.

Throwback to when COVID-19 started, everybody was in lockdown and the streets were barren, everyone was stuck in their homes with barely anything to do. This resulted in most people going on social media a lot. They did this to try and escape the reality of the pandemic and because they were craving socialization. As a result of this, the release of New Horizons during this period caused people to go nuts for the game.

Animal Crossing provided people with the socialization that they yearned for so much. The game allowed players to invite other players to their island and basically do fun everyday tasks without the stress of COVID. Some people have even claimed that its the universe we’ve always wanted, but cannot have. Animal Crossing is a unique game because the theme and play style of the game can be enjoyed by gamers and non-gamers, and children to millennials, even though the design of the game may seem childish.

Nintendo Switches flew off the shelves and Nintendo’s sales went up by 541%!

To conclude my article, Animal Crossing New Horizons was a cultural phenomenon in 2020 due to its ability to provide people comfort, social interaction, and escapism during such a difficult time. The popularity of the game really shows how it can hit home to people and provide them with entertainment.

 

Sources:

The Worst of Canadian Human Rights- Japanese Canadian Internment

Areej C
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The Worst of Canadian Human Rights- Japanese Canadian Internment

Canada’s history is marked by the struggles endured by many minority groups. One of the darkest and forgotten chapters is that of the Japanese Canadian Internment Camps, which began in 1942. At that time, around 90% of Japanese Canadians were forcibly removed from their homes and placed in camps under the guise of national security. Despite many being born in Canada and holding Canadian passports, they faced mistreatment simply because of their heritage. This injustice followed the outbreak of the Pacific War, Pearl Harbour, and World War II, during which all Japanese individuals were labeled as “enemy aliens” in both Canada and the United States.

The sequence of events started with the seizure of Japanese property in 1941, followed by restrictions on essential items, a fishing ban, and limits on accessing certain areas. Eventually, the Canadian government issued removal notices for all Japanese Canadians. Approximately 27,000 people were imprisoned without any legal recourse, while others were forcibly sent back to Japan. This gross violation of human rights undermined legal principles such as non-discrimination, equality, and individual identity, stripping away the civil liberties of Japanese Canadians. Conditions in the internment camps were harsh and inhumane, though fortunately, no deaths were recorded. When restrictions were finally lifted in 1948, many Japanese Canadians returned to find their lives shattered, facing the daunting task of rebuilding from scratch.

The legacy of this injustice lives on in intergenerational trauma, perpetuated by the government’s horrendous actions and lack of justification. It wasn’t until 1988 that the Canadian government formally apologized and offered compensation to survivors and their families. This apology, however, can never erase the trauma and loss inflicted upon thousands of Japanese Canadians, serving as a stark reminder of one of Canada’s gravest human rights violations.

Sources:

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/japanese-internment-banished-and-beyond-tears-feature

https://humanrights.ca/story/japanese-canadian-internment-and-struggle-redress

Image:

Photo by Антон Дмитриев on Unsplash

 

Pretty Cool Prosthetics

Diya Kunisetty
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Pretty Cool Prosthetics

A Basic Defenition: A prosthetic implant is an artificial device that is designed to replace a missing body part. A body part may be lost through accidents, amputations, disease, or a condition present at birth. And so, prosthetics allow people to have a more comfortable life and appearance.

The Basic History: Ambroise Paré was an official royal surgeon who practiced medicine on the battlefield by attempting to save, or at least treat wounded soldiers. He was disturbed by the soldiers’ reactions to his care because he saw that they would rather take their own lives than live without limbs. So, he began crafting artificial limbs, a practice that dates back to ancient Egyptians. He believed that this would give them a psychological and spiritual sense of wholeness. They were used in the Dark Ages, in ancient Greece, Rome, and Egypt. But one of the most earliest and accurately drawn references to prostheses was found in a book published by Ambroise in 1579. The very first uses of basic prosthetics were in Ancient Greece, Rome, and Egypt. Such as functional wooden toes etc. However, some more accurate documented references were found in France and other parts of Europe. The concept has remained the same over time. Its job was and is to provide a second chance to live better. Back then, people lost limbs due to infection and battle. But now, we may lose body parts due to accidents and surgical amputation. Over time, the materials have dramatically changed too. From using wood and naturally occurring adhesives, we have evolved to using electronics and metal.

Some technical information: Prosthetic devices are divided into 2 categories: Upper-extremity and lower-extremity. The Upper-extremity ones are used for different levels of amputations at specific places in the upper body, such as for shoulders, wrists, arms, and fingers. Lower-extremity prosthetics are used for – as you may have guessed – lower parts of the body, such as for hips, knees, feet, and toes. Depending on the specific needs of the patient, varying prostheses may be administered. For example, some prosthetic devices may focus on the concept of cosmesis. Cosmesis is the preservation and restoration of bodily beauty. This means that this specific device will focus on making the device look as real as possible. This could be through adding minor details such as freckles, hairs, scars, and etc. This may help restore some peace to the mind. But the more common reason for prostheses is for function. Like being able to grip objects or increased freedom of movement.

How they may be powered: 

Body Powered: This method speaks for itself. Basically, your body can control the prosthetic. For example, a cable may be attached from one shoulder to the prosthetic hand. So when you move your shoulder- your hand will move too!

Motor Powered: Think of this method as using a remote control panel. For example, a prosthetic hand may have a few buttons on it – and pressing one of them could lead to gripping an object.

Myoelectric Powered: This method is one of the most recent ways to operate your prosthetic device. In simple terms, prosthetic limbs are powered by muscles in your real limb to generate electric signals and pulses. When electrodes (an electrical conductor used to make contact with a nonmetallic part of a circuit) are put on the skin, they read the muscle contractions (like a code) and sends signals to the limb to move.

The Main Parts:

The Pylon: Think of this part of the device as the skeleton. Made of light carbon-fiber composite rods, its function is to provide structural support to the rest of the device.

The Socket: This is one of the most important aspects when talking about prosthetics. It’s the part that is fitted to the real limb. It needs to be extremely precise so no irritation or damage is caused to the skin tissue. Did you know that a patient might even wear a layer of “prosthetic socks” to achieve a snuggly fit?

The Suspension System: This part works to ensure that the prosthetic limb is securely attached to the body. Although you can attach the device to the body through straps and other mechanical devices, a more common practice is through suspension and suction. This airtight seal will ensure stability.

Their effect on the world around them: Prosthetics benefited the world immensely. It allowed people to recover from the trauma of not having/losing a limb. They give people the opportunity to live comfortably and to take care of themselves. For example, arms are extremely important parts of your body. Without them, you wouldn’t be able to do anything by yourself and would always have to rely on others for the most basic tasks, like eating, writing, and even balance. Basically, have benefited our world because they gave people a second chance to live a normal life.

Its Future: The future of this invention will be having the ability to control your prosthetics with your mind. Scientists want to find a way to hook up the device with our nerves so that they connect to our brains. This will allow us to control our limbs just like we would normally. Of course, we are nowhere close to achieving this- but Elon Musk is. He has spent over 100 million dollars to pursue the development of Neurolink. Basically, the future of this invention will enable us to make prosthetic limbs as closely related as possible to real human limbs. 

Links:

https://www.freedomprosthetics.com/how-do-prosthetic-limbs-work/#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20most%20recent,to%20the%20limb%20to%20move

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3664166/#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20earliest%20written,he%20fitted%20on%20his%20amputees.

https://qz.com/2141720/modern-prosthetics-go-beyond-bionic-limbs-and-into-the-brain

 

 

Black History Month: Willie O’Ree

Crystal Lattice
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Black History Month: Willie O’Ree

To celebrate Black History Month, let’s take a closer look into a Black Canadian: Willie O’Ree!

Willie O’Ree was the first Black hockey player in the National Hockey League. He has a very interesting story that inspired diversity in the National Hockey League.

Willie O’Ree’s Childhood 

Willie O’Ree’s grandparents came to Canada to escape slavery in the United States. As a result, Willie O’Ree was born in Fredericton and grew up as the youngest child of 13 children in New Brunswick. Unfortunately, in Fredericton, there were only two black families while he was growing up. As he was growing up, he began playing hockey when he was just three years old. Willie O’Ree instantly had a passion for hockey, and got into organized hockey by five years old. However, as he grew older, he began noticing the “color barrier,” which in simpler words, can be referred to as “racism.” This “color barrier” becomes more evident as he grows up, especially during his time in the NHL. By the time he was 15, he was playing for the Fredericton Flacons in the amateur hockey association for New Brunswick.

Young child playing hockey outside
Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay

 

The Rise of WIllie O’Ree

Over the next few years, he progressed through the hockey system, leaving a very good record with one season in the junior ranks. Followed by the next full season in the senior ranks, and played in the Allan Cup tournament, where he scored seven points in seven games. When he was 19, he moved to Quebec for the 1954-55 season and played in the Quebec Junior Hockey League. From this season, he had 27 goals and 17 assists, accumulating to 44 points in 43 games. After that good season, Willie O’Ree unfortunately had an accident in the 1955-56 season. During a game, he was hit by a hockey puck, which broke his nose and cheekbone. The result of this accident was that he lost around 95% vision in his right eye.

Hockey players
Image by 12019 from Pixabay

However, despite being advised to stop playing hockey, he was back in ice two months after the incident. Willie O’Ree could tell anyone about his injury as NHL forbade players who are blind on one eye from playing. He continued to play hockey, and in the 1956-57 season, he became eighth in team scoring with the Quebec Aces. Despite being blind in one eye, he went on for two more season with the Aces. The Quebec Aces had a history of racial integration, in spite of “color barriers.” During the 1957-58 season, the Aces formed a relationship with a NHL team called the “Boston Bruins.” This relationship allows the NHL team to call up players from the Quebec Aces anytime. In fact, Willie O’Ree was called up to the team and made history by becoming the first Black hockey player to play in the NHL.

Hockey Arena
Image by Tom Glod from Pixabay

His Main Challenge In The NHL

Despite his title as the first Black player in the NHL, and later, the first Black hockey player to a score a goal in the NHL, he was given little attention for it. He wasn’t mentioned in any major newspaper articles and “was greeted with no emotion, no applause…”. Because Montreal was already familiar with Willie O’Ree as a player, he wasn’t given much attention for his historical debut. William O’Ree went on to play for 14 more years. However, despite having good records, he experienced racial taunts from opposing fans and players. To this day, Willie O’Ree was adamant that these discriminations mostly occurred in the US, and not in Canada. Although it was really rough for his career, same as one of his brothers, he was able to go out on the ice, stay focused, and try his best.

Hockey players in a game
Photo by Klim Musalimov on Unsplash

Willie O’Ree’s Honorable Actions and Awards

Willie O’Ree retired hockey in 1979. Eventually, he became the NHL’s director of Youth Development and also became the first Diversity Ambassador in 1998. As the ambassador, he was able to champion diversity and inclusion among hockey programs. Along with that, he was able to teach 120 000 children how to play hockey. Following his retirement of hockey and his work towards fostering hockey for young people, he was recognized for his dedication and outstanding services with incredible awards.

Ambassador
Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay

In 2003, Willie O’Ree received the Lester Patrick Trophy for his incredible services to hockey in the United States. After that, in 2010, he received the Order Of Canada for his services towards youth development and promotions of hockey across North America. Similarly, he received the Order of New Brunswick, after being placed in their hall of fame in 1984. Along with being placed in their hall of fame, Willie O’Ree was inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018. Last, but not least, in 2021, the Bruins honoured him by retiring his jersey number.

22
Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay
-Willie O’Ree’s jersey number: 22

Conclusion and Final message

Willie O’Ree has had a lot of challenges during his hockey career. From starting with amateur associations in New Brunswick to playing in the NHL to teacher children how to play hockey, his career has certainly went far. As shown from the awards, he has officially been recognized as a historical skilled hockey player. He is an inspiration towards all hockey players. Willie O’Ree has been honoured for his incredible dedication and outstanding services to the game of hockey. By remaining strong against discrimination during his time in the NHL, he was able to go far, leaving a strong legacy in the NHL. As you celebrate Black History Month, please honour Willie O’Ree, the first Black hockey player to play in the NHL.

 

Martin Luther King quote "They will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character"
Photo by LeeAnn Cline on Unsplash – A Martin Luther King quote: “They will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character”

Sources: 1 , 2 , 3

Images: 1 (Featured Image), 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8

Image of Willie O’Ree: click here

“I did nothing wrong”: Advice for bullying victims

Amy Xia
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“I did nothing wrong”: Advice for bullying victims

I did nothing wrong.

As talked about in previous posts, bullying is a serious yet prevailing issue in schools and communities in the entire world. According to a report from the National Center for Educational Statistics in 2019, one out of every five (20.2%) students reported being bullied.

man in black jacket holding white and blue banner

Yet despite continuous efforts from educators, advocates, teachers, and student leaders to reduce cases of bullying in different schools, this issue still persists. In this case, it is immensely important, then, to be equipped with knowledge of how to cope with bullying – if one ever becomes involved as the victim.

person wearing blue denim jeans and red socks

From the official site of the government of Alberta, there are several ways of getting help. There are numerous organizations – such as the support for bullying victims from the Alberta government – that provide help and support for victims. Namely, one can call 310-1818 or text 310-1818, or log on to the bullying support site for an online chat with a professional counselor. 

a woman standing in front of a red wallIn addition to online support, there is some advice one should keep in mind.

 

  1. Do not blame yourself for what you are treated with. It is never your fault that you have become a victim of bullying. Bullying itself is an unacceptable behavior, and the ones committing these behaviors should be the ones to be ashamed. 

black laptop computer turned off

2. Seek help. Like what was mentioned before, there are numerous ways that one can seek help from external sources. A few organizations that can be helpful are: Bullying Canada, Pink Shirt Day, STOMP Out Bullying, and Let’s Defeat Bullying/Let’s Defeat Bullying Alberta. Along with these organizations by educational leaders and advocates, there are always sources of help from official governments, such as the one from Alberta government. Above all of that, seek help and support from loved ones that you can trust, such as parents, teachers, and trusted peers.

a couple of men standing next to each other

3. Keep track of what happened. When it comes to seeking help, it is important for one to keep evidence of bullying incidents to make sure related authorities such as school authorities – or even authorities from police – would have evidence to punish the bullies. Have a document somewhere, record all important information about every bullying incident – date, time, location, what the bullies did. Sometimes it is even more helpful to have more certain evidence such as voice recordings and/or videos of the bullies in their bullying actions.

group of man gathering inside room

Lastly, stay confident and proud – it may be a long time until bullying is completely eliminated, therefore staying strong and confident and arming oneself from the inside will serve to be the most effective way to keep the impacts of bullying to a minimum. 

person shadow boxing grayscale

Stay safe.

 

Sources: 

https://www.alberta.ca/bullying-find-supports

https://actagainstbullying.org/bullying-advice/

https://www.pacer.org/bullying/info/stats.asp

A Tribute to Kids Help Phone

Helen
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A Tribute to Kids Help Phone

Hi! In this post, I’ll be expressing my gratitude to Kids Help Phone (KHP) and delving into the variety of services they offer. 

What is KHP?

KHP provides free 24/7 mental health services to young people. Their vision is to have “a future where every young person in Canada will access the support they need, in the way they need it most”. They believe that young people are experiencing more and more struggles, and they need support. In response, they offer various mental health services.  Not only do they include a variety of mental health services, they are also passionate about inclusivity. They have included initiatives to include Indigenous youth (First Nations, Inuit, and Metis), black youth, 2SLGBTQ+, and more. 

What services do they offer?

  1. Crisis support – texting or calling a trained volunteer responder
  2. Professional counselor – texting or calling a counselor 
  3. Quizzes, games, activities
    1. Quizzes to reflect on what you are feeling
    2. Activities to explore different tools to express your feelings
    3. Games to reduce stress or practicing mindfulness
  4. Mental health tips and information – providing information of thoughts you may be feeling, how to cope, from topics to body image to friends to self-care
  5. Search for mental health support near you
  6. Moderated Forums – connecting with other peers and sharing your own experiences 

For myself, I was introduced to KHP when I was in middle school, and I’ve been regularly using the services they provide to support my mental health. I honestly think that there is never a day where I do not somehow struggle with my mental health, big or small. KHP has truly been an invaluable asset to myself, which is why I wanted to write this post and show appreciation for this organization. If you are struggling even a little, I hope you’ll consider checking out the website (Kids Help Phone). Your mental health matters and no problem is too small. Thank you for reading and take care of yourself. 

Sources: 

https://kidshelpphone.ca/

 

On Black History and Identity – The Work of Simone Saunders

Claire Li
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On Black History and Identity – The Work of Simone Saunders

In light of Black History Month, I would love to share how Calgary artist, Simone Saunders, has empowered Black women through her beautiful and deeply-meaningful textile portraits.

Simone Elizabeth Saunders is a talented artist and performer who focuses on Black identity and belonging. She grew up with a strong passion for theatre, engaging in one of the earliest afrocentric theatre companies in western Canada called Ellipsis Tree Collective. From theatre, Saunders found a deep love for visual arts that blossomed into her creation of textile art that celebrates Black identity. Theatre also inspired Saunders to create art in the form of story telling – a central idea that pushes her to create portraits that spark deep emotions for viewers. 

Simone Saunders’ focus on empowering Black identity started from her observation that colour-blind casting was not very prevalent in the theatre scene. She felt a desire to strengthen the Black community, starting by first exploring her own identity. Today, Saunders uses powerful motifs, symbols, and story images from her Jamaican heritage to create large scale textile portraits of mostly Black women. 

Simone Elizabeth Saunders, Lady Justice, 2021. Courtesy of the artist.

Simone Elizabeth Saunders, Lady Justice, 2021. (Source: Contemporary Calgary) 

Internal Reflections 2022.jpg

Simone Elizabeth Saunders, Internal Reflections, 2022. (Source: Simone’s Hand-Punched Textiles) 

Another element that can be seen in Simone’s work is the mix of the past, present, and future. Simone feels that Black history has long lasting effects that create this intertwining of the past, present, and future for Black individuals and society in general. She represents this idea through her literal action of intertwining the threads when she’s tufting to create the textile portraits. 

A central theme of Saunders’ work is Black womanhood – many of her portraits focus on the beauty of the Black female body and the strength that these women embody. Saunders starts most textile portraits with the eyes, often making the figure’s eyes focus directly on the viewer. The direct eye contact is used to symbolize that Black woman are strong and not “diminutive or demure.” Many admirers of Saunders work note that the strong eye contact of her female figures seems to invite the viewer in while also commanding the space in a powerful manner. 

Simone Elizabeth Saunders, Four Queens, 2020. Courtesy of the artist.

Simone Elizabeth Saunders, Four Queens, 2020 (Source: Contemporary Calgary) 

Simone’s work has truly made a deep impact on not only the Black community but society as a whole. Her textile portraits highlight the strength of Black individuals and their connection to history. Simone is making a lasting impact in celebrating Black history and identity!

Featured Image (Simone Elizabeth Saunders, Affirmations of Day, 2022), Source1/Source2

The More You Know – Nervous System Edition

Bhavani Potdar
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The More You Know – Nervous System Edition

Have you ever wondered how the brain works? How we, as such an amazingly complex species are able to function?

Well – the answer to this is through the running of our nervous system. In this blog, we will be exploring the seemingly simple phenomenon that allows us to run our highly complex structures today.

Underlying Concepts

Behind the running of our nervous system (as well as our other body structures), there is two underlying principles – homeostasis and negative feedback. Homeostasis is the constant internal environment that our body works to maintain through “negative feedback” loops – where a sensor detects an imbalance, signals a control center, and activates an effector that reverses or stabilizes, making the body regain its balance.

The Neuron

The cells of the nervous system are called neurons and they work to conduct nerve impulses. Their structure is based on having dendrites that collect nerve impulses from the sensors in the body and send an action potential or electrical impulse along the axon to the central nervous system when in any imbalance. The central nervous system, composed of the brain and the spinal cord, decides how to react or how our body’s response would be.

The most fascinating part of the nervous system cells or neurons is how they are able to transfer this electrical impulse to the central parts. Well – this is through a relatively simple yet beautiful way by sodium potassium pumps.

  • The plasma membrane of almost all cells has an electrical potential of -70mV (resting potential). When a nerve cells recieves any stimulus, it becomes permeable to more sodium ions which enter and cause a reversal of charge called depolarization (the cell membrane has a potential of 40mV). The flow of postively charged ions toward the adjacent resting areas causes an electrical distrubance, that triggers a wave of depolarization along the membrane.
  • Neurotransmitters at the end of the nerve cells and receptors at the start of the next nerve cell allow the transfer of this action potential or impulse along multiple neurons until it reaches the central nervous system.

One very cool fact about the central nervous system is our reflexes – our involuntary actions that protect us from stimulus in the environment. Within reflexes, the neurons convey the message to the spinal cord before the brain – so we often react before we even interpret what is happening. This is why we move back our hands when we touch the stove, even before we scream or realize the pain!

The Central Nervous System

Now, we come to the brain and the spinal cord- the two fundamental operating sectors of the body, which compose the central nervous system.

The spinal cord is responsible for co-ordinating the body in its response. In the case of reflexes, it contains interneurons that connect sensory neurons to motor neurons in order to generate a fast response. It also carries this information to the brain for intrepretation. Emerging from the skull, the spinal cord extends through the backbone, with nerve tissues called white matter and grey matter. It is protected by the vertebral column (bones that encases it and protects it from any damage).

The brain comprises of three regions: the forebrain, the midbrain, and the hindbrain. Each hemisphere is composed of different lobes, with futher components of each lobe into distinct parts. There is incredible detail into the anatomy of the brain and the several complex structures that you can find in this website. The cerebrum controls movement and regulates internal temperature, in addition to several other functions such handling the senses, or emotions. The brain stem connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord in order to encompass the central nervous system. On the whole, the brain in composed of 60% fat containing blood vessels, nerves, and neurons, encased by the cranum built to protect it. One fun fact is that there is an estimated number of approx. 100 billion neurons in a fully mature human brain.

TL;DR

On the whole, the brain and the spinal cord are incredibly important structures that allow us to be human – give us the ability to think, feel, and experience emotions as we do as homo sapiens. Learning and understanding information about the brain can help us understand and appreciate the incredible complexity of the body that we have. Always remember, “ignorance is bliss, but knowledge is power.” The more you know.

Sources: 1 / 2

Sora: Open AI’s New Text-To-Video Generator

Lucy Choi
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Sora: Open AI’s New Text-To-Video Generator

Sora has been announced by OpenAI, the San Francisco-based company famously known as the creator of Chat GPT and Dall-e image generator. Sora is the latest upgrade in generic artificial intelligence that can make short realistic videos from written prompts, which was unveiled on Thursday.

What can Sora do?

It can create high-quality videos of up to a minute in length from a command of short text (prompt). In addition, Sora can extend a short video or convert a photo into a video. Examples include a range from animated monsters and kangaroos to realistic videos such as a woman walking down a street in Tokyo or a cinematic video of a spaceman on a salt desert.

The tool is currently in a testing phase for a limited number of creators and is not yet publicly available. 

What differentiates Sora?

Meta, Google, startup Runaway ML, and other companies have already demonstrated the text-to-video technology before Sora. However, Sora demonstrates a high-quality video, and it raises ethical and societal concerns for some groups of people. 

OpenAI addressed this problem by quoting,

“We are working with red teamers — domain experts in areas like misinformation, hateful content, and bias — who will be adversarially testing the model,” the company said in its statement. “We’re also building tools to help detect misleading content, such as a detection classifier that can tell when Sora generated a video.”

Open AI also added they are creating new techniques to prioritize ethics and ensure the implementation of safety precautions that are used in programs such as DALL·E 3 for Sora. For example, Open AI says their text classifier will check and reject text input prompts violating their usage policies. The usage policies include extreme violence, hateful imagery, sexual content, celebrity likeness or the IP of others. Open AI has developed an image classifier that reviews the frames of every video generated to ensure that it adheres to policies before it is provided to the user. 

Safety Tool to Test Sora

Open AI addressed that the current Sora model has weaknesses, including confusing right and left or failing to maintain visual continuity throughout the video.

Open AI said, “We’ll be engaging policymakers, educators and artists worldwide to understand their concerns and to identify positive use cases for this new technology.”

The company said they would implement adversarial testing called red-teaming on Sora to strengthen safety. Red-teaming will make dedicated users try to make the platform fail by producing inappropriate content.

Article Sources 1 / 2 / 3

Image Sources 1

Celebrate Black History Month: Daisy Bates

Jeanne Y
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Celebrate Black History Month: Daisy Bates

February is Black History Month. A time to commemorate the contributions of important Black figures in history, as well as a time to respect and remember the difficult fight for diversity and racial equality. This article will be celebrating the life and contributions of a nationally recognized black American woman by the name of Daisy Bates.

Her Story

In 1917, racism exposed itself to three-year-old Daisy Bates for the first time when three white men attempted to sexually assault, and eventually murdered, her mother. Fearing attack from those who did not want an investigation into the crime forced her father to leave. Only just a baby, Daisy Bates was left behind as an orphan and raised in a foster home. There was no investigation for the crime that tore the family apart.

Daisy Bates met her future husband at a young age, and together they travelled around southern US. They eventually settled in Little Rock, Arkansas, and wrote a newspaper together which they called The Arkansas Weekly. It was solely dedicated to the Civil Rights Movement, and collaborated with many Civil Rights organizations. This made her a popular figure in the movement.

The Little Rock Nine Project

The Little Rock High School

When the Supreme Court ruled segregated schools as unconstitutional in 1954, Bates began pushing to enroll black students at established “white” schools. She persisted, although many schools rejected the students. She used her newspaper to publicize the schools that accepted the black children. Due to her role in the integration of black students however, she quickly became a target of aggression and had to shut down the newspaper soon after to ensure her own safety.

Daisy Bates is best known for her project known as “The Little Rock Nine,” which involved ending racial segregation at The Little Rock High School by enrolling nine black students. On the first day of school, police officers had to sneak the students into the building for fear of protesters. Despite the precaution, when protesters discovered that there were black students within the school, they confronted the guards. The students had to be taken home, but they returned the next day escorted by U.S. Army paratroopers.

Further Contribution

Bates worked relentlessly to ensure the safety of the students she enrolled, joining the school’s parent council and consistently advising the children. All of them graduated, and after the success of her project Bates began to write memoirs. The First Lady at the time, Eleanor Roosevelt, wrote a foreword for the book highly praising it. This gathered a lot of attention for Daisy Bates. She used it to advance her efforts in the Civil Rights Movement, and eventually won national recognition for her efforts against racism. Because she was one of the only female civil rights figures, she recieved an invitation to speak at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963.

Daisy Bates died in 1999, and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Freedom. She will forever be remembered as a crucial figure in the Civil Rights Movement and in desegregation of American schools.

Sources: 1, 2

Driving in Winter Conditions

Hanrong
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Driving in Winter Conditions

Featured Image by Julius Silver from Pixabay

A normally relaxing activity turned nervous

Here in Canada, February marks the last full month of winter each year. However, the warmer temperatures still mostly elude us, and we continue to deal with the challenges of snow and ice as presented by the winter season. Traveling is perhaps one of the daily routine tasks that has been made the most difficult by the winter conditions, and it is crucial to stay safe when reckless behaviors only put everyone in jeopardy.

Preparing for the weather

Changing to winter tires is usually the first thing many drivers do to prepare for the oncoming winter. It is generally recommended to switch tires when the temperature falls less than 7 degrees Celsius. In advance, it would also be very beneficial to check the vehicle’s battery, brakes, heater, and windshield wipers before the snow and extreme cold season starts.

An emergency kit is also highly necessary for winter driving. An emergency kit should not only include a first aid kit, but also blankets, maps, extra clothing, flashlights, a fire extinguisher, and in some cases, a set of booster cables. Always keep the car’s gas tank more than halfway filled to reduce excess moisture building in the gas tank. This protects the car and ensures the driver won’t ever have to run out of fuel while driving in freezing conditions. 

Every time before going out when snowing, check to make sure that the lights, as well as the license plates, are visible and free of snow and ice. It is also highly important to clean snow off of the windows (including side windows) and the side view mirrors. 

Image by Ioannis Ioannidis from Pixabay

Driving Techniques

The Alberta Government website presents many good tips and advice on how to drive when the roads are slick and the daylight time is short. First, the speed at which drivers travel must be slower than the posted speed limit; individual conditions still vary, so make sure to still keep a proper speed on highways. Also, when encountering snowplows, follow behind them at a safe distance, until they permit you to pass by them. We should respect the safety of city road workers, as they are doing the great task of cleaning up our streets from snow. 

It is also important that sudden turns, accelerating, and braking should be avoided. It is simply best to keep a safe following distance (in fact, three times as long as how you normally would keep) with the car ahead while avoiding exaggerated changes in speed and direction when turning or changing lanes. Also, drivers traveling on rural highways should not use cruise control, as it severely impedes the ability of the driver to make adjustments based on real-life condition changes.

When driving on bridge decks, always exercise an increased amount of caution, as the heat that warms up the ground is often reduced on bridges, making these settings more slippery to travel on. When driving through roads with natural curves, just keep the speed at an appropriate pace before entering the curve, and hold it steady. For traveling up hills, also make sure to keep the speed relatively constant throughout.

Losing control of the vehicle is very common in winter driving conditions. When this happens, the first thing the driver needs to do is to stay calm, and not brake harshly. Instead, release the brake and steer the wheel in the right direction. Start braking only when the car is under control again.

It truly takes the effort of everybody in the city, the residents, road workers, and the government (which provides Highway Operations), to maintain a high standard of safety when driving in extreme wintry conditions. As such, let’s all be responsible, patient, and prudent drivers and make sure everyone can get to their destination successfully at the end of the day! 

5 Easy Recipes to Celebrate Lunar New Years

Jeanne Y
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5 Easy Recipes to Celebrate Lunar New Years

Welcome the Year of the Dragon on the Lunar Calendar with a few traditional celebratory dishes!

Commonly known as “Chinese New Years,” this holiday is actually celebrated all over Eastern Asia. These countries include Vietnam, Japan, and South Korea. Similar to the Gregorian New Year (which is celebrated on the first of January in many places, including Europe and North America), there are many traditional festivities that go along with the holiday. These festivities change slightly depending on regions and cultures, but welcoming the Lunar New Year everywhere typically has a few things in common: firecrackers, red envelopes, and food.

Lots and lots of food.

Although the foods eaten during Lunar New Years also vary depending on where it is being celebrated, show some appreciation for a different holiday with these four recipes of the most common foods eaten during Lunar New Years!

1. Dumplings

One of my personal favorites, dumplings are arguably one of the most versatile foods ever. Really the only thing that stays consistent is the shape. There are endless combinations of of filling types, including pork, shrimp, and eggs with chives. When I was younger, dumplings made up the majority of my diet because they were so versatile. My mom even used to fill a few with brown sugar as dessert!

It’s considered lucky to eat dumplings on Lunar New Years because they resemble money pockets. This symbolizes prosperity and fortune during the upcoming year. You can cook them in a variety of ways, including pan-fried (which is also known as potstickers), boiled, and steamed.

Making dumplings is also traditionally done with the family, because it can be quite time consuming. So if you’re looking for an afternoon project that will involve the whole family (and result in a scrumptious dinner), here is a pretty basic recipe that you can easily adjust to your own tastes.

2. Spring Rolls

Like dumplings, spring rolls also symbolize prosperity. Their golden brown color and long shapes resemble gold bars, and it’s said that eating spring rolls can bring good fortune.

The wrapping, filling mixtures, and cooking methods also greatly vary on the culture from which they come from, but one thing remains the same: spring rolls make an incredibly tasty appetizer and side dish. They can be served alongside many different dishes and sauces, and it’s this versatility that makes spring rolls such a hit.

It might be more convenient to find frozen spring rolls from the grocery store, but I beg you to give this homemade recipe a shot. Like hot cocoa and chocolate chip cookies, spring rolls are simply better when they’re made at home!

3. Deep-Fried Sesame Balls

Deep-fried sesame balls are to die for. My personal favorite dessert of all time, the golden deep-fried sesame balls are made from glutinous rice, rolled in sesame, and filled with either sweet red bean paste, or with black sesame paste.

Similar to other desserts eaten during the Lunar New Year, their round shape and golden color symbolizes luck. This is because the Chinese word for “round” is yuán, which sounds very similar to the word for “luck”, which is yùn.

You can find these amazing desserts at Asian supermarkets like T&T, or you can try this recipe!

4. Changshou Mian (Longetivity Noodles)

These noodles are similar to the Japanese ramen, but the noodles are wider and lack the distinctive curl of ramen. The literal translation of changshou mein being “long life noodles,” this dish stars noodles which symbolize having a long life!

Changshou mian has many different adaptations and styles, and it’s very simple to make. With lots of different toppings and soup bases, this traditional Chinese noodle soup is simple and absolutely delicious. Try out this recipe!

Happy Lunar New Years!

My Life with the Walter Boys – What you need to know

Diya Kunisetty
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My Life with the Walter Boys – What you need to know

SPOILER ALERT for Netflix’s “My Life with the Walter Boys”! (Book is also available. Author: Ali Novak)

Jackie Howard is a teenage girl living a perfect life. She has a wonderful family consisting of a fashion-designer mom, a loving dad, and an amazing older sister. She attends an all-girls prep school in Manhattan, New York, and is currently on track to getting into her dream school. Princeton. As we are first introduced to her in the show, Jackie is portrayed as being a highly intelligent, goal-oriented, and very ambitious girl. But all of a sudden, she receives some terrible news during an event (that Jackie happened to organize).

Her whole family died in a car accident.

After the tragic incident, Jackie is thrown away from her privileged, preppy life in New York, and is welcomed into a rural home in Colorado. Jackie moves into a “seemingly” ordinary family – except for the fact that she has to live with 10 boys.

Katherine and George Walter were extremely close family friends with Jackie’s parents, so her parents ensured that if anything ever happened to them, Jackie would live with the Walters.

As Jackie moves in with the Walters, we are introduced to the boys:

Will, Cole, Danny, Nathan, Alex, Isaac, Lee, Jordan, Parker, and Benny.

Things start to get pretty interesting on the show as a love triangle emerges between Jackie, Alex, and Cole (the two love interests of the show). Cole is more of the “popular, football player” kind of guy, while Alex is the “sweet book-ish” boy. As we progress through the show we learn a lot about their different personality types- and the fact that both Alex and Cole like Jackie.

Throughout the show, many dramatic events occur and we learn a lot about Cole and Alex’s relationship (it ain’t good)- which helps deepen the plot and create rich, yet stereotypical characters. I’m not saying that it is a bad thing that Cole and Alex are the stereotypical love interests (popular blonde athletic boy, and shy book boy), because the directors were still able to hook the viewers to the show.

One thing that made everyone in the show (including the viewers) so attracted to Cole, was because of this thing called “The Cole Effect”. “The Cole Effect” was a saying that went around school because Cole Walter was so “irresistible “. (Let’s just say he was hot). Alex on the other hand was the kind, sensitive, brunette boy, who treated Jackie like a princess.

Many cute and romantic moments happen between both Jackie and Alex and between Jackie and Cole which makes the decision between the two even more difficult.

In the middle of the show, Jackie then makes the shocking decision of who she wants. (Woah, imagine having to pick between 2 cute guys fighting over you). She chooses Alex.

As the show progresses, with many mixed feelings between Jackie, Cole, and Alex, something shocking occurs. In the last episode, after the wedding of Will and his fiancé Hayley, viewers are given the surprising- yet much-needed event of the show.

Jackie and Cole kiss.

After “The Kiss”, the next scene shows Jackie on a flight back to New York.

What just happened there?! Why did she just leave like that – after such a plot-twisting scene? What happened between Jackie and Alex? Does this mean that Cole and Jackie were the “meant to be” couple of the show? How could they just end the show on a cliffhanger?!

My Life with the Walter Boys gives us such an unexpected ending and leaves viewers pining for 2nd season.

Now here is the real question- should YOU watch the show?

I guess that depends on whether or not you like “coming-of-age” teen romance shows, or if you’re more of a James Bond & Mission Impossible kind of guy.

But trust me- “My Life With the Walter Boys” is something you don’t want to miss out on!

Source: 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

An update on the colonization of Mars

Crystal Lattice
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An update on the colonization of Mars
Introduction

Mars: the fourth planet in our solar system that has the possibility to inhabit life in the future. More than 50 years ago, humans have had their first mark on the moon. However, today, one of humanity’s biggest goals is to colonize Mars. With significant advancements in technology and with more to come, this insane goal may come to light in the far future. From space companies, like Space X, to researching Mars’ behavior as a planet, there are still incredible things to be done before humanity colonizes Mars, let alone reach the planet. When it comes to exploring the universe, humanity has sent satellites and drones incredibly far into the universe. Some of these technologies have passed beyond Neptune, the eight planet in our solar system. However, there is frighteningly little of the universe that humans are yet to colonize, including Mars.

Spacecraft travelling in space
Image by Victoria from Pixabay

Elon Musk and space industry’s current plans

Elon Musk, the founder of Space X, has planned to put the first person on Mars by 2029. However, the main challenge to achieve this is to safely transport that first person to the surface of Mars. On top of the harmful planet’s conditions, there are also problems that humans can encounter either on their way or when they are on Mars, including radiation, gravity, and mental health issues.

Elon Musk in a black screen with Mars on it
Image by Tumisu from Pixabay

Currently, along with the majority of space industries, Elon Musk and Space X’s plan is to test rockets and modify them so it can reach Mars safely. However, this is not an easy task and the Space X Starship has not yet made a successful flight. Although there is constant revolutionized changes to the rocket industry, getting a rocket to Mars is incredibly difficult. At the moment, there is not enough technology to create a suitable rocket that can safely land humans to Mars. With as low as 40% successful unmanned landing missions on Mars ever, technology is yet to be reliable for humans. In spite of that, those 40% landings prove that it is possible to transport materials to Mars. This means that it is just a matter of time before space industries improve to the point where humans can go to Mars!

Space Station on Mars
Image by Mollyroselee from Pixabay

Is it ever possible to colonize Mars?

There are a lot of controversy of whether it is ever possible to colonize Mars. While the answer to this question still remains uncertain, there are unfortunately more observed evidence against Mars’ ability to inhabit humans. For example, Mars is hundreds of degrees colder than earth and has a hundred times less atmosphere. To add on that, Mars’ atmosphere also has much less oxygen.

Mars
Photo by Javier Miranda on Unsplash

On the bright side, there are ideas of “terraforming Mars” ; to modify its atmosphere and make it suitable for human life. These ideas involve melting Mars’ polar ice caps, which would release trapped carbon dioxide molecules, a greenhouse gas, into Mars’ atmosphere and warm the planet over a long period time. However, at the moment, there are realistic arguments against the possibility of this of “terraforming Mars” from happening. With arguments ranging from our lack of necessary technology to Mars’ weaker magnetic core (meaning it cannot keep these gases from eroding), it does not seem possible to colonize the frozen and oxygen-deprived Mars at this moment. However, as humanity revolutionizes, it may be possible to colonize a habitable Mars in the far future.

Terraforming Mars, making it more Earth-like
Image by Tumisu from Pixabay – “Terraforming Mars”

 

How advancing technology can promise to help colonize Mars if possible

It is clear that technology has advanced over the years. From being able to fly in airplanes today to landings on the moon, there definitely been improvements throughout every industry. Along with technological advancements, there has been rovers that have been successfully placed on Mars to send information to us. One of these rovers currently exploring Mars’ surface is called Curiosity. Curiosity has first been placed on Mars with the purpose of searching for evidence that Mars had once supported Earth-like life. However, its current purpose is to help us study how Mars transformed into an inhospitable desert. All of this is to help us prepare for exploration on Mars. Curiosity is an example of a promising technology that can help colonize Mars is possible. By being able to transmit information, Curiosity helps humans learn about Mars, and there are many other technologies contributing to what we know about Mars.

A rover on Mars
Image by WikiImages from Pixabay
– A rover on Mars

Along with advancing technology to receive information about Mars, space industries, like NASA, is also advancing to send humans to Mars. As efficiency is a main consideration, space industries are working on figuring out how to use energy and space wisely. One of NASA’s ideas is to reduce travel time to get to Mars by testing powerful propulsion systems, like nuclear electric rockets. Some other ideas include “inflatable heat shields” for landings, high-tech spacesuits, and mobile research suitable laboratories. Although these ideas are under maintenance and heavy testing, these innovative technologies could promise a future of colonizing Mars.

Astronaut in a space suit
Image by WikiImages from Pixabay

The idea of colonizing a planet is an incredibly difficult task to achieve, and it almost seems impossible. However, this idea is indeed possible, as shown from the technological advancements and discoveries earlier. Although it will possibly take more generations for this idea to come to light, it is still entirely possible to colonize Mars. The space industry has certainly progressed over the years and in time, the industry and technology can improve to not only potentially colonize Mars, but also have the potential to physically explore the rest of our solar system!

Spacecraft travelling next to a planet
Image by Peter Schmidt from Pixabay

Source: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5

Images: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 (Featured Image) , 6 , 7 , 8

Embracing Disconnect: The Significance of Unplugging

Kassidy Thompson
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Embracing Disconnect: The Significance of Unplugging

Our society has become increasingly reliant on technology in our everyday lives. We utilize it for navigation, to communicate with others and to find information, among other things. Let’s take a moment to think: Can you name at least one person in your circle that doesn’t own a computer and/or a touch-screen phone? I know that I can’t.

Originally, technology was meant to simplify out lives, however, it seems as though our lives have began to revolve around it. Phone addiction is prevalent. It’s rare to encounter a teen, like myself, who can go longer than 30 minutes without feeling the need to check their phone. While acknowledging that phones do not pose the same risks as drugs, it’s crucial to recognize that addiction, in any form, warrants serious attention and consideration within our society.

P.S: Brain scans show that screen time activates the same neural loops that narcotics do.

What Exactly Does It Mean To Unplug?

In short, unplugging means to disconnect from the online world by taking time away from your devices. Unplugging is important because it’s been proven to improve stress levels, mental health, attention span, boost creativity and solidify relationships.

Why Is It Important?

As previously mentioned, the act of unplugging has proven to improve relationships. Extensive research indicates that heightened phone usage correlates to decreased face-to-face interactions on average. Yet, beyond the statistics lies a truth we inherently recognize: our addiction to technology.

More often a distraction than a tool, technology frequently pulls us away from the present moment, diminishing opportunities for meaningful connections with those around us. This being said, increased phone usage facilitates isolation and tends to lead to introversion and social anxiety. Given our innate social nature, prioritizing genuine relationships, both platonic and romantic, is crucial for personal growth an the development of interpersonal skills.

Sources: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 /

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