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Johnny Gaudreau’s Return To Calgary

Daniyal Sait
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On Monday, January 23rd, 2023, Johnny Gaudreau made his return to Calgary, playing in the Scotiabank Saddledome for the first time as a member of the opposing team. While no longer on the home side, Gaudreau remained prominent in the memory of all fans in attendance – and I was fortunate enough to be one of those fans. Here are a few key takeaways from my experience at one of the most eventful Calgary Flames games of the season.

I was cheering for Gaudreau all night long, and for those who know me well enough, this comes as no surprise. However, it turned out that I was part of the minority in doing so, as most fans in the building showered Gaudreau with boos every time he touched the puck throughout the entire game. But amidst this unfavourable reaction that provided a clear answer for those who questioned whether or not his return would be well-received, there was a bright spot for Johnny Gaudreau midway through the first period. Despite the bitter end to an unfinished run, the thousands of fans at the Dome rose to honour Johnny Gaudreau’s time as a Flame with a standing ovation as the following tribute played on the energy board: Watch Johnny Gaudreau’s tribute video here.

A picture I took at the game, featuring the energy board’s message moments before the Saddledome rose for a standing ovation.

Beyond the emotional aspect of Gaudreau’s return, the game itself was filled with exciting moments. Milan Lucic, one of the best fighters in the NHL, fought Mathieu Olivier of the Columbus Blue Jackets (and won, of course). Johnny Gaudreau happened to get hooked on a breakaway chance early in the game and was awarded a penalty shot – something that certainly doesn’t happen everyday. Adding to the drama, Gaudreau missed the net and Flames fans erupted into cheers. This kept the game tied at zero. Six goals later, the game was headed to overtime at 3-3. Finally, and most importantly, the Flames finished the job with an overtime winner from Dillon Dube – his first career overtime goal. A fitting end to a battle against the guy who’s tied for most overtime goals in franchise history. Gaudreau finished the night with 2 primary assists, 11 shot attempts, 5 shots on goal, 9 scoring chances, and 3 high danger chances, earning 2nd star of the game. A reminder that he’s still the electric player Calgary once loved. 

In the end, the Calgary Flames had the last laugh. Until next time, Johnny.

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Party Ideas

Kassidy Thompson
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People of all ages will likely be exposed to partying at some point in their life. It’s a great way to have a good time, create new experiences and meet new people. Although each party you attend will be different, they usually fall into similar categories. Honestly, I feel like parties have lowkey gotten a little lame…we’ve lost our creativity. I think that having a theme to your party or some sort of activity can make it 101001x better.

  • Pool Party

Enjoying Pool Party With Friends Stock Photo - Download Image Now - Pool Party, Swimming Pool, Party - Social Event - iStock

Pool parties are honestly the most hype kind of parties. It will NEVER, EVER be boring. If you don’t have a pool in your backyard or know someone with a pool, then this probably isn’t for you.. but public pools always exist. If you’re open to that.

  • Themed Party

How to Throw a Great Gatsby Themed Party - Haute Off The Rack | Gatsby party outfit, Gatsby party dress, Great gatsby themed party

Themed parties are not limited to kids. There’s so many different themes that are ‘mature’ or not seen as juvenile. Some trendy, cute ideas are: murder mystery party, costume party, 80s, tv shows/movies, masquerade, the great gatsby and glow in the dark.

  • Barbeque

Don't Let Your Barbeque Party End Up In Flames: A Few Safety Tips

Most people can bond over their love for food. One thing I love about a barbeque, is that you can smell it from miles away (even if it’s not yours). It takes so much self-restraint to not jump into my neighbour’s yard and help myself. I think that a barbeque would be great for close friends, or maybe acquaintances. Personally, I wouldn’t invite “strangers” because I see a barbeque as something that’s more intimate and shared with people that are close to you.

  • Slumber Party

Page 18 | Slumber Parties Images - Free Download on Freepik

For me, sleepovers have always been a great way to quickly bond with people. I’ve been to sleepovers where I knew them for at most 2 weeks, and we became great friends. Of course, if you barely know the person there are precautions you need to take in order to remain safe. This is just MY personal experience.

  • Costume Party

15 Tips for Hosting an Adult Halloween Party

Costume parties are exhilarating and are so fun to get ready for. Idk, it’s just a great way to bond with people because there are so many conversation starters and ways to bond.

  • Dinner Party

14 Restaurants Designed to Feel Like Dinner Parties | Restaurants : Food Network | Food Network

(P.S): a good party = LOTS of food/snacks.

Calgary’s Best Study Spots

Iman Alvi
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Study spaces: you can find them anywhere. Especially with the return of diploma exams and finals, with at least a somewhat higher weighting than last year, any student can attest that finding a good study space was essential in the process of maintaining focus to study this past exam season. With the rush of exams having just passed, I thought it appropriate to share some of the places within the city that I found great in the city. 

Libraries

Libraries have long remained a classic study space for students of any age to drop by, and for good reason. Many of the public libraries in Calgary can be suitable study places, providing a quiet place (with wifi!) to go over school material, however, the Calgary Central library remains to be one of my favorite spots within the city. Unsurprisingly, the building has garnered a large reputation among residents for being a popular study space for students looking for a quiet but spacious place to go to. While it can get slightly louder during the weekends, the top floors of the facility often muffle any volume of events. The option of booking a meeting room for larger group sessions always remains open as well to students, and Luke’s Coffee on the bottom floor can provide a much-needed caffeine boost if needed. 

The Memorial Park Library is another popular place for high school or college students to go to. Not only is it accessible, its location bordering both south and north train terminals downtown, but the staff is widely considered to be incredibly accommodating for anyone who comes in. 

Cafes

Coffee shops have been a study-friendly haven for years. Not only do cafes provide a quiet place with few distractions (depending on the cafe in particular), but they have been proven to increase alertness and creativity in the past. The caffeine and other assorted baked goods available are, of course, an added benefit. Now, there are far too many cafes and coffee shops littered around Calgary with their own individual charm and appeal for me to go through every single one, but here are some of my favorites at least. 

Monogram Coffee has four different locations located in Calgary all with gorgeous natural light, clean and thoughtful space, minimalist decoration, friendly service, and delicious caffeinated beverages. It’s a perfect environment for studying or simply a comfortable place to go with friends for that break between exams. The fact that it is a local, independent business is just a nice boost.

If you don’t mind the potential business of the road nearby, the Oolong Tea House in Kensington is another great location. Their selection of teas is amazing for a cozy study session, and you can stay for hours without being bothered. I would recommend taking transit to get there if possible, just so nobody has to deal with the hassle of finding a parking space, but the cafe is definitely worth the trip if you want to get out of your house. 

A bit of nature

Exam season often means long hours hunched over desks, whether they be inside your house or another of the previously mentioned locations, but studies have shown either getting outside or experiencing some more nature around you can actually help the review process. Research indicates that time spent in nature can be connected to mental and cognitive health benefits, as well as improvements in mood and well-being. While the Devonian Gardens are the only indoor public park in the city, the so-called “urban oasis” is perfect for the cold weather that Calgary can never seem to get rid of. Located on the top floor of the CORE Shopping Centre, the garden is home to waterfalls, trees, and thousands of plants all encased in it. It is easy to find a small corner of the lush and open spaces of the gardens to have some serene time to study. 

However, if you are looking for something outdoors, the other public parks also offer a space for nice breaks. The green spaces green space outside of the Lougheed House, for example, are great for studying in warmer weather with more friends. 

In the end, where you study all depends on where you feel most comfortable, but feel free to take advantage of the numerous spaces Calgary does provide. Maybe you will even find a new favorite in the next exam season yet to come.

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Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4]

Who Are You?

Ishra Islam
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Identity. A word that can mean so many distinct things for different people. It can be a compilation of one’s memories, feelings and experiences. It can be your family, your background, or your friends. Identity can be a term to describe anything that makes a person, them. The only issue is, it can be complicated to understand who you are. It is not easy to compile an entire individual’s life experiences, habits and character into a set, and definite category. Yet human nature pushes us to assign names and structure to everything around us. 

Well, in the field of psychology, a widely known personality classification system has been developed, known as Myers-Briggs Type Indicator System. The Myers-Briggs Assessment is based on a set of 8 functions theorized by a renowned and distinguished Swiss psychiatrist, known as Carl Jung. He developed the 8 functions as follows:

  1. Extraverted Thinking (Te)
  2. Introverted Thinking  (Ti)
  3. Extraverted Feeling (Fe) 
  4. Introverted Feeling (Fi))
  5. Extraverted Sensation (Se)
  6. Introverted Sensation (Si)
  7. Extraverted Intuition (Ne)
  8. Introverted Intuition (Ni)

If you are already familiar with personality types, you may notice that the categories “judging” and “perceiving” are missing. These groups were only later added to the Myers-Briggs system in particular. Depending on which functions are dominant in descending order, your personality type is described using a 4 letter combination. 

Each function is categorized as introverted or extraverted, meaning what happens inside the mind and outside the mind respectively. The four perceiving functions are extraverted sensing, introverted sensing, extraverted intuition and introverted intuition. The “perceiving” functions are characterized as how a person perceives information given to them. The judging functions are extraverted thinking, extraverted feeling, introverted thinking and introverted feeling. The “judging” functions are characterized as how a person makes their decisions. Each function has a specific meaning to it, for example, extraverted thinking is the making of decisions using objective facts whereas introverted thinking is decision-making through logic, data, classifications and personal theories. 

What I think sets aside Jung’s personality classification from others is the ambiguity associated with its core systems. Jung recognized that individuals are far too complicated to be defined through one label and instead settled on the philosophy that everyone has a bit of each function. Still, some are stronger and weaker for different people, characterised by the archetypes of dominant, auxiliary, tertiary and so on functions. He even uses that philosophy among introversion and extraversion- as someone who is an introvert is not completely an introvert, they are just more of an introvert in comparison to an extrovert.

 

Above are the 16 Myers-Briggs personality types composed of 4 letters with their associated Jungian dominant and weak functions listed. The dominant function is the strongest function of that personality type- what trait that type uses the most and strongly. The Auxiliary function is the second most strongly used function, and so on with the other archetypes following this pattern down the chart, with your 8th and last function (the “demon” function) being your weakest function.

While the Myers-Briggs system uses the Jungian function system as its base, its types are characterised by 8 letters, each having its own meaning.

First Letter:

  1. I – introversion
  2. E – extraversion

Second Letter:

  1. S – sensing
  2. N – intuition

Third Letter:

  1. T – thinking
  2. F – feeling

Fourth Letter:

  1. P – perceiving
  2. J – judging

 

So for example, an INTJ is introverted, and uses intuition, thinking and judging. Each of these personality types has personality descriptions and associated traits. with them

In the Myers-Briggs community, it is suggested to find your personality type using your own research into the functions and what best fits your personality, for which I recommend careerplanner.com which has detailed insights on each of the functions and explains the Jungian system in an understandable manner. After all, who knows you best rather than yourself? Nevertheless, if you are looking for a quick outlook on where you fit into this system, you can use the popular 16 personality test. On a side note, I did find that the mistype investigator personality test can give you a more accurate personality assessment in comparison to 16 personalities, as it is considered by experts to be an oversimplified version of the actual 16 personality types. However, it is still a great resource as it sums up each personality in an easily digestible manner for those who have just discovered these concepts!

Whether it be for self-discovery or career planning, finding your personality type can give you a feeling of self-fulfilment and help you understand yourself and the people around you in a clearer light. Even so, you can find fictional characters with the same personalities as you using a personality database! Once you know which personality type you are there is a lot of room for exploration and research, and I hope that you also can find the same enjoyment in learning about yourself in the same way that I do.

 

Featured Images: 1

Image Sources: 1/2

What is Toxic Positivity?

Natalie
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We have all heard the sayings, “be positive!” and, “always look on the bright side!” from the people who care about us. But sometimes, even though they are just trying to help us out, these kinds of sentiments only serve to worsen our mood. That is because of something called toxic positivity.

Nowadays, we have all been hearing the word “toxic” thrown around. Toxic relationships, toxic masculinity, toxic environments… toxic, toxic, toxic! However, not many people have heard the term “toxic positivity.” That is why I am here, to explain it to you and provide you with healthier alternatives!

So, What Is Toxic Positivity?

According to Psychology Today, “toxic positivity is the act of avoiding, suppressing, or rejecting negative emotions or experiences.” Essentially, it refers to denying or demeaning others’ emotions, or forcing those around you to always just be happy. Sometimes, it can even escalate to the point that people who have experienced a devastating loss or trauma are told that “it happened for a reason” or “other people have it worse”.  In many cases, toxic positivity is self-inflicted. Because of multiple factors, people pressure themselves to always be happy and never have a bad day. Often, this happens unconsciously or with good intentions. Unfortunately, good intentions do not always equate to good outcomes.

What Are the Consequences?

As we saw in the last paragraph, toxic positivity can deny and demean emotions that are perfectly normal and human. It can also isolate people, sending a message that no one cares about their feelings. To someone who has lost a loved one, it can feel like people never really cared about the deceased person. It also fails to solve the underlying reason for those negative emotions. Instead, it buries them deep beneath the shame and guilt of not being happy all the time. Toxic positivity can also cause stigma and doubt around people in abusive situations or with mental health problems, especially when the whole world is telling them that it’s not that bad. That they just need to have hope.

What Are Some Alternatives?

We all want to help out our loved ones, and learning this may have left you feeling confused and lost on how to proceed. But what we as a collective society needs to learn is that sheer, blinding positivity isn’t the only way to navigate our negative emotions. In fact, toxic positivity isn’t a way to do that at all! Instead, here are some other ways that you can be there for your loved ones.

Validate Their Feelings

We all know the feeling of being told to just “think happy thoughts!” when we are upset, and frankly, it does the exact opposite of cheering us up. Hearing that from someone just pushes you further into the deep, dark pit of despair.

A better way to go about sadness, anger, and all the other daunting emotions that we feel is to validate them. You may not understand these emotions that you or your loved ones are experiencing, and that is completely alright. But you can still acknowledge that they are normal. That they may make you feel horrible, but you are not a bad or abnormal person because you feel that way. In these situations, I find it best to sit with your emotions, and listen. Because there is always a root, and part of feeling better is to understand where these emotions came from.

Decrease the Stigma Around Feeling Bad

One of the reasons that toxic positivity is such a widespread yet unknown thing is because there is a huge stigma around emotions and a huge pressure to just be happy. Obviously, changing an entire society’s deep rooted views on a topic is no easy feat. But you can always start small. The biggest changes are sometimes in the smallest things. Talking to your family about mental health. Sitting with your friends and discussing all the different sides to being human. Establishing an open, non-judgemental space for communication within your relationships. Giving yourself time and space to feel, and to express those feelings. Because we all deserve mental health days when it becomes a little too overwhelming and a little too hard.

Replace the “Be Positive!” With “How Can I Support You?”

The most fleeting statements often stick with us for a very long time. So here are some other ways to verbally show your support.

A Final Quote

Finally, I have an Arab proverb that I feel reflects this message very well. It says, “Sunshine all the time makes a desert.” Often, the most profound things are short and simple, because they resonate with people. This proverb means that everything is not, and cannot be, perfect. Rain, or adversity, brings growth and resilience. Constant sunshine, and the world will be parched and dry. If it is always perfect, perfection ceases to exist.

Sources: 1, 2

Either Way, What Bliss

Alisha Lakhani
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The hole in the ground matched the hole in his chest. Taking up the room where his heart used to be, pushing his lungs to the side in an effort to consume him fully. He guessed that this is what drowning felt like, a building pressure in his lungs, stopping his ability to do anything but grasp around blindly for something to bring him back to the present. 

He wasn’t sure he could be brought back again. How could he exist in this world when his own world, his everything, was right there, pale and beautiful as ever in her coffin? 

There was already a hole in the soil dug out for her, right on the edge of the cemetery, shaded by a rotting tree. It wasn’t fair, how someone who was the stars, the sun and the moon itself was treated so cruelly by fate, left to waste in a place so dull and unloved. 

He snapped out of his thoughts so suddenly he almost fell out of his seat as a hand came to rest on his shoulder. 

“I’m so sorry James. I can’t believe this has happened. It all seems to be out of a dream doesn’t it?” A somber voice spoke. 

“A nightmare, not a dream Mr. Porter.” He snapped. James Whitefield never snapped. It was one of his defining traits that others were always charmed by. But he just couldn’t help it, his world was aflame and there was nothing he could do. Mr. Porter seemed like he expected this though, and wasn’t fazed as he took the seat beside him. 

“I understand.” 

“No. No, you don’t. She’s gone, William. She’s gone and I don’t know what to do with myself.” William Porter looked at him sympathetically, as one usually does with someone on the verge of a great something, even if in the moment William Porter didn’t know how gruesome this great something was. He pulled a handkerchief out of his breast pocket and gently opened James’s clenched fists to put it in his palm. 

“Your heart is hurting, and I can’t say it’ll ever stop. I know you wish you could have done something to prevent her murder-” James flinched. “But you’re not responsible for it. That horrible monster is to blame and he is going to spend the rest of his life in jail for hurting Liliana. Life is going to keep going and it will never be the same but Liliana would have wanted you to keep living it freely and openly, just like she does-did.”

“But how can I not worry, I need to keep her safe!” 

“Keep her safe here.” He placed a caring hand on the grieving man’s chest and looked up at him with watery eyes. “There is no place safer than your heart, where she has been before and where she will stay with you as long as you live.” 

His heart. How could he be so stupid, of course, his heart! The safest place of them all. He needed to keep her with him, he needed to keep her safe. This was the best way to do it. Oh Mr. Porter, what a genius man! He knew what he needed to do. 

He needed his wife’s body back.

 

Night had fallen on the graveyard, the pale moonlight dancing in the leaves was the only sign of life. He sat hunched beside a fresh patch of soil toying with a rusted shovel on the floor. To an outsider he would look like a ghost, pale and still, and somewhere where he definitely shouldn’t be. A breeze blew through the graveyard. It snapped James out of his trance. It was now or never and he needed to do this. With a manic desperation he started clawing the dirt with his hands, dirt getting trapped into his nails and soil flying everywhere behind him. It wasn’t fast enough, he needed her now. Dig faster, dig faster, dig faster- The shovel! Yes, the shovel! That would help him get to her faster. He twisted around, looking more animal than human as he snatched at the shovel and started digging even more frantically than before. 

It felt like days later when her casket finally came into view. Mahogany etched with a perfect, elegant design. The most perfect part of it though, was her body waiting for him inside. 

He threw the shovel aside and jumped into the hole he’d dug, landing right beside her coffin. He bent down, quickly lifting the head of the coffin. The door of the coffin landed against the wall of the hole with a dull thud. He didn’t even notice it, his joy at being back with her encompassed him. She was lying there. Hair spread around her head like a crown, hands folded gently on her stomach. He fell to his knees. 

“Oh my love. I’ve missed you so much.” He hovered his hands around her face with care, not touching her in fear of ruining her perfection. Something cracked in his chest and the tears he couldn’t cry at her funeral started pouring down his face. He sobbed, a broken, heavy sound, and laying his head on her chest he wept. Wept for how young she was when she got taken from him. Wept at how unfair all this was. Wept for how stupid he was, how he couldn’t protect her in the moment she needed it most. 

He doesn’t know how long he sat there, pouring everything he couldn’t say into his tears, but as he saw the sliver of the sun on the horizon he knew he had to go. With gentle hands he picked her up, pressing her close to his chest. With her close to him again he felt like he could finally breathe again. 

He slowly and carefully climbed his way out of the hole, making sure to keep a grip on her. The sun was rising into the sky now, casting an orange glow over everything. He pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead and started walking out of the graveyard, his wife safe in his arms. 

He sat staring at her. The sun was high in the sky now but he had drawn the curtains, he didn’t want her to get hurt. He sat at his dinner table while she rested on the couch beside it. A set table was laid out in front of him, two different sized forks on one side, a knife and spoon on the other, right in the middle a plate lay. An empty tea cup was on his right. 

Every second he spent staring at her doubt creeped into his mind. It all just felt so wrong. She wouldn’t have wanted this, she would have wanted him to continue on without him and find a way to be happy. She didn’t understand though that she was the reason he was happy. He was nothing before he met her and now that she was gone he was nothing again. Yes, he was sure this was the right thing to do, the only way to keep her safe. Keeping her with him was safe and the right thing to do. 

He got up, imperceptibly slower than he usually would, and went to her. He gathered her in his arms and brought her to the table, gently laying her down on top. He left her there, walking over to the kitchen and grabbing a sharp bladed knife from a cabinet. He went to leave but stopped and reconsidered, turning on his heel he left the knife on the counter and grabbed a butcher’s knife from over him. Better safe than sorry, he didn’t know how hard human flesh was to cut. 

He laid the knife gently on the table, moving to run his hands through her hair. “I will finally be able to keep you safe. Forever.” Bracing one hand against her collar and using the other to pick up the knife, he said a small prayer under his breath, of forgiveness or strength he did not know. He raised the knife above his head and a second later brought it down to her throat. 

Her head rolled and fell off the table. Blood splattered everywhere, staining his face and coating the table. He bent down and kissed her scarlet throat. He walked down to the end of the table and pulled her so her knees were on the edge and her feet dangled off the side. Words of love and guilt, pain and hope, spilled from his lips like blood as he cut off her legs with the push and pull of the knife. Placing gentle kisses on her stomach he sawed off the rest of her legs and placed them on the couch. 

He turned around to walk back to the dining table but his knees buckled underneath him as all he had done finally registered in his mind and he caught sight of her laying there, the light of his life and love of his heart, butchered and sawed up and bloody. Her face on the floor was looking him right in the eyes. God she was gorgeous. She was perfect no matter what but with red tainted fingers and pale skin she was Aphrodite herself. He sat there just admiring her until blood started to drip from the knife onto his pant leg. This shook him from his awe and he got up again to finish the job he had started. Kissing each of her fingers on the knuckle he softly cut her wrists off then moved to her shoulder and tore it off. Her torso was the only intact piece of her body now

He wiped his face on his shirt sleeve and dropped the knife on the table. He moved calmly as he picked up her limbs and arranged them on the couch, from what he assumed was the easiest to eat (the ones that were the easiest to cut) and the toughest to eat (the hardest to cut). A slow grin started crawling its way onto his face. Finally, she was safe. She was with him and she was perfectly safe. Once he had her with him, right next to his heart she’d be the safest. With this thought he grabbed her forearm and brought her to his plate. He wiped away the blood with a flick of his hand and gently placed her down. His mirror reflected him with a mad glint in his eye but when he blinked it was gone. He sat down and said his grace.  

“Lord God, Heavenly Father, bless us and these Thy gifts which we receive from Thy bountiful goodness, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.” 

He picked up his fork and tucked a napkin into his shirt. He gave her one last kiss before using his knife to cut a chunk of flesh out of her arm. 

His first thought when he tasted her was how perfect she was. Everything about her was perfect so of course she tasted perfect too. After that he couldn’t stop himself, she was perfect and he needed to keep her safe so he kept on eating. Finishing up her whole forearm he shot up and practically ran to pick up another piece of her. He tore into her with the twisted enthusiasm of a man believing he was doing something right. He kept on going with the same routine: finish a piece, stack the bones beside the couch, run to get another one, finish a piece, stack the bones beside the couch, run to get another one. He could feel himself getting full and almost jumped from joy at having her with him at last. Her flesh and his flesh, never apart. 

 

The morning sun peeked through the closed curtains. He had just eaten her heart. Snapping toward the couch to continue on with his mission he stopped in his tracks. The couch was empty, there was none of her left. All that remained was old blood stains turning from deep red to brown. She was gone. Wasn’t that what he wanted? She was with him, that was the whole point of doing this. Yet his heart squeezed. She was safe, sure, but she wasn’t here anymore. He could never kiss her again or hold her or look in her eyes. He had washed her hair down the drain earlier and it hit him that he would never be able to touch it again. 

She was gone.

It was like all the sunlight had left the apartment and the air was stolen along with it. 

 

He didn’t remember the last few days of his life. After she was truly gone, both mind and body, he became someone else. He vaguely remembered a red stained mop, his house in ruins, police lights, so many police lights, flashing outside of his window. There was a feeling of cold metal on his wrists, he assumed he had been cuffed for a period of time. Blurred faces outside of a barred up window of disgust, disbelief and pain. 

“You’re a monster!”

“She loved you!”

“What have you become?” 

All their shouting meant nothing to him. He had done the right thing. He was sure of it. He didn’t regret a second of it. 

He was kept overnight at the police station, nobody knew what to do. He didn’t murder his wife so he couldn’t be charged for homicide but he had done something almost just as worse. The policemen talked in hushed whispers outside his cell about him. James Whitefield, the soft-spoken, hard-working husband who turned into a madman from grief. 

It was decided he would stay overnight at the station, so they could keep an eye on him, and the consequences of his actions would be decided the following day in court.

The last of the policemen filed out of the building, eager to be away from James’s stare. He had spent the better of the last hour just staring at the policemen. Spending his time analyzing one, then barely moving his head to find someone new to stare at, this same cycle repeating itself a dozen times over. The sheriff opted to stay back, waiting for the night shift police to make their way over to the station before he left. He didn’t want to leave James alone for even a second. 

Suddenly, after a whole evening of silence, he called out to the sheriff. 

“May I borrow your letter opener?” 

The Sheriff’s head snapped toward him and he was so surprised he couldn’t help but speak.

 “Excuse me?”

“Your letter opener. The one right behind you there, with the silver handle.” 

“Now is not the time for jokes James,” he spat. “Shut up and turn around.”

“I’m so sorry, I know I’m being a bit out of line but I really do need that letter opener. You see, killing myself is the only way to be back with my Lily so I was hoping it wouldn’t be too big of a hassle if you could pass me it and I could quickly get it done.” 

James smiled softly and casually, as if they were just discussing the weather over a cup of tea. The Sheriff’s blood had drained out of his face and he quickly fell into a chair. James simply tilted his head in a curious manner. 

“I-Well-” The Sheriff was quiet for a moment before his eyes became steely and he gave a nod as if reassuring himself about something. He leaned over and gingerly grabbed the knife, quickly sliding it over to the cell as if he’d been burned. James picked up the knife and brought it straight to his throat but before he could do anything the Sheriff spoke and stopped him. 

“I’ll miss you James. I already do, I miss the James you were yesterday.” 

“Liliana was with me yesterday, my friend, that is the difference.” The Sheriff sighed, as if he expected that answer. 

“I hope you find some peace.”

“I guarantee you I will, but I thank you for your prayers. I am on the verge of something great my boy, I can feel it.” 

“Then why haven’t you done it yet?” James hesitated, as if he hadn’t expected someone to actually ask him that. His voice was soft and almost sounded like he was going to cry when he spoke again. 

“Lily is in heaven no doubt, I fear I am going to hell. But still, let me fill you in on a little secret. She wasn’t just everything to me, she still is everything to me. And I will do anything, no matter how much it taints my soul, to keep her safe and happy. There is one quote in particular that I love that I think describes it all very well. It goes something like this: “I would die for her. I would kill for her. Either way – what bliss.” 

With that he gave the Sheriff a final grin and slit his throat. 

Mental Health: What’s Changing For Children and Adolescents in Alberta

Claire Li
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With Bell Let’s Talk day approaching on January 25, I wanted to share some exciting updates about increasing mental health resources for children and adolescents. After COVID-19, the lasting effects of the pandemic have led to a surge in mental health struggles. In light of this, a centre for child and adolescent mental health has been constructed and will open sometime soon this year.

As a member of the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation Youth Council, I am excited to share all the details regarding this new centre that will have such a positive effect on the lives of so many people in the near future. The centre has been built in partnership with the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation and Alberta Health Services, and was just recently named, The Summit: Marian & Jim Sinneave Centre for Youth Resilience.

Currently, children and young adults who face mental health crises have limited options such as having to wait hours at emergency departments, which are often extremely busy. The Summit will provide direct access to on-site assessment and therapy, depending on the child or young adults’ needs. With the University of Calgary as its research partner, the new centre will also involve cutting-edge research and training for new specialists.

Depending on the nature and severity of the mental health issue, children and adolescents are provided with three options in this new centre:

  1. Walk-in Clinic: an opportunity for youth and their family to receive help from specially trained doctors through one-hour therapy sessions, access to psychiatrists, referrals to other services, and development of personalized plans. Self-referrals are welcome alongside referrals from other mental health programs or professionals in education, health, etc.
  2. Day Hospital: a place where young people can receive therapy, medication management, outreach to provide support when transitioning back to their communities, and support for education. The Day Hospital aims to reduce young peoples’ stay in the hospital through a smooth transition back to their regular lives.
  3. Intensive Treatment: for those struggling with acute and escalating mental health symptoms, the Intensive Treatment service offers thorough assessments, therapy, and a multitude of other resources to help those in need.

How can you support mental health initiatives in your community?

  1. Break the stigma surrounding mental health by speaking up, educating yourself, and raising awareness.
  2. Fundraise and donate to the Alberta Children Hospital Foundation–any contributions make a great impact.
  3. Show your support through advocating for increased mental health awareness, or by being there for your friends, family, and yourself when going through hard times.

 

Image, Cover Image/Thumbnail, Sources: 1,2,3,

More Resources to Help You Tackle Diploma Multiple Choice Exams

Shayan Chetty
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Following my previous post, this list of resources ensures that you’ll be prepared for diploma-style multiple choice exams. Additionally, I wanted to specifically focus on English and Social, because multiple-choice tests for those subjects are harder for most students.

Previous Diplomas

These are probably the most important documents you can look at.

Guides for students

Examples of students’ writing and practice questions

Support documents (what you should know for the diplomas)

Archived diplomas dating back to the 1980s

Practice Tests

Practice makes perfect! These practice tests improve your ability to take multiple-choice tests.

Quest A+ practice tests

Supplementary Information

Another good way of preparing for diplomas is actually looking at how they do things in AP courses, so even if you’re not in an AP course, you can learn some skills that can especially help on tricky multiple-choice exams.

AP English Language Reading (Rhetorical Analysis) Multiple-Choice Questions

AP English Literature Attacking Multiple-Choice Questions, Part 1: Prose and Part 2: Poetry

Multiple-Choice Strategies for Success on the AP Literature Exam

 

 

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Post-exam season: Read this when you are finished with your exam!

Lucy Choi
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Guys. We did it. Exams are over. First of all, I am very proud of you. As a high school student like you, I can feel the anxiety you felt during a Christmas break, sleepless nights with silent cries, neverending comparisons with others, and the doubt you felt every day about whether you are studying effectively or not.

But anyhow, we’ve been through this, and we did it! So that is an important part; no matter what you got, whether you are happy or not, I would like to remind you that you are a strong person.

Yes, I did my exam too. There is a subject that I am happy about, and of course, there is a subject that I am definitely sad and depressed about. I want to time-travel to that day and tell myself not to change the answer at the last moment. Well, like you, I am one human being who was surrounded by anxiety before the test. Still, with depressed about the test that I did not do well on. However, I changed my mindset, and that mindset helped me through these past few days. Not only got rid of my depression inside me, but it also gave me courage and confidence. So, here are three mindsets that helped me a lot!

(This owl is even dancing for you, for your positive vibezz)

Think Positively, Focus On What You Can Control, and You Are Precious

Yes, exams have ended. Regretting, crying, and getting mad won’t help you from this point now. Think rationally. You can’t change the answer, and you can’t change the mark. It is time to accept reality with a calm attitude. These are the things that you can’t control right now; the result of your exams. So do not focus all your mindset on the past exam. However, focus on what you can control; your next tests.

Do not lose your confidence from the past exam. Don’t you dare think that the three pages of paper and 70 questions show your potential, future, and your confidence. You are a precious being who deserves to think positively in this world, not be controlled by the three-page paper. You are definitely more than three pages of questions, so think of this as an opportunity.

Yes, I know, of course, you’ve heard “Think this as your learning opportunity” hundreds of times, but you know you do not have much time to improve yourself from this learning opportunity, and you think it is a short time to improve and boost your marks. I feel you. I still think this. Don’t worry; you are not the only one, even the one who is literally writing about mindset for the after exams, still anxious and feeling doubt about if I will be able to be good in next term (But by writing this and reminding myself makes me feel better).

This is definitely a learning opportunity, and next time, you will improve on this exam. And, here it comes, things that you can control; your next exam. Use educational resources to pre-learn before the next term. Make a specific study plan and write down what you have to do from next term by reflecting on yourself from this term. This will definitely make you feel better and strong as you know your weaknesses and strength, and you recall how to improve your weaknesses to your strength for the next test, the thing that you can control.

Lastly, and most importantly, say “I am very proud of you” to yourself. Why? Because you deserve that sentence. I can feel your hard work and the tears behind your smile. You did it. I am very proud of you, and you will be fine.
Thank you for reading this, and I truly hope you have a lovely day.

image source : (1)(2)

The Ins and Outs of Beauty Standards

Natalie
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Throughout our entire lives, beauty standards have always been all around us. Beauty standards have always had an impact on our lives. There are obvious things that they influence, like how we wear our hair on a particular day. But they can also influence our self-esteem and eating habits. They help shape cultures and eras and contribute to identities and worldviews. But despite there being positives to beauty standards, they can still pose as a danger. These are the ins and outs of beauty standards.

A Brief Overview of 2010s Beauty Standards

Beauty standards have been a constant in our lives for about as long as societies have been a thing. But, they are always changing, never staying the same for very long. In fact, even in the last 10 years, there have been huge changes in western beauty standards.
Throughout the 2010s, the rise of social media and had a lot of influence on beauty standards. Social media has allowed for fast trends and unrealistic beauty ideals to spread faster and further than ever before. Influencers and celebrities have gained more attention than ever before. The rise of reality TV shows was also a big part of the 2010s. Stars like the Kardashians have led the trends, such as make-up styles and curvier bodies for women.
Western beauty has also made many strides to becoming more inclusive. People of color have gotten a bigger variety of beauty products that actually match their skin tones, and those of the LGBTQ+ community, especially queer men, have started to carve out a bigger space for themselves in the world of beauty. There have been body positivity movements and discourse around self-love, as well as many male celebrities and K-pop culture helping to normalize skincare routines and makeup for men. These are the first steps that we have taken towards our collective goal of a world where everyone, regardless of age, gender, skin color, or any other factor, can confidently say that they are beautiful.

Beauty Standards and Social Media

The fact that social media can be dangerous is not a new idea to many of us. In fact, at this point, it can be tiring to constantly hear about the limitless number of things that could go wrong with social media. But fed up or not, this is an important discussion to have.
Compared to the entirety of human history, social media has been around for a very short amount of time. Because of that, there is still a limited amount of research on how social media affects self-esteem and body image, as well as aiding in the spread of beauty standards.
However, there has already been some studies, experiments, and surveys done on this issue. For example, The New York Times asked a number of teenagers through their daily Student Opinion forum about how social media affects the way they see themselves. In the many answers that they got, there seemed to be an agreement that social media could be harmful, if not detrimental, to their body image. The teenagers explained that even though they were well aware that many of the images they saw online were fake, it still got into their heads and made them wish for something to be another way, or to completely go away.

Beauty Standards and People of Color

It is no secret that the west emphasizes ideals that are more achievable for Caucasian folks. These standards seem to especially impact women of color. Silky, straight hair and delicate, prim features aren’t achievable for them. Many people believe that these white-centered beauty standards come from European colonization. European explorers imposed Western ideals onto the people they often called “dirty” and “uncivilized.” These standards have stuck around, and not just in the west. For example, many people in the Philippines will go to the extremes to achieve fairer skin.
In the 1940s, two psychologists, Kenneth and Mamie Clark, conducted an interesting study. They tested the racial preferences and perceptions of African-American children. The Clarks presented four dolls, two with black skin and two with white, to children of three to seven years. They asked questions such as “Give me the doll that is bad” and “give me the doll that you like to play with.” The result was that a majority of the children preferred the white dolls, and said that the black dolls were “bad.” Though the Clarks conducted this experiment 80 years ago, many people have since recreated the test with similar results.

Beauty Standards and Men

We as a society tend to sweep men’s beauty standards under the rug. This is especially true when we compare them to women’s beauty standards. However, that does not mean that men’s beauty standards do not exist, nor that we should not talk about them.
In the western world, men’s beauty standards have long been idealized by hyper-masculinity. When people think of an ideal man, many jump to the idea of a big, strong, muscular person who is a little rough at the edges. Unfortunately, standards like these can be very harmful to many people. People, such as men who beat themselves up for not looking the ideal. People who do not feel comfortable within traditional masculinity, both AMAB (Assigned Male at Birth) and otherwise. Not to mention, strong, macho-type standards for men help to perpetuate toxic masculinity and misogyny.
But there have also been strides for more inclusion within the last decade. For example, with the help of social media, many plus-sized men like Ben James have gained the platforms to speak out about their stories and experiences. Men of color have had more exposure than ever before through entertainment and modelling industries, especially since the Black Lives Matter movement sparked conversations all across the world. From the east, many male K-pop stars have started to change how people view masculinity with the aid of flamboyant outfits and stunning makeup looks. Slowly, but surely, the male beauty standard is also starting to change.

Beauty Standards – Friends or Foes?

There are still many things that are an important part of this conversation that we haven’t talked about. For example, how beauty standards relate to non-binary folks and people who present as androgynous. But based off of what we’ve seen, we can determine that right now, beauty standards are more foe than friend. That is why we must speak up and spread awareness, even more than we already have been. The only way to break out of society’s long-established expectations is to act. The good news is that we have already proven that we are able to create change in the world, even when it seems impossible. Now, all we have to do is believe in ourselves, and the fact that change is necessary to move forward with inclusivity.

 

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

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Classical Comeback

Iman Alvi
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Classical music has long since had a looming reputation over it in the modern day. Elite, old-fashioned, and even outdated have all been prejudices that have been routed deep into the genre, however, that makes it all the more surprising to hear it’s been having a comeback in the younger generation out of everyone.

A study published in the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) found that classical music was becoming even more popular among young people, with 74% of UK residents under 25 years old likely to be tuning into the music just at Christmas time, almost 40% more likely than those aged 55 or over. A decade ago, surveys done by similar industries should that just a tenth of these listeners had been under 30. These figures all reflect that there has been a widespread surge in the popularity of classical music in general, particularly among those among the younger generation. 

There are many possible reasons for this spike in popularity, from the solace it provided in the pandemic, to the new streaming culture spawned from companies like Spotify or Apple that make it much easier to listen, send, and discover new music. This is not even mentioning the huge profusion of classical music in more pop culture hits like Wednesday or Squid Game. The greatest reason, however, is undoubtedly the new wave millennial and Gen Z artists and composers that are finding completely new ways to share their music out into the world, completely modernizing this long-thought stuffy and elite genre of music. 

Social media, particularly TikTok and Youtube, have both played a large role in this revitalization and reimagination of classical music. The search for ‘classictok’ alone has over 53.8 million views, and many young artists like Spencer Rubin have amassed a large following not through skits or dances, but by playing the oboe. Rubin, now studying classical oboe at Julliard Pre-College, is one of the few influencers who built their platform around classical music and got over 764.9 million views and 1.5 million followers on TikTok for it. In a past interview with the New York Post, Rubin stated that “I think that with social media, we’re able to de-stigmatize the sense that classical music is super fancy and needs to be perfect.” 

He is just one of the many creators that have come out in recent years and spread this new wave of classical music even further, including famous names like French violinist Esther Abrami and Nigerian-US baritone Babatunde Akinboboye. Abrami was even the first classical musician to be nominated in the Social Media Superstar category at the Global Awards, gaining over 250,000 followers on Instagram and thousands more on TikTok, all in a journey to share her passions more widely. 

Of course, genres such as pop, hip-hop, and rock still rule the music industry in terms of listeners, but the spotlight of classical music has had many in high hopes to see how the genre can change and grow. In the meantime, I invite anyone who needs a bit of a break this exam season to take some breaks, drink water, and maybe listen to some classical music if you have the time. 

 

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Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Winter Wonderland Comes to Calgary – Chinook Blast

Ishra Islam
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Winter Wonderland Comes to Calgary – Chinook Blast

Are you looking for something exciting to do this winter? Well, you might want to consider attending Calgary’s annual winter festival known formally as “Chinook Blast”, which runs from January 27th to Feb 12th for 2023.

A Little Bit of Background History

When hearing “Chinook Blast” many people may wonder what “chinook” actually means, as it is a very particular word. Well, to explain it briefly, the word chinook means a warm and dry wind that travels down the Eastern parts of the Rocky Mountains. But it is also important to mention that the chinook is an indigenous term used by the Blackfoot nation which means “snow eater”. 

The idea of “Chinook Blast” goes back to November of 2019 when the idea was to form a community event to strengthen the bonds between Calgarians and to celebrate our society and culture engagingly. However, due to the current ongoing Covid-19 Pandemic, the event has struggled to gain traction in the past years. One of the hopes for this festival was that it would grow tourism in Calgary but it seems as though we have yet to see that. But not to worry, with covid restrictions being less tight, Chinook Blast is expecting more appreciation this year. After all, 3rd time’s a charm!

Franca Gualtieri, the Tourism Calgary Executive director of this event stated in an article from Montreal Gazette saying “We look forward to having our downtown as full as possible and to bring life to it. And I think as it grows, it’s becoming that yearly event that people are looking forward to,”

What to Expect 

Ironically, it looks like Chinook Blast really will start with a blast because starting from January 27th, a live concert will be held with Sunglaciers, K-Ritz, and The Rondel Roberts Band (presented by BIG Winter Classic, Block Heater and Ethnik Festivals) front and centre. And from the 28th, prepare to be amazed by shows that display impressive feats of ice skating and other winter activities.

But the fun doesn’t just stop there- if you can attend some of the events this year, expect to see many more events related to the celebration of indigenous culture, sports, music, fashion, the fine arts, and much more.

The many events being hosted by Chinook Blast will be located downtown, specifically through Stephen Avenue to the Olympic Plaza, and finally, to East Village. All areas listed will be extravagantly decorated and have art displays, and pop-up performances being hosted! Additionally, as it is winter and Canadian weather is known to be harsh, there will be accommodating services for both indoor and outdoor activities in case of a temperature drop- so dress warm but don’t be discouraged to attend because of the weather.

So it seems that Calgary will become a city of lights, and this winter might be a little warmer than the ones before. I don’t know about you, but from everything I’ve seen so far, I think I will have to see this festival for myself.

But, if you aren’t convinced to attend yet, you can try visiting chinookblast.ca and check out some of the festivities for yourself!

References

“Chinook Blast 2023 Releases Full Schedule.” Chinook Blast, January 12, 2023. https://www.chinookblast.ca/chinook-blast-blowing-in/.

Hunt, Stephen. “Chinook Blast to Celebrate Winter in Downtown Calgary.” Calgary. CTV News, January 12, 2023. https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/chinook-blast-to-celebrate-winter-in-downtown-calgary-1.6228470.

Sylvester, Krista. “Chinook Blast Lights up Calgary’s Downtown Core with Electrifying …” Montreal Gazette. Montreal Gazette, January 12, 2023. https://montrealgazette.com/sponsored/travel-sponsored/chinook-blast-lights-up-calgarys-downtown-core-with-electrifying-winter-festival.

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Image Sources: 1/2/3

How to Crush Your Science and Math Exams

Shayan Chetty
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As diploma exams are looming this month and finals are coming up for many students, we could all do with some tips and resources to help us crush those exams. Luckily for you, I’ve compiled an array of methods and resources you can use to help you succeed in your math and science courses! Using these tidbits of information, you’re guaranteed to bump up your exam marks by leagues and miles as long as you put the effort in. For incoming high school students, you can use these tips to be prepared ahead of time and breeze through your upcoming years.

General Tips

  • Pay attention in class to what your teacher specifically focuses on; many instructors will flat out tell you what is going to be on the exam.
  • If you are having trouble in class, make an effort to ask your teacher questions and get help.
  • Do all of your assigned work on time whenever possible. Leaving things until the last minute often results in stress.
  • Start studying a couple days before the exam.
    • Don’t cram the night before a test. Getting a full night’s rest statistically leads to better results than pulling an all-nighter.
  • While taking a test, keep track of time and pace yourself.
  • Usually, for every multiple choice question there will be two answers which don’t look right that you can immediately cross out.
    • If you still can’t figure it out, you’ve got a 50/50 shot at being correct.
  • For harder questions, mark them with a star and move on. Come back to them near the end once you’ve dealt with the easier questions.

Spaced Repetition

spaced repetition timing

  • Spaced repetition is a studying method where you test yourself using flashcards over a length of time.
  • Instead of rereading textbooks and taking notes you probably won’t even look at, spaced repetition is an evidence-based technique that you can use to memorize information easily.
  • Spaced repetition is based on the concept of “retrieval,” where your brain remembers things better if it has to dig into your memory and retrieve information.

Anki

Anki (software) - Wikipedia

  • Anki is an app you can download on your computer that acts as a tool to generate and review flashcards.
  • These flashcards operate on the idea of spaced repetition, and will be your best bet at memorizing formulas and info.
  • Guides to Anki can be found below.
  • Anki can be used for math, physics, chemistry, biology, and any other course that needs you to memorize information.

Science (Chem, Phys, Bio)

  • For your science courses, a great youtube channel to check out is Organic Chemistry Tutor. He’s got videos for almost anything you’re stuck on!
  • Another great channel is Bozeman Science.
  • Finally, for practice problems and supplemental learning, don’t forget about the classic Khan Academy.

Math (Precalculus, Calculus)

  • Organic Chemistry Tutor’s precalculus playlist is the way to go.
  • For any students learning calculus, one of the best resources you can use is Professor Leonard! His style of teaching is slow, methodical, and clear – I absolutely recommend him.

Image Sources: 1/2/3

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The Revolution to Save Our Earth

Alisha Lakhani
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Recently we’ve all been hearing a lot about climate change, the negative impacts it’s having on our world and how we’ve probably doomed ourselves but, while focusing on these harsh truths we often forget to stop and look at the progress we’ve made. This past year the whole world has started fighting back against climate change. Here are just some of the steps we’ve taken, and why we should have the courage to be optimistic about out future.

On August 16, 2022, the US passed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) which is now seen as the most important climate and energy legislation passed in American history. It is giving billions of dollars to clean energy and low emission projects. It also provides tax credits helping to make energy costs less of a burden on households and tax credits that will help reduce carbon emissions. It also plays a big role in helping achieve one of the Biden Administration’s climate goals which is having a net-zero economy by 2050. This act being passed is a big deal because it shows how climate change isn’t an impossible challenge to tackle and that change can be made. (Sources: 1 / 2 / 3)

On November 20, 2022, at the United Nations Climate Conference a Loss and Damage Fund was established. This fund aims to provide financial aid for nations most impacted and hurt by climate change. The fund has representatives from 24 countries working on it together to create solutions to help the vulnerable, and some ideas have already been introduced. While it is still in its planning stages we know this fund is critical to helping those affected by climate change especially because it’s not the affected countries fault. Almost all the nations who contribute the least to climate change are affected by it most. For example, Pakistan now has around US$30 billion in damages caused by extreme flooding but emits less than 1% of the whole worlds emissions. This fund is long overdue but with its establishment we can usher in a new era of community and goodwill. (Sources: 1 / 2 / 3)

The whole 2022 year we have seen a steady increase in zero-carbon technologies around the world. Some of these technologies include solar and wind power which has had a huge increase from 2019 to 2021, solar going up by 47 percent and wind by 31 percent. Electric vehicles have also started gaining traction with the sales doubling in 2021 and still steadily increasing. (Source: 1)

We are starting to take the vital steps that are needed to save our planet. As we slowly start to get the breathing room to be hopeful about our future again, optimistically, with all the plans to continue solving the climate crisis in 2023, it will only get better.

Image Source: 1

The Pursuit Of Space Exploration: The Hubble Space Telescope

Pareen Cheema
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Learning about what lies in the vastness of space has been a focal point of human scientific pursuits for many years. Throughout time, we have displayed a unique interest in discovering what is beyond our planet, which is seen through the Hubble Space Telescope in a contemporary sense. The Hubble Space telescope gives humankind a glimpse of our future and what we still have yet to discover. At the same time, it instills us with hope, uncertainty, and a desire to learn more.

History

The Hubble Space Telescope was launched as a “journey of discovery” on April 24, 1990. It is solar-powered and orbits around the Earth at around five miles per second. Over the years, Hubble has made over one million observations that have helped scientists and provided us with many of the popular deep-space pictures we can easily recognise today. More specifically, the pictures from Hubble can tell scientists about galaxies, distant stars, and comets. However, what makes Hubble unique is its position above Earth, which is different from other satellites. Hubble orbits 535 kilometres above the Earth’s atmosphere and has played an essential role in the discovery of dark energy, which is a strange phenomenon that causes the universe to expand faster as time goes on. The Hubble telescope has also assisted in the discovery of black holes.

Iconic images from Hubble Space Telescope | CBC News        Hubble Space Telescope - Wikipedia

Instruments on the Hubble Space Telescope

The interesting feature of this program would be the variety of instruments on board the telescope. According to NASA, as the telescope orbits the Earth, the Fine Guidance Sensors program can detect and lock onto a target, which is a usually distant star. Once that occurs, Hubble’s primary mirror collects light that eventually bounces off of it and goes to the secondary mirror. From the secondary mirror, the light is refocused by a hole in the primary mirror. As a result, light reaches its scientific instruments that can then interpret the light in a variety of ways, such as analyzing individual wavelengths. Additionally, the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph, which is an instrument that separates light by frequency or wavelength,  is used to determine density, motion, temperatures, and chemical aspects. The other popular instruments include the Advanced Camera for Surveys, the Wide Field Camera 3, the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph, and the Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrograph. Through the use of these instruments, Hubble has made astounding space achievements. One of the most prominent discoveries was the age of the universe and the rate at which it continues to expand. According to the data collected by this program, the universe is around 13.8 billion years old. Research revelations such as this continue to grow and evolve as the Hubble Space Telescope gathers new information and other NASA programs come into effect.

Hubble's Instruments Including Control and Support Systems (Cutaway)

 

Black Holes 

The Hubble Space Telescope has also profoundly contributed to black hole research. According to NASA, Hubble assisted in finding black holes using The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph. Furthermore, Hubble allowed scientists to understand the extensive role supermassive black holes play in the intricate fabric of the universe. A discovery such as this was unbenounced to astronomers before this program came into effect. Additionally, astronomers use Hubble to determine the velocities at which stars and other celestial objects move around a black hole. You can learn more about this specific aspect of the Hubble Space Telescope on their official website and NASA’s main page.

Future Prospects

The future of space pursuit is determined by the passion one has for continued space discovery. But, other social, political, and economic factors also play a role. Around the world, there are many supporters of continued space programs. However, some people share a different vision. A vision where more time and money are contributed to problems that are occurring on Earth. The future of space exploration will never be over as it is in our inherent nature to seek the unknown, and it comes naturally to us. As we look up into the night sky, there will always be questions about the unknown, and there will be people willing to solve them. As for Hubble, the telescope turned thirty years old in 2020, and there have been past missions where astronauts have repaired parts of it. However, the telescope will not get any new future upgrades or repairs. Currently, Hubble continues to work, and NASA has shifted its focus onto the James Webb Space Telescope, which is bound to bring many more scientific discoveries to light.

Pictures: [1], [2], [3]

Sources: [1], [2], [3]

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