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The Tinder Swindler – A Vital Documentary on Relationship Manipulation

youthareawesome
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It’s always intriguing to observe a master hone their craft. As someone who doesn’t normally watch true crime documentaries, that’s my assumed explanation for the obsession around such films. Take The Tinder Swindler, a captivating show regarding Simon Leveiv and his almost perfect manipulation and execution in scamming. This article will have minor spoilers, though obviously not enough to warrant skipping over the film. 

The Tinder Swindler Documents the Stories of Three Women All Duped by One Man. 

These women met Simon Leviev through, as the name suggests, Tinder. With his profile, he seems like the perfect man. Well travelled, educated, philanthropic, with the added benefit of wealth. He would win the women over with the most luxurious first date, showering them with gifts as the relationship progressed. All of this enabled him to build his persona as a rich, high profile individual, with many many enemies. 

It’s mind-boggling how effectively Leviev wins over the trust of others. You can argue that the women were foolish or vain, but I think the show proves anyone is susceptible to manipulation. In fact, one of the women didn’t have a romantic relationship with Leviev. He simply could make anyone feel like they could take on the world. 

However, he would soon fake a sense of urgency, and that’s where the scamming begins. I won’t exactly explain how, because you should watch the film for that. He would repeat this for many women at once. First create a luxurious front, then scam individuals to continue feeding that lavish lifestyle and persona. 

The film then goes on a deep thrilling hunt to catch Leviev, however difficult because the Police mostly didn’t care enough to put in the effort. 

So, What Makes This Story Great?

I found the pace and flow fantastic. There were highs and lows, though never dull points. I was completely engrossed throughout the entire film. Something I enjoyed (I don’t know how objective other documentaries are) is how unbiased it felt. Yes, Leviev is the ‘bad guy’ of the film. The film still highlights how the women made dangerous mistakes, and understanding that is a central theme of the documentary. Manipulation and the trap of success is very real and can happen to anyone. The victims of the story are cultured and educated individuals themselves. Leviev is simply a master at manipulation, taking advantage of the others’ vulnerability and romantic ideals. These women go through a horrible experience, and it’s clear how damaging that is to their trust and mental wellbeing. 

The story starts by introducing one girlfriend, then later on building on this with the other two women. I thought the producers did an excellent job with this. It felt like it started small, then continuously built into an ever expanding and complex situation. There’s also constant travel between locations which reflects the hectic difficulty following Leviev. 

The documentary is very real and straightforward. They don’t try to be flashy, which I appreciated. There is no true happy ending, but the story remains ongoing. The themes and messages are vital, especially in an increasingly online world. Even long-term relationships can be very different from what they seem.

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Get What You Want! The Ultimate Keys to Success!

Diya Devendra Patel
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Have you ever wanted something so bad that you poured your entire heart and soul into it, and it didn’t come true? How disappointed were you? Did you try hard enough? Did you ever think you had made a mistake in striving for that dream? Whatever the case might have been there are a few important ways and things to remember as you are progressing towards that better life. I find that success comes in small steps and pieces. You may have witnessed someone reach success really quickly, yet there have been so many invisible small stepping stones that have brought them to the place they are today. Here are a few ways you can strive to get whatever you want out of life. 

Dream the Reality

Some may say dreaming does nothing in accordance with getting what you want from life. Although to a certain extent they may be correct, visualizing may make an individual want their dream more than they realize. Manifestation is a real phenomenon that has been experienced firsthand by many successful individuals. For example, writing things down that you want to achieve is another great way of manifestation, and has been scientifically proven to work. Remembering it’s also the small things that can allow your dreams to become a reality is crucial. On the other hand, dreaming is not the ONLY way to work towards the successful life you want to live, yet the work you put into it. 

Keeping a Healthy and Stable Mindset 

“Mindset is key!” You may have heard many individuals have repeated this over and over again, yet how many times have you really thought about the real definition behind this statement. The way you perceive an activity or action can change the way you react to what you do. For example, your dream is to graduate high school, but you don’t like doing homework and you tell yourself that you hate it everyday. This will demolish your dreams and how much you even want to graduate. On the other hand, telling yourself that homework is fun, and faking it even though you don’t like it change your perspective. This is the act of consciously playing mind games with your brain. In doing so, you are able to become fond of doing a specific activity yet continue to accomplish your dream little by little. 

Formulate a Plan 

Planning is another way of organizing what you want. Being clear on what you want and how your actions may affect your outcomes is something you need to know inside out. Knowing what could be an outcome of a certain scenario will allow you to understand what to do if something doesn’t work out. Formulating a plan could also be a persuasion method if your parents are not taking your dreams seriously. Sometimes parents may not see the same as we may see the future through our eyes. Allowing them to be on the same page about our futures can make the path smoother in terms of having a support system, and having some financial help if needed. 

Celebrate Small Achievements/Gratitude

Writing 5 things that you are happy to have is crucial to getting more things out of life. Oprah Winfrey once said; 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. I quite literally resonated with this quote, as I was at a point in my life where I didn’t recall what I didn’t have instead of what I had. Practicing this made me realize the importance of everything God has given me, and how my circumstances could have been a lot worse. Celebrating small achievements can be a great tool for motivation, and to show how far you have come. This can move you further into your journey of finding success. 

These are 4 ways I have found success in my daily life, and have heard from many successful individuals throughout the media. These have moved me as an individual, and I could still use these tips as reminders on how to practice my dreams and goals in my daily life. I hope you found these helpful, and let me know in the comments if they have helped you in any way! 

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The Climate of Our Future

Penny Per Thought
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Uncertainty about our future has increased as a result of climate change. As its effects worsen over time, one thing is certain: we will leave the Earth to today’s children and youth, as well as future generations.

The world now has 1.8 billion young people aged 10 to 24 — the largest generation of youth in history. Young people are becoming more aware of the challenges and risks posed by the climate crisis, as well as the opportunity to achieve sustainable development provided by a climate change solution.

The unprecedented mobilisation of young people around the world demonstrates the enormous power they have to hold decision-makers accountable. Their message is clear: the older generation failed, and the young will pay the price — with their very lives.

Most of us believe that we have the little to no ability to impact the devastating effects of climate change right now, but we will be the ones to bear the burden of its long-term consequences. So we must get up and start to change things, even in the littlest of ways.

Here’s some ways, we can start:

Don’t wait to be heard, be loud, stand your ground and make them hear you. 

Since Greta Thunberg inspired millions of teenagers to skip school to protest climate change in 2018, the world’s media has focused on youth climate strikes. The protests were filled with passionate young people, capturing the attention of the world’s media, reverberating with the young attendees’ anger and angst about the future.

Students dealing with other overlapping crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and racial injustice, are pushing for these topics to be brought into the classroom.

Together, being heard and making your voice louder and demanding is easier and more approachable.

“There’s no price of admission to the climate movement,” says Morgan Edwards, an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a leader of the university’s Climate Action Lab told ABC News. “Trying to think just about how you can reduce your personal emissions can feel really lonely, whereas, being part of something bigger, finding a community to take action together with — I think that’s a much more empowering way to think about climate change centers the conversation around those who are responsible for the crisis, which isn’t you as an individual.”

Take up the political involvement opportunities locally.

As young people reach voting age, it will be critical for them to use their voting power to effect change. If they believe that none of the candidates are qualified, they can run for office themselves.

Use your talents to fuel the fight.

There are many ways to apply every course of study to the climate fight for college students who feel they can’t get involved in the climate crisis because their major has nothing to do with the environment. People with a focus on business administration or property management, for example, can use their studies to find ways to build and maintain buildings with more sustainable materials and less toxic waste. As the fight and the concern expands, the world needs a lot more perspectives on the climate crisis. The key to everyone fighting against the force of it together is thinking about how it interacts with all of these different fields. It’s not a problem of just one field of study, it applies to all of us. We must fight together to hold each other accountable, and kickstart the movement towards change.

 

 

Climate change affects young people in more ways than one. The youth are gathering up their efforts and putting their skills to use to accelerate climate action, whether through education, science, or technology. And it is all for the better since we, as a generation, hold the key to the fate of the world. So let’s get together and join the movement for change.

5 puzzle games to play after wordle

Shraavni Patankar
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Played by over 300,000 people daily, wordle has become a popular pastime for many across the world. However, there are countless other games to be played. In today’s blog, I wanted to share some other games that you can play. These not only serve to add some fun into your life, but also improve your vocabulary, geography, problem solving skills, and much more.

1. Worldle

While this game is spelled similar to Wordle, it could not be more different. This game is a great pastime for individuals looking to improve their geography.

Rules: Every 24 hours, there will be a silhouette of a certain country from across the world. Within 6 attempts, an individual will have to guess the name of the country. After each guess, a percentage will inform the player how close their guess was to the actual country. In addition, a small arrow will also let them know where the country is in regards to their guess, along with a distance measurement.

2. Heardle

Just as it sounds, this game allows players to test how much they truly know about songs.

Rules: After playing a certain song chosen from a list of popular artists for 1 second, a player has to guess the name. Given a total of 6 attempts, each wrong guess allows the player to listen to the song for a longer and longer period of time after.

3. Crosswordle

Similiar to Wordle, this game allows individuals to test their vocabulary by combining a crossword aspect into the regular game. During crosswordle, players are challenged to guess two words that intersect with each other to create a crossword.

Rules: Similiar to wordle, green, gray and yellow blocks are used to represent certain things. However, unlike the regular game, crosswordle gives you an unlimited amount of attempts to guess the words. While there is a new one each day, this game also allows individuals to create their own to share with others.

4. Primel

If you would rather work with numbers instead of letters, Primel is perfect for you!

Rules: Primel gives you six attempts to guess a 5 digit prime number. Similiar to wordle, the game incorporates gray, yellow and green blocks to depict certain things. However, the game only allows you to guess prime numbers, creating a harder puzzle to solve.

5. Nerdle

Similiar to Primel, Nerdle is perfect for those looking for a challenge involving numbers.

Rules: Rather than guessing a number, Nerdle challenges individuals to guess the equation. Each guess must include an equal sign and follow proper order of operation rules. After every guess, the boxes will change a certain color to signal something. Black boxes will indicate that the given number or sign is not in the equation. Green boxes will indicate that the given number or sign is correct and in the proper position. Finally, purple boxes will indicate that the given number or sign is a part of the equation but in the wrong position. The equations always change every 8 hours, giving you plenty of challenges in a day.

That’s it! These were 5 games that will challenge you while also forcing you to learn something new along the way. I hope you give one of these a try and have fun!

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Housing and Home Ownership This Decade

David Shao
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These days, it’s all too common to hear discussion about the housing crisis. The rising rent, the sky-high house prices, the decline in home ownership—they’re all symptoms of a growing dynamic.

From the mid-2000s, right around the time of the subprime mortgage crisis, several shifts have conspired to make cities increasingly unaffordable.

First, many cities have all but stopped building new, affordable homes.

A significant source of these issues comes from messy zoning regulations, which make it easy for current homeowners to block higher-density housing. A fear of skyscrapers and high rises is a key concern. Many want to protect their “view”—or, perhaps, their community’s “character.”

Even though most suburban homeowners remain supportive of affordable housing policies, many take a “not in my backyard” stance. Fundamentally, the present system of housing construction is often susceptible to fierce, local opposition.

That isn’t helped by the growing urban centers across both the U.S. and Canada. Indeed, despite urbanization and immigration, a lack of housing—housing close to jobs—likely contributes to a loss of economic productivity.

The consequence of a housing shortage is the chronic inflation of prices.

In Canada, they have increased by 70% in nominal terms since 2015, according to the OECD. Paired with coinciding periods of low interest rates, buyers (those who can afford it, at least) are increasingly willing to shell out more money for homes.

Beyond the housing market and availability, these most heavily impact younger generations. This has exacerbated a generational divide between a significant group of millennials who cannot afford homes (note the stagnation of real wages) and current homeowners who do not understand their experience.

Moreover, such an attitude does not bode well for future support of economic freedom in the housing market.

This Decade

There are several straightforward answers to the housing market. But they are likely difficult for the market—and governments—to internalize in the short term.

One: there needs to be a shift in the way we build homes. Nonetheless, in this decade, we should expect to see fewer fully detached houses with backyards and more multi-unit, medium-density constructions.

Two: ownership need not be necessary. There’s an argument to be made about mortgages and home ownership as a means of personal investing. However, there are countries—like Germany—whose home ownership rate sits lower than Canada’s and whose prices have not seen much of an increase. That’s the result of a culture and regulatory protections that allow for long-term renting.

Three: the attitude toward new developments needs to shift from current homeowners to what the market genuinely demands. Needless to say, that will take time.

There are plenty of other good solutions. Yet as long as people keep moving into population centers and housing supply does not comparably increase, there will remain a problem. This dynamic and the desires of homeowners will have to subside for proper growth in the long term.

And that’s for both the economy and the standards of living for many.

Further Reading: The Economist

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Finding the Line Between Art and Science

Pareen Cheema
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For many of us, when we hear the words “art” and “science” in the same sentence, we immediately imagine two vastly different subjects. Our assumptions are correct in their terms, but there are more similarities between the two than we think. On one hand, art involves a lot of creativity and works with different materials such as paint or graphite, whereas science involves experiments and theories. However, today I wanted to explore the similarities between the thought and creative processes required in both fields, and I will also share an example where the two subjects are combined to create something unique.

Similar Aspects

One of the first places in history where I can see a link between art and science is within the works of Leonardo da Vinci. As you may already know, Leonardo da Vinci is recognized for his artwork and detailed notes about various inventions and research. This allows people to remember his legacy as an artist, inventor, and engineer. Throughout his work, you can see accuracy that can only be achieved by intensive research. Moreover, there are also artists, such as Marianne North, whose paintings of tropical plants assisted scientists with their research and even helped other people learn about the environment or the human body. Therefore, I think it is safe to say that both art and science require similar thought processes, such as being meticulous in order to achieve successful results whether that be painting a realistic scenery or conducting a new experiment. Additionally, both require an individual to think outside of the box to create new theories and artistic principles.

Beneficial to Each Other

Science involves exploring ideas and phenomena that are difficult to fathom and unknown. It involves discovery, and it is aided by formulas and technology. On the other hand, art involves people using creative expression to show how they see the world in a realistic or abstract sense. So where does the line between the two get blurred? As mentioned previously, one period in history when art and science became interconnected was during the Renaissance. During that time, humankind got amazing works of art accompanied by genius engineering. Aside from that, many well-known landmarks, such as the pyramids in Egypt, required a great deal of math and engineering to produce a structure that withstands different weather patterns and supports its weight. At the same time, they became renowned for their beauty and artistic value. A similar idea can be expressed with photography. The process of creating a camera, and understanding how it captures a photo is heavily scientific. But, the outcomes of photography are artistic and allow the person taking the photo to show how they see reality. Hence, I think it can be said that in many ways art and science are beneficial to each other.

An Unlikely Combination

When I initially started thinking about how science and art seem to connect, I wanted to find a modern-day example. Thus, I came across an article by Smithsonian Magazine that talks about how the work of a Nobel-Prize winning biochemist inspired an artist. Steve Miller incorporated some of Rod MacKinnon’s scientific work to create a series of paintings. Miller’s work used abstract imagery, whereas MacKinnon’s research was related to how potassium ions move across cell membranes. In the end, both combined to create a beautiful art piece that also represented something deeper about MacKinnon’s scientific work. Below are two art pieces by Miller that were inspired by MacKinnon’s research. The first is titled Flight School and the second one is Roam Free.

 

 

” The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.” – Albert Einstein

 

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Heartstopper and the Importance of Queer Optimism

Alex K
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Heartstopper is now out on Netflix! With the release of the new Netflix series comes a wave of loyal fans and press. Heartstopper was first released as a graphic novel in 2018, before which it was a webtoon. It follows the story of Charlie Spring and Nick Nelson, who throughout the series fall in love. Both the comic and the Tv show have a loyal fanbase, and for good reason. The series, while sweet and primarily a slice of life is captivating in a way that can only be a testament to Alice Ossman’s excellent writing. The tension built at the beginning of the series perfectly leads to the climactic moment of Nick’s confession to Charlie. The story beats thereafter are organic and well-planned, the visuals and climactic perfectly sync, and the characters are lovable and relatable. And well, it’s just so damn cute. Heartstopper is a simple and down-to-earth story about two queer teenagers falling in love, and its presence in media creates a new queer cultural staple. 

Heartstopper | WEBTOON

In terms of queer culture, Heartstopper is an extremely influential piece of queer media. At its roots, it is a celebration of queer experiences, which is especially important when much of queer media is dominated by queer instances. A queer instance is a palatable way that we usually see queerness depicted in media. Think of what we idealize as ‘coming out’. We think of it as one singular event, where you say that you’re queer once and everything falls around that one single declaration; where in reality, queer people come out at every age in their life, and they do so many times to many different people. As a queer person, you never really stop coming out. Like in the show, Nick first comes out to his friends one by one, before eventually coming out to his mother and then to his school. Every time we as queer people make a new friend, move houses, or change jobs, the process of coming out starts over again as an inherent part of being a queer person. Heartstopper encompasses this perfectly, where many characters go through this same experience. Not only is it a celebration of queer experiences, but it also addresses the importance of queer optimism for both the queer community but also in media as a whole. 

How Many 'Heartstopper' Books Are There in the Series?

In both the show and the comic, we are first introduced to the character of Charlie spring, an anxious 15-year-old attending Truham School for Boys. We learn that before the start to the start of the series, Charlie was outed as gay to his classmates and was mercilessly bullied. Now, at the start of the new semester, things have gotten a little better with Charlie. He is assigned seats next to Nick Nelson, a popular rugby player and (presumably) straight boy. The two slowly become close friends, with Charlie even joining the school rugby team. Nick starts to develop a crush a Charlie and realizes that he is bisexual. And, well, you can guess the rest from there. 

Heartstopper Volume One by Alice Oseman - PDF Duck

Aside from the two main characters, the series has a host of queer and diverse supporting characters. Elle Argent, who in the show is played by trans actor Yasmin Finney, is an Egyptian trans girl who used to go to the same school as Charlie before transferring to Higgs School for Girls. Her two classmates, Tara and Darcy, are a lesbian couple and some of the first people Nick comes out to in the series. Alice Ossman herself is asexual and aromantic, and her perception of romance permeates the story, often reflected in the way she writes the relationship between our main pair to be wholesome and innocent, and also wholly supportive and healthy. That’s right folks, no codependent romantic cliche to be found here!

Read Heartstopper :: 4 - 17 | Tapas Comics

The representation of the queer experience in Heartstopper is overwhelmingly positive and the good it will do for queer youth is profound. Media in our modern age provides a framework from which we build our identity. It can inform our values, our interests, and even our sexualities. Representation also subverts the cis-hetero norm, that is to say, it makes people more aware of our differences. Seeing ourselves onscreen is hugely beneficial to promoting our sense of self-worth and acceptance. Seeing people that look like or have things in common with us that accept themselves or have other people accept them helps us to feel good about ourselves. 

Alice Oseman Updates on Twitter: "⛱️HEARTSTOPPER updated today!🌊 the Paris Gang is back!! https://t.co/Ve4WmDhFgg https://t.co/lAeEKSZ0vv https://t.co/WXGpIbrMcD https://t.co/m8vXSyqHmr" / Twitter

The rights to the show were originally bought in 2019, but with COVID-19, production was stalled until last year. Now, Heartstopper is out on Netflix with one season and is one of the most popular queer shows on the platform. A show like this could not have come at a better time. All throughout the US and the UK, anti-queer legislation is being passed. From banning trans kids in sports to Florida’s “don’t say gay” bill, anti-queer legislation is on the rise. The queer community is losing ground because of the platforming and increasing popularity of bigotry in mainstream media. 

Heartstopper: Season 1/ Episode 5 "Friend" – Recap/ Review (with Spoilers)

At its core, Heartstopper is a show about queer people living normal, even mundane lives. The story is heartwarming and centers around queer optimism. This is the idea that queer people can live normal, fulfilling, and happy lives. Showing queer people living happy and wholesome lives, it inadvertently fights back against the bigotry of conservative policy. Queer teachers aren’t ‘grooming’ kids; they’re people looking for love just like us. Trans kids aren’t ‘stealing opportunities’ from cis kids; they’re simply trying to survive in a world which villainizes their existence. The image presented in Heartstopper, one of happy and accepted queer kids and adults, is one that is more powerful than we could even imagine.

We have to do it because we can no longer stay invisible. We have to be visible. We should not be ashamed of who we are.

-Sylvia Rivera

Where you can read it for free!: <3

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Fighting through Mental Health? Read this!

Diya Devendra Patel
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Mental health has been something that has had the ability to evolve over the years. It’s important to consider that today’s society has changed, and as generations changed the stigmas have as well. I am a huge advocate in mental health as I have also been struggling with mental health myself. Here are a few contacts or numbers that you can reach out to if you are struggling with mental health. 

The Importance of Helplines.

We may have all seen chocolates and candies in the world. It can be seen as a child’s first love per se. As it is a popular choice, especially in today’s day and age it has been taken into an advantage by a few brands. These include KitKat, Smarties, and Jolly Ranchers. They have made a huge impact on kids by adding the kids’ help phone number on the box/wrapper of their chocolate. This is a huge step that is being taken by brands and should be considered in many others.

As a struggler of mental health myself, I understand that help on its own can be a struggle. Having someone trusted to talk to ANONYMOUSLY and for FREE can help an individual get through much of their struggles. This is why I think it is a clever way for brands to be putting such information(contacts) on their products as a wide amount of people are lovers of such products(chocolate), and allows people to know where they can get help. Despite how big or small a company is I believe that ANY brand should put the contact of mental health services like Kids Help Phone to help those struggling.

Mental health lines should be more accessible and advocated about, as many don’t know about such information being on boxes and wrappers. In addition, it’s important to consider that mental health lines are open 24/7 and can be called at any time you feel like you need to talk to anyone. Passing such information is crucial to help with the mental health struggles that millions of individuals face at a very young age. Your information will not be asked nor will your parents be informed about a call to mental health services like Kids Help Phone. Be sure to let any of your friends know about finding the Kids Help Phone line on one of their favourite chocolates as they might be struggling with mental health themselves. Or maybe provide them with the number if it is not accessible to them. Whatever the case may be spreading the word and awareness about mental health is crucial for mortality(death rates) to decrease, because of these struggles. 

I want you to know that you are loved by all, and you were brought on this Earth for a reason! If you would like to contact the Kids Help Phone have a look at the back of a Smarties box or KitKat wrapper. If you do not have chocolate like this with you at the moment or accessible, here’s the Kids Help Phone Number you can contact: 

Mental Health Line Contacts(OPEN 24/7 AND ANONYMOUS) – anyone at ANY age can speak to the lines listed!

  • Kids Help Phone:  1-800-668-6868.
  • Phone Number for Emotional Support: 1-800-932-4616
  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline : 1-800-273-8255

You’re Important. Know Your Self-Worth.

Here is a blog with 13 reasons you should live. I feel as if you don’t realize your self worth it’s important to read through these as they have helped me with my mental health journey, and I hope it can help yours. Please consider calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline(1-800-273-8255) as it’s universal and solutions can be found. Again, this call is kept anonymous between you and the lifeline caller. I will still list out the reasons that were written in the blog that someone wrote about their struggles. If you want to further relate to this individual please check out the link provided as this was the link I found the reasons.

Link: https://www.pleaselive.org/blog/13-reasons-live/

Reasons Why You Should Survive:

(from link provided, I did not make these reasons but I believe they will help those who are struggling)

  • Reason #1: You are Loved
  • Reason #2: You are strong enough to get through this
  • Reason #3: Suicide is painful
  • Reason #4: Your choices are your own
  • Reason #5: Things really do get better
  • Reason #6: There is help available
  • Reason #7: You have worth and value
  • Reason #8: There’s a lot of good in the world.

https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/reasons-to-live#Timedoeshelp-lessen-pain <– another link with reasons to live. I will list a few below that I want people to know, but all of them are super valid and you should definitely read it if you are fighting through mental health. You can also share this to a friend/family member or just about anyone who is struggling with mental health.

  • The future isn’t set in stone
  • You matter
  • Time does help lessen pain
  • Mistakes don’t have to define you
  • You can make life more meaningful
  • Nothing in life is final — until it’s over
  • It’s hard to see solutions when in distress.

Use this time to fight through what you are going through, and talk to the helpline numbers provided. You will find solution and a path to a happier and more prosperous life! 🙂

-FROM MY ADVICE, PLEASE DO NOT GET ONLINE HELP IF YOU HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT SELF-HARM OR SUICIDE. THERE ARE ONLINE MENTAL HEALTH WEBSITES WHERE YOU CAN CHAT WITH SOMEONE BUT PREFERABLY DO NOT USE THEM. I PREFER EVERYONE TALKING ONE ON ONE ON THE PHONE WITH SOMEONE (I HAVE ATTACHED HELPLINES NUMBERS IN MY BLOG ABOVE). 

-NOTE: This is a blog, and should not replace the advice of a qualified health professional. 

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Fiddle Diddles: A Fun No-Bake Treat!

Natasha
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  I have been in bed with covid for the last week. Yes, after 2 years of restrictions and 3 vaccinations, I managed to get sick within 2 months of restrictions loosening. Despite the cough, fever, and fatigue, the worst outcome of my positive test so far is that I haven’t been able to go into the public areas of my home, specifically the kitchen. Being stuck at home without being able to bake has made me go over things I have baked in the past, which is where the actual point of this article comes in.

 

  I first made these fiddle diddle cookies in foods class at school. While the recipe I was provided with was decent (I later discovered it originated from this post on Food.com), it left something to be desired. After a few rounds of testing, I finally came up with a recipe that was perfect. There is no baking necessary, and the cookie can be made in under half an hour! The shredded coconut and coconut extract add a strong but not overpowering flavour, while also adding texture. The chocolatey notes from cocoa powder perfectly compliment the coconut. Finally, the cookie is not too sweet, which really just means that you can have as many as you want without having a sugar crash.

 

Without further ado, here is my fiddle diddle recipe!

 

Ingredients:

  • 0.5 cup unsalted butter
  • 1.5 cups granulated sugar (can be increased to up to 2 cups)
  • 0.5 cup milk
  • 6 tbsp cocoa powder
  • 3 cups quick-cooking rolled oats (do NOT use instant oats)
  • 0.5 + 2 tbsp medium coconut
  • 0.5 cup chopped walnuts or almonds (or both!)
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 tsp espresso powder
  • 2-3 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp coconut extract

Recipe:

  1. Put the butter or margarine, sugar and milk into the saucepan. Heat on medium, stirring often, until it comes to a boil. Remove pan from heat.
  2. Add all remaining ingredients. Stir well. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto parchment paper (a cookie scoop also works well). Cool completely.
  3. Store in a container with a lid and parchment paper between the layers. Makes about 40 cookies.

 

I hope you try this recipe!

 

Sources: 1 

Islamaphobia: New Enemy or Old Foe?

Alex K
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When we think of the Middle East, we think of Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Egypt, the Red Sea. We think of both the towering skyscrapers in Dubai and the crumbling huts of the Yemani countryside. For some, one image is more resonant to their perception of the Middle East than others; the image of a totalitarian, barbaric hellscape.

Islam for these people is the absolute precipice of evil. They think of Muslims as gunslinging radicals with a mission to destroy the modern world and enforce what they think of as a dogmatic, insidious and pretentious religion. The debate on the inherent good of Islam has always been around. One of the influential religions in the world is sure to have opposition, but where did this radical hate of not only Islam but all Muslims originate? With Eid right around the corner and hijabs being the new target for anti-Islam legislation in places like Quebec and France, let’s explore the history of Islamaphobia and its reprecussions in the modern day.

FRANCE - PROTEST AGAINST THE BILL ON SEPARATISM

Firstly, Islam is a religion that originates from the Middle East, specifically areas in Saudi Arabia. It should be made very clear that Muslim people are not inherently violent. The actions of a subset of this group do not represent the group as a whole. The overwhelming majority of Muslims are peaceful and non-violent human beings.

Islam has an extensive and rich history. The life of the Prophet Mohummad himself is complex. Historically, Muslims and the Islamic Empire have been revered throughout history. The Ottoman Empire was one of the most powerful and influential Empires in history. They kept their power through a powerful military force and a religiously politicized regime. So how exactly is it that today Muslims are seen as terrorists hell-bent on the destruction of modern society?

Orientalism

The specific phenomenon of Islamophobia spans back a few decades and originates from the practice of orientalism; which is the re-telling of the social, political, and economic structures of orient people by western scholars. Often these portals were exaggerated or purposefully misrepresented the lives of these people. Stereotypes of Asian people, or really any person of colour, originated from these portrayals. Europeans assumed that whatever they observed represented the norm for all people in the Middle East. Through this assumption, Europeans created a narrative for the Orient people that is wholly untrue, the majority of whom were Muslim. These stereotypes are likely ones you’ve heard before; violent, primitive, sexually deviant and sexist. Under these traits, they were automatically inferior to the West.

These stereotypes first gained traction during the 18th century. They stemmed from an overt misunderstanding and ignorance of Islam and Islamic society. But how did these ideas become so prevalent in today’s society? How did it evolve into such a complex humanitarian issue?

The Ottoman Empire

The fall of the Ottoman Empire has much to do with this. The Ottomans sided with the Germans during the First World War. They lost the war and officially broke apart in 1922. Tensions between the remaining nations erupted. The Empire was divided between Britain, France, Greece, and Russia. This became the cause of many civil wars and civil unrest. Nations previously part of the Empire rebelled and fought against the new government, which led to an astounding rise in terrorism, both domestic and foreign.

Likewise, some nations no longer had a stable government, which plunged them into recessions. These once very prosperous Muslim Nations were now knee-deep in corruption and violence, which only reinforced oriental stereotypes.

For the latter half of the 19th century, these countries fought in many different civil wars and survived multiple genocides. The situation was made altogether worse by the West, who used oriental stereotypes as an excuse to subjugate the people of the East and exploit their natural resources. Through this exploitation, a subsection of radical right-wing Islam began to take root in the Middle East, which created a tight circle of western push-back against Islamic extremism and a counter push by Islamic extremists against the West. Altogether, this contributed to the rise of religious extremism in the East and is widely understood to have culminated in one of the most influential events in US history on September 11th, 2001.

September 11 Terrorist Attacks

9/11 was undoubtedly one of the biggest tragedies in American history; along with being responsible for the death of 3000 Americans, it triggered an era of Islamic hate worldwide. One of the most notable of these anti-Islam campaigns was President Bush’s “War on Terror.” Not only was this war unjustifiable and overly expensive, but it also rebranded orientalism and created a new brand of American imperialism rooted in fascism.

Fascism is best defined as palingenetic ultranationalism. This is the idea that the nation has the ultimate authority, and that it has in recent years become tainted with ‘others’ and that to restore it to its former glory, it needs to drive out these others. This ideology is also often mixed in with the idea of religious and racial supremacy. Other identifying factors include the glorification of war, the ultimate authority of the military, a disregard for human rights, obsession with crime and punishment, censorship of the media and excessive propaganda, disregard for intellectualism and the arts, obsessive protection of corporate power and repression of worker rights.

Oriental stereotypes alongside the rise of fascism during the Regan Era and onward is what drove the war on terror, and it is what led the US to continue to occupy Afghanistan for as long as it did.

The events of 9/11 shocked the whole world. It is the reason airport security is as tight as it is today. This specific event led to Islamophobia being heavily prevalent in our society today, but anti-Muslim bigotry is sadly in line with other distressing trends seen globally. In recent years the world has seen a surge in ethnonationalism, neo-Nazism, and stigma and hate speech targeting vulnerable populations, including Muslims, Jewish people, and other religious and ethnic minorities. From the start of Covid, there’s been a significant increase in targeted hate crimes, specifically against Asian immigrants in America. Following 9/11, many immigrant families from the Middle East experienced unprecedented amounts of racism and hate crimes directed at them. Many Asians and Muslims continue to experience racially charged instances of Islamophobia and general xenophobia, despite the many social justice movements occurring in the last decade.

Considering the stereotypes of Islam held by the West, is Islamophobia a genuine critique of Islam and its followers, or a thinly veiled euphemism for racism?

Islamophobia has been on the rise worldwide for decades, but to eliminate it, we first need to abolish the systems that perpetuate it. The livelihoods of Muslim peoples and millions of minorities that experience the same kind of hate will always be at risk as long as systems of white supremacy, capitalism, and patriarchy exist. Discrimination diminishes the integrity of us all, and to safeguard the rights of minority populations, we must evoke radical political, economic, and social change.

Featured Image Source: 1
Image Sources: 1, 2, 3
Further Reading: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

 

Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel Exhibit in Calgary

Yuri Choi
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A few weeks ago, I was able to attend the Sistine Chapel Exhibit in Calgary. For those of you unfamiliar, the Sistine Chapel exhibit showcases some of Michelangelo’s most famous paintings. Michelangelo was a very famous artist during the Renaissance, and his work is widely appreciated to this day. I was very excited when I first heard about this exhibit as I love everything about art and the Renaissance. I also remember doing a school project on Michelangelo a few years back, and distinctly remembered his beautiful artwork. 

The exhibit itself did not disappoint. While it was smaller than I expected, it still showcased many of Michelangelo’s most famous and striking artworks. The lighting of the exhibit location also helped set the atmosphere of the exhibit. The paintings were also huge, and I personally really liked this because it allowed me to take in every detail that otherwise could have been overlooked. 

The booking system requires you to pick a time slot, so there are limited line ups. I actually did not have to wait in line all that long, only about 5 minutes, even though there were quite a few people. This efficient system definitely earned some points from me, as I was wearing high heels. Here are some more details for the event:

Location: BMO Centre (parking available)

Duration: Around 30-60 minutes

Age Requirement: All ages!

Ticket Price: Starting from $16 (make sure to check their website, as they do have student discounts)

For those of you interested in art, history, or simply looking for something to do this weekend, I highly recommend you check this exhibit out!

Sources [1][2]

#BreakingCodeSilence: The Truth About The Troubled Teen Industry

Hannah Kuipers
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Note: This article talks about sexual assault, abuse, and murder, which may be disturbing for some readers.

I’m sure most of you know Bhad Bhabie, also known as Danielle Bregoli, from her famous saying “Cash me outside, howbow dah?”. She quickly gained popularity after her appearance on Dr. Phil, on an episode called “I Want to Give Up My Car-Stealing, Knife-Wielding, Twerking 13-Year-Old Daughter Who Tried to Frame Me for a Crime”. Her mother brought her to the show to talk about her daughter’s bad behaviour, which included stealing a crew member’s car while they were filming. Because of this, Dr. Phil sent her to Turn-About Ranch, a program for troubled teens that he has sent multiple of his guests to. She then came back to the show a second time, in 2017, to talk about her time at the ranch. In this video, she said her stay was fine, and she was glad she went. 

Despite this, in March of 2021 Danielle published a YouTube video about how she actually felt about Turn-About Ranch. She came forward about the abuse that her and others experienced while they were there. She explained that she kept quiet for a long time, specifically because she had no evidence. The teens weren’t allowed to have technology during their stay, plus there were no cameras that could have caught any of the events. It would be her word against the staff’s, and with her reputation she didn’t think anyone would believe her. That was until another teen that attended Turn-About Ranch came forward and accused the staff of punishing her after confiding in them about the sexual assault she experienced from another staff member. The following is a quote from an article published by Kuer 90.1 in February 2021, where she talks about the abuse she faced as punishment for reporting what happened to her. 

Instead, I experienced retaliation from the ranch after I spoke up. In what appeared to me to be punishment for reporting my abuse, I was required to spend extra time picking up horse manure, walking in circles around a horse corral, and sitting at a desk facing a wall for hours. I also had to do forced labour outside in below-freezing temperatures, and sleep on a wooden plank with no pillow.

She filed a lawsuit against Dr. Phil for negligence after he pressured her father into sending her to Turn-About Ranch while allegedly knowing the facility had various complaints and charges of physical and emotional harm to minors. She also sued the ranch for mistreatment, but they denied the allegations and said they could not take any further action after her parents pulled her out of the program and refused to communicate with the company. 

Danielle Bregoli goes on to talk about what she went through at the ranch, including the traumatic event that happened in 2016, where a teen killed and severely injured 2 staff members while trying to escape. 

After all of these allegations Dr. Phil responded in a news broadcast, saying “She went to Turn-About four or five years ago, and she had a bad experience. Obviously, I would hate that, we’d be sorry about that. But we don’t have anything to do with what happens with guests once they leave the stage. That’s between the guardian and the parent and whatever facility they go to. So we’re not involved in that, we don’t have any feedback from them, so whatever happens once they are there, that’s between them and the facility. I would assume if she had a problem, she would file a complaint with the proper authorities five years ago. I really don’t know much about it.” 

Danielle responded with another video criticizing him for saying she should have spoken up about it earlier even though she was only 13 at the time. She also claimed he lied about not knowing what goes on at the ranch since her mother signed a consent form that allowed reports from Turn-About Ranch to be sent directly to the Dr. Phil Show. He was also the one that approved the extension of her stay from 100 days to 6 months, proving that he is in contact with the facility. She concludes the video by saying he is desperately trying to save his reputation, but there are too many victims that have spoken up for people not to believe them. 

Unfortunately, this is something that is still happening in the different parts of the US and even in Canada, but the good news is that the #BreakingCodeSilence movement is gaining awareness, and hopefully there will soon be an end to these awful events. 

A step towards this direction has been accomplished by Paris Hilton, who talked about her abuse at another troubled teen facility in Utah. She testified for a now-passed Utah state bill that bans mistreatment in troubled youth centers. 

For more information and ways to help you can visit the Breaking Code Silence or Youth Rights page. 

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Sources: 1/2/3/4/5

Facts About Just About Anything

Suhani Gupta
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These odd amusing facts will fascinate, inform, and completely astound you. These are surprising or odd nuggets of information from the fields of science, history, and even pop culture that will amuse and excite you—and anybody with whom you share them with. But these intriguing facts aren’t simply just entertaining facts that will make you a pro at solving trivia questions, because when you start, you’ll just want to constantly read until your wonder is fulfilled.

The world’s tiniest mammal is the bumblebee bat.

30 Adorable Facts About The Bumblebee Bat You Should Know - Turn Your Curiosity Into Discovery - Facts.net

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the bumblebee bat—also referred as Kitti’s hog-nosed bat weighs 0.05 to 0.07 ounces. Also, it has a head-to-body measurement of 1.14 to 1.29 inches and a span of 5.1 to 5.7 inches.

What is Barbie’s full name?

Barbie: 13 fun facts about the iconic doll

Barbara Millicent Roberts of Willows, Wisconsin, is the entire name of the Barbie doll. Her birthday is March 9, 1959, when she debuted at the New York Toy Fair.

The word “strengths”

6 Internal Sources Of Strength For Leaders To Develop

The word “strengths” is the longest word in English with just 1 vowel.

Fingers

Finger Reading — What Finger Length & Prints Tell Us

Your fingers have no muscles because they are regulated by the muscles in your palms & arms.

Will Smith

Will Smith Reveals Title and Cover of His Memoir | PEOPLE.com

Will Smith dislikes watching the first several episodes of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air because he claims he memorized the whole script and so mouthed the words of other actors throughout the scenes.

Is the ocean safer?

New York City - Wikipedia

The amount of people bitten by other humans in New York is 10 times higher than the number of shark bites globally each year.

Image References: 1/2 /3/4/5

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Dealing With Drama

Chloe Zhai
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We have all experienced drama some time in our lives, whether it be naive childhood disputes or a long-standing grudge. Although drama is most commonly present in friendships, it is not uncommon to find these difficult situations in professional, romantic, or other types of relationships. The term “drama” refers to issues or disagreements arising within a relationship. It can be caused by (but not limited to) jealousy, manipulation, betrayal, dishonesty, or misunderstandings between two or more parties. The convoluted nature of drama involving many other individuals or groups can, in turn, further perpetuate negative emotions.

If you happen to be caught in one of these unfortunate situations, here is a list of helpful steps and strategies to help you navigate the complexities of drama:

1. Take a step away from the situation.

Before reacting or making impulsive decisions, spend some time analyzing the drama. Try to view the drama from the perspective of an outsider or of the other party. Could you be overthinking or overreacting to a simple event? Have you considered how the other person is feeling? Reflect on the 5 W’s as well. Ask yourself questions like: “WHO is involved?” or “WHAT actually happened?” Sometimes, after reflecting on the situation, you will realize that there is no need to have a full-fledged confrontation if the person in question is a mere acquaintance or if what they did was unintentional and insignificant. On the other hand, recognize when to seek professional help when drama turns into bullying or abuse.

2. Plan your approach to the drama.

After sorting out your thoughts and emotions, attempt to rationally plan out your next course of action. What can you do to defuse the situation? When are you ready to discuss it with the other person? Avoid doing this alongside other people, because the more people who know about it (even if it is someone you trust), the more likely the situation is to escalate. Be logical in your approach, because remember, your goal is to build understanding in the relationship. 

3. Forgive if you were wronged, apologize if you wronged them.

It may be difficult to discern between who was right and who was wrong, but more often than not, both parties contributed to both sides. Therefore, physically (e.g. breathing exercises) and mentally prepare yourself to forgive and apologize to the other person. 

4. Have the conversation.

I know, it’s terrifying to even think about. But if you truly want to mend the relationship, then you must talk to the person. 

Here are some tips:

DO’S

  • Ask if they are willing to talk
  • Choose somewhere private if they agree, preferably in a calm environment
  • Respect their boundaries and behave politely
  • Keep your emotions in check
  • Be mindful of your tone and volume whilst talking
  • Have open body language
  • Use “I” statements (e.g. “I felt angry when you were rude and disrespectful to my friends.”)
  • Be open-minded and clear up misunderstandings or disagreements

DO NOT’S

  • Blame or criticize
  • Overuse “you” statements (e.g. “You’re rude and disrespectful to my friends; you’re a bully.”)
  • Use profanity or derogatory language
  • Over-exaggerate (e.g. “You’re rude and disrespectful to everyone.”)
  • Make insensitive comments

On the other hand, if the person is unwilling to talk or responds negatively to your efforts, acknowledge their behaviour and back away. Give them some time or let the situation defuse on its own before attempting again. If they still do not react positively, take that as a sign to leave the person alone. Although often inconspicuous to an unknowing eye, that person might just be your limiting factor. As difficult as it may be, sometimes only when you lose someone can you truly rise above. Mourn this loss, then find ways to improve and become your best self. You could explore new hobbies, pursue different interests, and most importantly, build fresh, healthy relationships with others. Always keep in mind that ridding toxicity in your life will only reap benefits for your future.

5. Set some ground rules for the future.

(Make sure the other party is on the same page as you with the drama before proceeding to this step.) The most challenging part is over! Now, discuss what the relationship will look like going forward. This could include new boundaries, conditions, and/or behaviours. 

**Note that this advice is primarily from past experiences and should not replace the advice of a qualified mental health professional.

Sources: Featured Image / 1

Doing The Right Thing

Lara Mylde
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Morality is a real hot topic for humanity. In any given situation, what is the right thing to do? Here to answer this question, I’ve got a breakdown of two major schools of ethics.

Deontological Ethics or Duty Ethics

This belongs to the one and only Immanuel Kant, who believes in something called the categorical imperative. If you’ve been through Social 30 in Alberta, you may remember him as the proprietor of the Golden Rule (treat others as you want to be treated). In reality, the categorical imperative goes more as follows:

1. Act as you would wish everyone act
2. Treat humanity as an end in itself, or as though they have intrinsic value (including yourself)
3. Allow others their autonomy

If you are not following these imperatives, you are an animal and deserve what comes to you, in Kant’s opinion at least. It seems harsh, but he subscribes to an idea that a good thing is nothing without a good will behind it, and a good will is a will which does as it ought to do—or in other words, one that follows the categorical imperative.

On the other hand, Kant does believe that we should treat our animals well, and that those who do are naturally more predisposed towards treating everything well.

Kant was anti-imperialist and anti-intervention (which also means he is not technically in favour of liberalism). He also believed in divine forgiveness, but retributive justice.

Utilitarianism

Utilitarianism is another major school of ethics which believes that we should promote the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number of people. It belongs to John Stuart Mill.

In truth, it also seems a little extreme. In essence, in order to do the ‘right’ thing or behave morally, you must always pick the choice which gives you the most pleasure and causes the least suffering for others—and which, if possible, promotes the happiness of others. For example, if you had a choice between a mango and a strawberry smoothie and you strongly prefer mango, it would be considered immoral to pick the strawberry.

Let’s take this a step further and apply the theory of greatest net happiness to the world as a whole. According to John Stuart Mill, if the price of all humans in the world being happy was the eternal suffering of a single innocent child, it would be the most moral decision to make. This line of thought is the basis of a famous short story called The Ones Who Walk Away From The Omelas by Ursula K. Le Guin, which you can read more about here.

There are different types of utilitarianism as well, namely rule and non-rule utilitarianism, but those are a story for another time.

In the meantime, I hope you’ve found this valuable. Good luck with your moral dilemma!

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