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Learning A New Language

Bhavani Potdar
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Learning a new language over the summer is always a great way to be productive and is a great use of your time. Here are some tips on how you can get started:

1. Start with a goal.

It can be hard to start to motivate yourself to start learning a language, which can be strenuous. So to start off, making a goal or plan with realistic and specific timelines to discipline yourself can be a great idea.

2. Learn the basics.

When you are learning a language, you should start with the roots of it, no matter how intimidating it sounds. For example, maybe start learning the verbs and what they mean to make sure you know the fundamentals of the language before exploring into more difficult tasks such as speaking it.

3. Learn Common Words.

After you get familiar with the verbs, you can get started on learning the common phrases in the language. Learning to say “hello” or “how are you” as well as saying “I am fine” and “thank you” can be great starting points.

4. Consume Media & Engage With that Culture.

After you begin to understand more of the language and how to speak it, a more interesting form of learning the language can come from looking at the media of that culture. That may come from watching a movie in that language or even trying to connect with the other more fluent speakers of that language.

5. Keep Practicing & Continue Learning More.

Once you start becoming confident with that language, it is important to keep with it and not lose touch. Always remain true to your goals and keep practicing the language- once you are completely confident, you can eventually make it to the point to start advanced parts such as to read and writing the language.

The key to learning a new language is to be disciplined with your goals, to preserve through this difficult task of learning, and to enjoy this process. Bonne Chance!

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The Psychology Behind Rewatching TV Shows 

Hannah Kuipers
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My Netflix list is full of exciting TV shows and movies that I intend to watch one day, yet whenever I have some extra time, I always turn to the ones I’ve watched too many times already. So why is that? Well, there is actually a ton of research out there that uses psychology to show why humans are creatures of habit, even when it comes to simple tasks such as watching television. Below are three of the main points I believe show this idea best. 

Cognitive Overload 

Our working memory is a cognitive system with a limited capacity that can hold information temporarily. When there is too much stress put on this, we go into cognitive overload. Our memory is a limited source, and there comes a time where it just can’t handle anymore. An example of this is the Covid-19 pandemic. During this time we had to make many difficult decisions, plus we had to draw our attention to new things such as Zoom meetings, online classes, and so on. After all of this, we don’t want to put anything new on our plate by starting a new TV show. It might seem small, but we watch television to wind-down, and watching something new takes more energy than you might think. 

Familiarity 

Watching TV shows takes energy because we need to pay close attention to new storylines and characters, this can be exciting, but it can also be stressful. This relates to something called the exposure effect, which basically states that the more times we are exposed to something, the more we start to like it. The more times we watch a show, the less we need to pay attention, and the less stressful it gets. Therefore, in order to relax, we go back to things that are familair to us. 

Control 

It is true that we use TV for distraction, but we also use it for satisfaction. There are so many things in life we cannot control, so when we rewatch old shows and we know what happens, it gives us a little bit of control back. Specifically, when we feel depleted in life, we need to have a feeling of self-control to restore the negative emotions we have because of things such as stress. We also don’t like wasting the limted time we have to ourselves, so by choosing something we know we will enjoy, we are not at risk of that. 

Now you know not only why you tend to opt for the obvious, but also that you are not alone in the matter. So watch your favorite soapy dramas without shame, and whenever you are up for it, you can finish that Netlix list. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find another comfort show you enjoy enough to rewatch a thousand times. 

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What Pride Month means to me

D P
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As Pride Month comes to an end. Here is what pride means to me. Regardless of whether you’re part of the community or not, this is why I think pride month is crucial for our societal developmental growth.

Safety and belonging in streets

I feel like cisgender people tend to regard the privileges’ they have in todays society. To me, cisgender people usually lack the acknowledgement that they wont ever face discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation. For example, only 29 countries out of the 195 countries in the the world legalized same sex marriage.  So Pride to me means safety and belonging, it means that every person regardless of their sexual orientation feels safe in public. feels comfortable, regardless of what country they live in, feels they have the same rights as every other straight person in the world, and just feel a sense of belonging from their loved ones and their community.

Safety from Hate Crimes

This kind of correlates with the title above, but pride to me means that every person has the right to live in our world safely without ever getting hate-crimed, for purely living. Pride month is a celebration of all the amazing hard efforts our ancestors put in to give us a better opportunities and a safer life. people should never die on the basis of who they love. Although the past can not be reversed (For all the lgbtq+ members who died) it can be improved. I believe it should be improved.

Safety At Schools

Pride means that every person regardless of who they are wont and get bullied at school for literally being a minority. Like come on its the 21st century we shouldn’t be bullying someone because their different than the group. As social media became more popular, it also became vital place for teens to bully their classmates. So pride to me means that they wont get bullied. It means that regardless of you’re opinion on the lgbtq+ community, you leave them alone. because at the end of the day words sting, and will stay with us for the rest of our lives. Like for example, a couple of years ago I wore a dress to picture day, (it was the first time I ever wore a dress to this new school) I was feeling really insecure that day, and while we waited for our pictures to be taken, I had a male friend tell me “you look pregnant,” that was followed by a bunch of giggles from my “friends.” I was mad, (obviously) so I confronted him but that was followed by “Its a joke.” so after that day, I went home and threw out the dress. And it has been over three years, and only this year have a worn a dress in public, and its been over two and a half years since I even owned a dress, (this year I bought a dress) this just shows that words hurt. That day what my friend told me, led me on an endless spiral of whether I was deemed worthy, and to me, and many girls being deemed worthy was being a size 00 I was a size 0 so I felt worthless. So pride to me means that regardless of what your sexual orientation is, or who you are, you won’t and should never get harassed on the the basis of who you are.

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Summer Events in YYC

Yuri Choi
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With school finally being done, many of us are looking forward to enjoying the summer break. However, for me personally, I often find myself during the summer sitting around the house, because I’ve run out of things to do. I mean, one can play on their phone for only so long, right? For those of you going through the same crisis as me, I have compiled a list of events in Calgary that are happening over the summer to cure your boredom. 

Canada Day Celebrations 

With Canada’s anniversary coming up on July 1st, many places are hosting events and celebrations. Eau Claire Market is hosting a free all day event, with food, live entertainment, artisan markets, and much more. Why not go check out some Canada Day celebrations and showcase your national pride? Plus, many of these events are free. 

Shawn Mendes’s Wonder Concert

Whenever artists go on tour, it seems that Calgary is often missed on their tour. However, Shawn Mendes will be hosting a concert in Calgary on July 4th. This is to promote his album “Wonder”, and will be his first tour since the pandemic. There are still some tickets left, so if you are interested, you can go grab them.

Calgary Stampede

Is it truly summer in Calgary without the Stampede? Thankfully, the Calgary Stampede is back in full swing this year, and rumour has it that there are some cool new attractions. Also, in the week leading up to the Stampede, there will be many local community events, such as Stampede Breakfasts. Keep an eye out in your neighbourhood to see if there will be one in your area! 

GlobalFest

GlobalFest is an annual festival held in Calgary during August. It works to promote cultural diversity and artistic excellence, and is a great event to check out. This year, it will be hosted from August 18-27, which gives you ten full days to experience its wonders. You definitely don’t want to miss out on those fireworks!

I hope you check some of these events out, and enjoy your summer!

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5 Smart Tips for the Summer 

Harshita Jindia
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  • Don’t forget to wear sunscreen

Sunscreen is an essential necessity on hot summer days. Even if it means going out for a short walk or running some errands, you should still use sunscreen. No wonder why sunscreen is so important? Well, sunscreen protects you from the harmful UV waves that radiate from the heat of the sun. UV radiation can be detrimental when exposed to skin for an even shorter duration of time and can cause skin cancer. Make sure that the sunscreen you use is at least SPF 30 and that you are applying sunscreen on a regular basis to minimize the risk of radiation. Moreover, here is a fun fact. Ultraviolet exposure increases by 4 to 10 percent every 1000 feet above sea level. So if someone was living in Georgetown, Ontario, then they would experience UV radiation 50% more intensely than someone living in Vancouver, British Columbia. 

  • Keep hydrated 

The hot summer days make us crave some delicious cold beverages. And why not, this is the time to enjoy some yummy and mouth-watering summer drinks and desserts. But most importantly, make sure to consume at least 8 glasses of simple water to keep hydrated and nourish the body with fresh oxygen. Upgrade your drink with some fresh berries, lime slices or mint leaves. Furthermore, you can even opt for high-water content fruits and vegetables such as watermelon, cantaloupe, cucumbers, tomatoes and much more. However, avoid junk food such as burgers, fries and other oily dishes as they can affect digestion and cause acne and pimples. 

  • Get well-rested 

Even though the days are longer and the nights are shorter in the summer, you should still get those 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night. This is crucial as sleep improves productivity, and metabolism and stimulates overall longevity of the human body. For a good night’s sleep, keep the room cool and curtains closed to increase comfort and relaxation. 

  • Socialize

Summer brings more opportunities to hang out with friends and family after the winter blues fade away. This is the time to host outdoor picnics, parties and more. You can even take a hiking trip in nature to enjoy the beautiful nature and fresh air. The biggest benefit of hanging out with others during the summer season is that you can become stress-free, content and positive. If a large crowd isn’t your cup of tea, then don’t be shy and meet up with a friend or two at home.  

  • Stay fit and active

Nowadays, lifestyles are becoming increasingly sedentary for most people and we must change that. In order to keep ourselves healthy during the summer, pick up a workout routine and try to perform it in the morning hours. This is because added heat in the summer can make exercising uncomfortable during the day. Moreover, yoga is one of the best fitness regimes that could be followed in the morning as it is calming and increases one’s focus. 

Have a safe and fun summer this year!

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is treating others how you want to be treated a good phrase?

D P
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Recently I’ve been contemplating whether the phrase ‘treating others how you want to be treated’ is valuable. So here are some reasons I think treating others how you want to be treated is beneficial.

  1. It leaves people thinking. For example, recently I’ve been treating everyone at my school, in public, etc. how I would want to be treated. For me, I would want people to be socially aware of what could be going on in my life. Typically when I am stressed I  seem mad, distant, and mean. I know this is not good, (I’m working on it), but if I was, I would want someone to ask me if i was okay, or just leave me alone. Not like how usually people treat me such as “must be her time of the month” or “why are you acting like this?!?!” or just straight up giving me a dirty look.
  2. You don’t know what people are going though. I feel like this is the most valid point. I won’t ever know what anyone is going though, so I found that no matter how mean someone is to me, it usually is due to some underlining problem that they could have. It’s not their fault. I’m a teenager, all teenagers are trying to do is figure themselves out, and unwrap the underlining problems of their ancestors, or just of the environment they grew up in.
  3. It could better their day. I recently been more smiley and outgoing. i.e. If we made eye contact i would smile (which not a lot of teenagers do) and usually I found that it made my classmates day. Just giving them a simple compliment such as “I like  your shirt” made such a big impact on their life. For example, my friend recently got complimented on his outfit by a worker at Calaway, and he was overjoyed. He mentions it every now and then, as well as saying “that’s the first time anyone ever complimented my whole outfit.” Now opposed to me, I get compliments on my outfit, my hair, my smile daily. It doesn’t better my day as much as his. So treating others how you want to be treated could in end better their day, and who doesn’t like bettering someone’s day?

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Making The Most Out Of Summer

Daniyal Sait
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Summer has finally arrived, and there are tons of ways to make the good times last. With the school year coming to an end, it’s time to get out your summer playlist, spend some time in the sun, and fill the summer of ‘22 with good vibes and memories. Let’s take a look at some of the best ways to make the most out of summer.

The Calgary Stampede & other local events

Calgary is home to the “Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth,” and from July 8th-17th, you can experience all of the shows and events that make it so special. In addition to the fun that the Calgary Stampede will bring, artists such as Shawn Mendes, Maroon 5, and The Lumineers are coming to Calgary this summer on tour.

Drive-in movies

It’s often the means by which you watch a movie that makes the entire experience worth it. There are a bunch of great movies coming out this summer, but for a unique and retro experience, consider watching some of the classics at one of Calgary’s drive-in movie theatres.

Sports

The NBA season has come to a close, with Stephen Curry winning his first Finals MVP and the Golden State Warriors winning their fourth NBA Championship in the last eight years. With the Colorado Avalanche and Tampa Bay Lightning battling it out in the Stanley Cup Finals, the NHL season will soon be concluded as well. However, sports fans – especially those in Calgary – will still have much to look forward to this summer. Throughout the next few months, you can cheer on your Calgary Stampeders and Cavalry FC live at the McMahon Stadium and ATCO Field, respectively. Also, beyond watching sports, playing sports is a great way to be physically active during the summer.

The outdoors

Spending time outdoors is one of the best parts of summer, and there is no shortage of ways to do just that. Stargazing, camping, or going for a nature walk are great ways to enjoy the outdoors. Planning a road trip to Banff, Jasper, or somewhere even farther away can also diversify your experience in nature. However, you don’t need to drive elsewhere to spend time outdoors – being a tourist in your own hometown is another great way to do so. Regardless of how you decide to spend your summer, make sure you relax, have fun, and do things that you love in order to recharge for the upcoming school year.

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The Truth About Fast Fashion

Pareen Cheema
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Fast fashion has recently gained attention on social media as it has become almost inevitable in today’s society while promoting unsustainability. This practice has become increasingly popular among larger fashion corporations but has consequently harmed the planet, exploited workers, and caused deforestation. With that in mind, today, I wanted to talk about the immense influence fast fashion has had on social media and society as a whole.

What is Fast Fashion?

At what cost does one sacrifice the well-being of the environment over fashion? The answer can be found from fast fashion trends and retail practices. Fast fashion is cheap, trendy clothing that quickly gains popularity on social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. The main idea behind big corporations marketing fast fashion to the general public comes from creating pieces inspired by runway shows at a lower price to meet consumer demands. However, lower prices also mean lower quality and unsafe working conditions and poor wages for those who work in the manufacturing factories. One example of a fast fashion tragedy is the Rana Plaza incident that occurred in 2013 in Bangladesh, in which many workers were killed due to hazardous working conditions, which led to a building collapse.

Sustainability and Fashion Trends

As you may have probably already noticed, Y2K has become a prominent fashion trend all over social media and has led to more and more people adopting the early 2000s aesthetic. While this was happening on social media, corporations such as H&M got the opportunity to create cheap Y2K inspired clothing and market it to teens. At the same time, H&M also released a “green campaign” for which they claimed many of their products were environmentally sustainable. However, according to The Guardian, 40% of these claims could be misleading to consumers. Other fast fashion trends on social media come from stores such as GAP, Urban Outfitters, and Shein that create low prices for their clothing at the cost of cheap labor. Social media further endorses fast fashion by promoting “haul videos” from creators who unintentionally seem to support these trends that exploit factory workers. Fast fashion is difficult to escape as it is comfortable to conform to the trends influencers and celebrities are participating in. Thus, many of us resort to stores, such as the ones stated above, to get clothing pieces similar to the celebrities we admire at a cheaper cost. Therefore, it can be said that social media quite literally fuels fast fashion.

Other notable fast fashion trends:

  • Crochet sets inspired by 70s and 80s
  • Twilightcore (micro trend from TikTok) 
  • ZARA Hauls
  • “Clean girl” aesthetic

Influence from the TV Shows and Movies

The entertainment industry has always had a prominent and long-lasting effect on the fashion industry and, more specifically, fast fashion. Television shows have the ability to assist with the creation and popularization of a variety of fast fashion trends. Additionally, content from Youtube influencers, TikTokers, and even mainstream celebrities has also heavily influenced how consumers respond to fast fashion trends. For instance, a couple of months ago, fashion seen in Euphoria blew up on social media platforms and garnered attention from people around the world. This led to a revival of vintage and Y2K fashion pieces such as the velvet tracksuits and rhinestones. Currently, people online have tried to recreate fashion seen from the latest Stranger Things season, which is definitely more retro than the other fast fashion trends. People resort to giving into these fast fashion trends as it gives them a way to resonate with the characters and eras they have admired on screen for so long. Additionally, some companies that contribute to the fast fashion crisis end up sponsoring the clothing in some movies or shows, which makes it easier for people to find and sell those pieces of clothing. Due to the short time frame of many fast fashion trends, a lot of the clothes that are impulsively bought end up in thrift stores or landfills. It is evident that these trends are not good for the environment as fast fashion products use cheap, toxic chemical dyes that pollute clean water sources. Also, polyester is a common product used in these fashion items, and it is a contributor to fossil fuels.

In the end, fast fashion has become a huge part of our society, and it is difficult to completely get rid of it. Thus, it is essential to do your research and consider more environmentally friendly options whenever possible.  

 

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A Personal Reflection of Diya Patel (Birthday Edition)

Diya Devendra Patel
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The candles are lit, and my mom gets my family and friends ready to sing a song of joy – happy birthday. At that single moment I only cared about the food and the next game of tag you might play with my friends. It was seen as a day where you are given the presents that you’ve always wanted, and are treated like a princess that you always thought you were. That was me, a little girl that was overjoyed by the little things in life with no clue about the reality despite living in it. I have never taken a second to rewind and see how far I’ve come over the years, yet have stuck in the moment for years. For this reason, I wanted to dedicate this blog to reflecting back through the years, and what I have learned up to this day. By the time this is posted it will be the day of my birthday, and let me tell you that it’s been a roller-coaster. I feel old. I am officially going to be 15, which makes me think I’m halfway to thirty despite it being a reality. I find it interesting to recognize that until the age of 9 I looked up to my birthday as a celebration of getting older, and now as I am getting older it seems sad yet exciting to see myself transform overtime. The older I have gotten, the more I have realized about life, people, and the morals that I should live by. Sometimes I feel as if life is going by too fast, even though I do have to accept that’s a reality. Through my 15 years of existence and living in this generation, I have realized a lot about life. I tend to feel like a 30 years women at times, due to how much I know(or how much my generation knows) compared to my parents. As the generations tend to get more and more competitive, and human characteristics are shadowed we are now seeing huge labels put over the people that we are today. The idea of individuals using others for the money or fame seems like the presence of human decency is still present. Many individuals look for labels, yet don’t seem to look at the “small” qualities that individuals hold. I tend to feel like as time passes our world seems to expand and evolve so far, yet tear apart so delicately at the same time. As my birthday comes closer, I tend to feel grateful for the little things in life. I find that I’ve seen so many stories, and how much so many of my friends are going through, they would wish to have some of the things in my life. I find that being grateful to family and friends is so vital, as you don’t know when you can lose an individual. This year, I am working towards being grateful for what I have, and being kinder to myself. With this reflection, I want you to give your loved one a hug and tell them how much you love them. Life is short, and I am willing to live it to the fullest to some limitations in terms of core values/morals. Do what it takes to make your dreams come true, and I’m manifesting that this is going to be the best year yet. 

I find that gratitude is something many individuals are working on as there are so many factors that play into not feeling that you don’t have enough. I wanted to share a quote(by Oprah Winfrey) that has helped me break through those feelings.

“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” – Oprah Winfrey

This quote in specific changed the way I thought, and after hearing this I never took anything for granted. It made me appreciate my loved ones around me for holding on to me, and never letting ago during the worst times. My parents have gone through so much, yet have done so much to provide for me. I love them so much for that, and the amount of thank you’s I could say would never be enough. I feel like many if us could resonate with that. If you have a loved one that has been with you for a long time, thank them. I promise it will be worth it.

On Life in the Universe

David Shao
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It seems like a philosophical question to ponder what life is. Although much of biology informs us of how life operates on Earth, this science also confines itself to Earth.

The only “life” we know of is the life on this planet. It is the product of a suitable environment, a series of serendipitous accidents, and lengthy evolutions spanning millions of years.

Yet looking at potential life outside our current world, astrobiologists can only expand what we know to be life.

For instance, what we call life today centers around water, cells and cellular components, proteins, and sequences of nucleic acids that encode information.

The chemistry of terrestrial life is due to seemingly-random processes. The way life works is just how it came to be, and without any apparent design. For this reason, it is highly unlikely life—should it emerge elsewhere in the universe—would bear these characteristics of terrestrial life.

To Characterize Life

A definition of life that biologists commonly use may consider life a self-sustaining process, with cellular organisms that respond to stimuli and adapt, and can reproduce, grow, and evolve. NASA, along with many astrobiologists, however, frequently use a more nebulous definition. They consider life “a self-sustaining chemical system capable of Darwinian evolution.”

The search for extra-terrestrial life tries to identify biosignatures—molecules that can suggest the existence of life—on other planets and bodies. These signatures, however, are not easy to identify simply because it’s uncertain what they may be.

Water—an important medium for many chemical processes in life—is a good sign. The polarity of water molecules allows many similarly polar molecules to dissolve and interact. Yet researchers suggest other compounds, like ammonia or formamide, could also serve a similar role as a solvent for life.

Similarly, while carbon forms the structure of molecules involved in terrestrial life, silicon could possibly do the same on account of their similar atomic properties.

The nucleic acids, such as DNA, which instruct the production of amino acid chains, may find their analogues in other systems of coding genetic information.

Indeed, overall, in almost all definitions of life, the requirement of evolution is present. Life must be able to change over time in response to external factors, and genetics form the basis of retaining information across time.

Altogether, we can’t be sure of the specifics of life outside of Earth—and, obviously, if it even exists. But there are certain requirements for something to be considered life, as we would recognize it.

Researchers have also speculated that, rather than looking for special signatures, we may find better success looking for patterns in how specific molecules are used and their abundance.

Or perhaps, there are existences outside even the broadest and most abstract definitions of life. Something that could blur lines between inanimate and animate entities.

But all of that is food for thought and speculation.

Further Reading:

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Reducing an Everlasting Footprint

Iman Alvi
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In the present day, climate change is one of the biggest challenges we are facing as a species. Human development over the last 200 years has made it so the world is becoming dangerously close to an irreversible change, so it’s no surprise that the topic as a whole can seem overwhelming. While a real solution to this problem will require action on a global scale, there are still choices that every single person can make in their day-to-day life to minimize the damage. 

 

What is a carbon footprint?

A carbon footprint is the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that come from both the production and the consumption of goods and services. While carbon dioxide is the gas most commonly emitted, there are still others, including methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases, which trap heat in the atmosphere, causing global warming. Generally, the bulk of an individual’s carbon footprint will come from housing, transportation, and food. 

Between the seven billion people consuming amounts of the planet’s resources on Earth, the United Nations predicts that the global population will only keep growing at a greater rate. By 2050, there will be 9.7 billion, and over 11 billion by 2100. This rapid increase in population will only drive up emissions and deplete the planet’s resources, and it will have a direct impact on global warming. Thankfully, there are numerous ways your can lessen your carbon footprint to fight global warming, making more eco-friendly choices each day. 

 

Food

One of the first things you can do to decrease your carbon footprint is to reduce your meat and dairy consumption. At least 32,000 million tons of CO2 is released per year due to livestock and their byproducts, which is also 51% of all worldwide greenhouse gas emissions, and it is significantly more than the combined fumes of all modes of transportation. Incorporating more foods such as fruits, veggies, grains, and beans can go a long way in reducing your own carbon footprint. A few other simple ways to be more climate-friendly are to choose organic and local foods that are in season, buy food in bulk, use reusable bags and containers, as well as buy only what you need to reduce waste. 

 

Clothing

The clothing sector generates 10% of all global carbon emissions and remains the second biggest industrial polluter, following the oil industry. In addition to the mass amount of CO2 emissions associated with the production and transportation of fast fashion clothing, it also aids in deforestation on a grand scale. Cheaper fabrics such as rayon, viscose, and modal contribute to over 70 million trees cut each year. These emissions do not even include the water pollution caused by pesticides for the cultivation of cotton. Buying more sustainable, environmentally friendly clothing, or even buying second-hand clothing, will significantly reduce your carbon footprint in the years to come. Even just taking good care of your clothing or washing them using cold water will go a long way. 

 

Transport

As electricity increasingly comes from renewable energy or natural gas, transportation has become a major source of carbon dioxide emissions. Although it varies depending on the car, an average car will produce about five tons of CO2 each year. Something as small as driving less can do much to decrease your carbon emissions, whether it’s by walking, taking public transport, carpooling, or even biking. This is not only a more eco-friendly change, but it also lessens traffic congestion and the idling of engines that accompanies it. Taking care of your car, such as making sure your wheels are properly inflated or the car is maintained can increase your fuel efficiency by 4%. If you are shopping for a new car, I would highly recommend purchasing a hybrid or electric car. Despite the fact that some electric vehicles can cause greater gas emissions, they quickly make up for it in just a few years of use. Overall, experts have broadly agreed that electric vehicles create a lower carbon footprint over the course of their lifetime than do cars and trucks that use traditional engines. 

Whether or not you choose to implement any of these changes is up to you, but these day-to-day habits are how even one person can fight a problem as big as climate change. After all, the process of reducing your own carbon footprint will always start with one small step. 

 

 

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Sources:

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]

How Tik-Tok Carefully Curates Your For-You Page

Gabrielle Cadiang
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As someone who has spent an absurd amount of time scrolling through my for-you page on Tik-Tok, I’ve encountered and watched many different videos from very niche communities throughout the app. I used to spend hours scrolling on the app ( I’ll admit, I was addicted for a few months) and now I usually spend 15-30 minutes looking at all the videos on my for-you page. I’ve been fascinated with how the Tik-Tok algorithm works, how my fyp page is completely different than my friend’s, or how members of content houses have the algorithm in their favour; helping launch their influence careers.

I came across an article by The New York Times back in January (the article was released in early December 2021) and it explained how the algorithm worked. The article goes into depth on a leaked document called “TikTok Algo 101,” which explained how user “retention” (if a user comes back) and how long a user spends time on the app are the two main deciding factors that help the algorithm put the type of subculture content on your for-you page. Every single interaction makes an individual with the app ultimately helps the algorithm figure out what content subcultures a user may enjoy; every like, every comment, every share, and every search one makes helps the app learn about what a user likes. Nobody gets the same for-you page, and nobody watches the same video at the same time. The app’s algorithm is carefully tinkered in order to cater to every user’s wants and needs, which has ultimately led some people to spend an absurd amount of time on the app.

Tik-Tok has granted opportunities for social-media influencers and personas to arise. People such as Addison Rae, Charli D’Amelio, Vinnie Hacker had the algorithm on their side in their rise to internet stardom. As evidenced by their follower counts that skyrocket on a daily basis, posting at specific times and posting content that caters to their audience has ultimately supported their rise into internet stardom. A system designed and engineered in order to cater to its users, a content creator’s posts and how they are received on the platform help the algorithm boom as well.

The amount of time spent and the amount of interactions one has on the app ultimately sets them up for the type of content they see on the app. The careful curation of a user’s for-you page comes down to the two factors previously stated. Many social media platforms in the modern era have realized that they can help control what content their users consume and how it affects their company. Tik-Tok has served as a platform for users to find enjoyment in content that others make, businesses to flourish, and emerging content creators to boom. All thanks to the algorithm, the cycle of content creation on Tik-Tok has helped support many people in their endeavors to discover new niche internet subcultures and show users things that they may find interesting; thus the formation of every Tik-Tok user’s for-you page.

 

sources | featured, new york times post linked above, 2, 3,

The Art of Passion Provokes Direct Success

Diya Devendra Patel
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In terms of decision making, society has always been a brick wall that many find has a tendency to fear doing certain things. The thoughts of other individuals, the reactions that many may generate within themselves, or the hour long conversations where one may gossip about you is not ideal either. I feel like we’ve all been there. We may have had a passion in which we are willing to put all our blood, sweat, and tears into yet the thought of judgement may never leave our mind. Although society can be supportive in some cases, it’s important to consider that the opinions that it creates are directly based upon the morals and ethics of individuals as a result of their upbringing. On the contrary, it’s also crucial to consider the general aspects of morality and ensure that you are doing the right thing for yourself and others. Maintaining a sense of right and wrong, as you continue your passion will allow yourself to become not only a successful individual in the industry, yet also as a person. 

Writing a personal blog is an aspect that I haven’t been familiar with, or necessarily ever done. I feel like we tend to compare ourselves with what those around us have, yet we don’t understand what we already have. This mindset of not having what other’s have can poison us entirely, and make us feel like we’re ending up nowhere, despite the actions that we are taking to become better. Despite the scenario, being grateful, and not living up to society’s exceptions is alright! 

There have been various cases where you may want to become a painter/or a musician as a profession, yet your parents or loved ones don’t support you because of your decision. It’s important to consider that at the end of the day you are going to be working in that profession, and you will be playing a role in society for the profession. Whatever the case might be, it will all come down to you. If the individuals around you choose not to support you, it’s important to elaborate on why you want to do it or what it might bring for you because at the end of the day they are also looking out for what’s best for you.

Becoming what you want profession wise is important, as that will be your driving mechanism that will push you to become better at the field you choose to be in. Considering that, if you are wanting to become a popstar and have an angelic voice, yet your parents want you to become a doctor and you’re not good at science, you may be setting yourself up for failure in terms of interest in the subject & desires. That is not to say that if you’re not good at a subject and you have a passion for it you shouldn’t pursue it, yet you should work harder to become better at it. Becoming a popstar with the brilliance of songwriting and singing could end up allowing you to connected to millions of people. The more people like your music (or whatever you choose to do), the more you will be paid for the job. All in all, it’s important to understand what you want to do, and not allow society’s opinions to make your dreams a reality. 

Sources: Feautured Image

Aspiring Careers in the Field of Technology and Computers

Harshita Jindia
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It is inevitable that we would be faced with new advancements to our technological resources and prosperous from uprising STEM opportunities in the near future. But with these advancements, new jobs will also be introduced. If you are intrigued to go into the depths of coding, technology, robotics and more, then there are many positions available to pursue your dream career. Below are listed some of the top careers under computer science to get you thinking about your ambitions and understand the guidelines to obtain those goals.

1. Software Engineer

Average Salary (According to Alberta): $100,625.00/per year

Job Description: 

Software engineers develop computer system software and applications software to fix technical problems. They also work on software used in operating systems, information warehouses, databases, and telecommunications. They also cooperate with other developers and engineers to develop new software designs. Software engineers need to have interpersonal skills, communication skills to work appropriately with clients, and an analytical mind to develop technological solutions to computer problems. The work of software engineering can be used further to support businesses, infrastructure designs, computer advancements, and more. 

Education Requirements: 

Most employers recruit software engineers with a minimum of 4-years of bachelor’s degree in software engineering. Although this is required, a degree in computer science, computer engineering, or electrical engineering is also acceptable. It is also mandatory to know how to code, and how to apply it in technical terms. 

A Master’s degree in the field of software engineering can be an asset, as some employers will accept people with more work experience, and practical knowledge. If you want to expand further into research and development a doctoral degree is additionally mandated. 

Taking on courses such as software engineering, computer science, or robotics and engineering in high school can also be an asset to succeed and develop a finer perception of the content. Universities also provide internships and cooperative education opportunities to aid your practical skills.

Additional Resources: 

https://alis.alberta.ca/occinfo/occupations-in-alberta/occupation-profiles/software-engineer/#educational-requirements – This provides you with the career occupations, wages, and many more features about the job from statistics taken from Alberta. 

https://www.careerexplorer.com/careers/software-engineer/ – Want to know what setting you will be working in and the type of work you will be conducting. 

What is software engineering?

Related Jobs

  • Mobile developer
  • Security engineer
  • Video game designer
  • Data scientist 
  • Back-end engineer
  • Quality assurance engineer
  • Software integration engineer
  • Graphics developer

 

2. Data Scientist

Average Salary (According to Alberta): $84,000.00/per year

Job Description:

Data scientists interpret data or make educated conclusions from statistical reports to solve daily problems. They analyze different patterns and trends in the data that support or deny their hypothesis to either improve the company’s ways or bring change to social systems based on their research. The data a data scientist collects can go towards identifying health issues in a product, creating solutions to social issues, reducing the climate crisis, growing business profits, and many more ways which will positively affect our quality of life.

  • Work with different organizations and companies to identify data-oriented problems and offer newer opportunities and solutions.
  • Applying machine-learned models and unique algorithms to obtain more information from larger sources
  • Create charts, graphs, and other statistical reports to present the data you have collected to the stakeholders 

Education Requirements:

You will need to acquire a bachelor’s degree (4-year) in data science, data analytics, computing science, statistics, computer engineering, or any other competitive related fields for an entry-level position*. Although it is profoundly recommended that more work experience and a master’s degree in the field will lead employers to place you in higher positions. 

  • If you wish to conduct independent research, you will need to obtain a doctoral degree (Ph.D.).
  • Universities provide internships and collective education, which is an asset

* A lower level of the job which does not require any education or practice. 

Skills:

  • How to interpret data thoroughly and accurately
  • Having persistence and dedication to study and work on the course material
  • Having excellence in statistics, mathematics, and calculus
  • Showing or having an interest in data collection and analysis 
  • Great communication skills through verbal and visual 
  • Take on new challenges and expand your thinking 
  • Taking part in marketing or management courses

 Additional Resources:

https://datasciencedegree.wisconsin.edu/data-science/what-do-data-scientists do/-

https://alis.alberta.ca/occinfo/occupations-in-alberta/occupation-profiles/data-scientist/ 

7 Ways a Data Scientist Can Add Value to a Business | SmallBizClub

Related Jobs 

  • Data analyst
  • Data Architect
  • Database Administrator
  • Marketing analyst
  • Data engineer
  • Machine learning engineer
  • Buisness Intelligence Analyst

 

3. Web Designer

Average Annual Salary (According to Alberta): $69, 140.00

Job Description: 

Web designers create and develop interactive and informative websites for the public and intranet sites (internal to an organization). The websites created work towards marketing businesses, promoting non-profit organizations, spreading crucial information to the public, and many more effective causes. They use their visually organized platforms and persuasive skills to influence others to have opinions over the information presented and eventually agree to it. 

Education Requirements:

  • Minimum Education: 2 years of post-secondary
  • Courses include Computer Science, Marketing and Management, graphic design, and writing.
  • Specific courses include digital marketing, multimedia production, coding and scripting, user experience design, web application, and programming. 
  • Extra initiatives can also be taken for personal development, by doing personal experimentation, creating your own websites, attending seminars, and increasing your experiences in the field. All of these points would lead to a more occupational profile, which most employers prefer, giving you a successful job.  
  • You must upgrade your knowledge of the field continuously as it is a vast and rapid profession where information is changing constantly. (Different software developments and website competitions)

Skills:

  • Comprehensive and visual-oriented creator
  • Organizational skills, and clean and effective performance
  • Great communications skills both through the website and with stakeholders
  • Proficient with different software websites like Adobe Photoshop, Sketch, and Illustrator.
  • Know how to code efficiently with different languages (forming website base, and adding on design elements.)
  • Time management and persuasive language
  • Problem-solving mindset and working collaboratively with your team

Additional Resources:

https://www.coursera.org/articles/web-designer 

https://alis.alberta.ca/occinfo/occupations-in-alberta/occupation-profiles/web-designer/#educational-requirements 

https://www.codemotion.com/magazine/frontend/design-ux/web-designer-skills/ 

Related Jobs 

  • Five Issues Web Designers Should Address - Corporate Vision MagazineUX researcher
  • Game developer
  • Applications developer
  • Multimedia programme
  • SEO specialist
  • UX designer
  • Web content manager 
  • Multimedia Specialist.

 

4. Video Game Developer 

Average Annual Salary (According to Alberta): $84,210.00/per year

Job Description:

Video game developers collaborate with graphic designers, visual artists, and other people who collect data for them to create resourceful games. They create interactive designs and programs using platforms such as HTML5, mobile, and gaming console applications. Most importantly they write, edit and test their software codes, to develop logical systems through visual representation.

Education Requirements:

  • Most employers are looking for video game developers with at least 2 years of post-secondary education
  • There are no specific course requirements, but it is important to have knowledge of computer science, and graphic design.
  • Knowledge of computer science is constantly changing whether it is video game trends or computer language, so you have to keep up
  • Work experience as a graphic designer or software engineer is an asset
  • Collective education programs and internships are also available at most universities for further development of the topic

Skills:

  • Work logically and abstractly 
  • Pay attention to details and develop error-free games, as many users will be playing at the same time
  • Having research skills and active determination to learn the rapid changing computer languages and audience interests
  • Open to working with a team and contributing ideas, but can work individually
  • Are creative, design-oriented, organized, and professional
  • Communication skills both verbally and visually 
  • To develop captivating storylines, and write interesting scripts for the game
  • Be able to animate and be comfortable working online  

Additional Resources:

https://alis.alberta.ca/occinfo/occupations-in-alberta/occupation-profiles/interactive-media-programmer/ 

https://apps.illinoisworknet.com/cis/clusters/OccupationDetails 

Online Video Game Design and Development from Medicine Hat College

Related Jobs 

  • Graphic designers
  • Computer engineers
  • Computer programmers
  • Art Directors
  • Animators and Multimedia Artists
  • Writers
  • Producers and Directors 
  • Video Game Testors

 

Sources: Featured Image

The Best Vegan Caesar Salad Dressing

Yuri Choi
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These days, Veganism and vegan foods have been on the rise as people take into account being responsible for the planet. Although I am not vegan myself, I usually try to avoid dairy as I have trouble digesting it. Because of this, I have explored many different alternative vegan dairy options, and have incorporated many vegan options into my everyday meals. While some of the recipes I tried were an absolute disaster, some of them turned out great– even better than its original counterpart if I do say so myself. This vegan caesar salad dressing is one of the best– it is tangy, creamy, and delicious. Whether or not you are vegan, I hope you try this out!

Ingredients 

  • 2 tablespoons tahini
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder, or 1 clove of garlic
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1-2 tablespoons water
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons mustard

Instructions

  1. In a small bowl, combine tahini, garlic powder, lemon juice, maple syrup, and mustard
  2. 1 tablespoon at a time, add water until desired consistency is reached
  3. Toss with your choice of greens, croutons, and any other toppings, and enjoy!

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