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Fantastic Mr. Fox – Film Analysis

Sally Wang
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Brief Summary:

A wild animal seeks to find its true self; Mr. Fox finds himself stuck in between identities in which he cannot choose which one to favor more than the other. He steals chicken as living, hiding this secret behind his wife and son. Conflict of the farmers and relationship between resident animals, Mr. Fox takes us through the journey of growth and acknowledgement of who you are. The stages of broken promises and the acceptance of your true self, Mr. Fox goes through character development to learn what it truly means to be a husband, a father. 

Animation style:

Overall, this movie develops a good understanding of shortcut animation through its own unique scenes. It’s filled with vivid details and focuses greatly on the facial expressions of characters. Although its animation may seem a bit glitchy at times, its overall transitions between the motions of characters are quite smooth. The thoughts of the characters are also thoroughly expressed and gives the audience a clear understanding of what their motives are. Overall, the acting throughout the film is pretty close to perfection. As well as the plot lines, the charm and humor mix in together very comfortably and sets a standard mood throughout the film.

Graphic and Fashion Design:

The basic fashion design of the characters clothing also portrayed a great amount of golden autumn vibes. We can clearly see that the 2 main characters (Mr. and Mrs. Fox) wore outfits that connected to the yellow tone.  Although not all characters had the same color set, all outfits blended in well with the overall tone of the film. 

Music Style:

The music throughout the film brings out a special style and fits really well with the theme colors. Mainly,  a lot of string music mixed with a small piece of piano. The music made various scenes come out to be humorous with the help of sound effects. Its western style blends in perfectly with the golden shades and matches with plots as well. The actions of the wild animals were portrayed as  fast beats of music as for, the intelligence and evil of the human farmers came out as suspenseful music (although some parts came out as cheerful). The overall music style throughout the film is also tilted towards the lighthearted and happier vibes that give out a lively tone. Although it changes pace every once in a while, it still holds a strong sense of upbeat music. Throughout certain action scenes, the music pace is fast. Meanwhile, the music drops to a lower beat when suspense scenes are present. 

More about Wes Anderson:

Wes Anderson was able to really make this film unique by using the ideal golden shade to portray the settings of a farm with contrast of wild animals. The overall color tone of this film consists of an autumn mixed with yellow shades. Other Wes Anderson films also consist of similar color palettes and style. “Bottle Rocket” is a great example of a Wes Anderson film that contains tons of primary colors such as yellow. They all correlate an autumn, yellow-ish mood. His saturation degree is also unique and tends to be very high. It increases contrasts between characters or objects and makes things really stand out. In the “Fantastic Mr. Fox” film, the background blends in really well with the characters’ outfits. But simultaneously, its camouflage effects are low, which gives the audience an easier time to identify characters right through a scene. 

Sources:

Fantastic Mr. Fox Film Analysis – ruehro01 (wordpress.com)

Symbolism In Wes Anderson’s Film Fantastic Mr. Fox | ipl.org

Is Greed an Ethical Dilemma?

Pareen Cheema
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For many people, greed does not pose an ethical dilemma, as the answer is greed serves as the downfall of the human condition. Greed can cause one to become obsessed with the idea of personal benefits and luxury. However, there are multiple aspects to any concept in life. Therefore, the idea of greed can also be approached in two ways. Greed is an unethical concept as individuals are guided by a selfish desire to gain more without considering the impact their motives may have on others. On the other hand, greed can act as motivation for one to achieve their aspirations, which at times is even “encouraged” in society. But, at what cost does one choose to put their benefits at the price of another’s loss? Should this type of motivation be rewarded or not?

What is Greed?

Greed is when an individual has a strong desire to continue to gain something in abundance. Thus, it is the pursuit of one’s self-interest. When one’s actions are driven by greed, the methods of fulfilling those desires can become selfish and obsessive. In movies and books, greed is centred around money. However, greed comes in many forms and impacts both the individual and their surroundings. Additionally, greed has existed as an idea for centuries through its presence in old philosophical and religious texts.

Why Are People Lured Towards Greed?

At times it seems like large corporations are motivated by greed to generate more profit while jeopardizing the well-being of their staff or the quality of their products. With that in mind, people can be driven by greed to gain more power, influence, and money. In society, power and money are desirable as power gives an individual a sense of influence over others and the ability to have their opinion recognized by more people. While money is what essentially runs society, and with more money comes more possibilities and opportunities. Additionally, it is part of human nature to want something that we cannot have. Therefore, what lures people towards greed is having an over-attachment to material possessions and being unsatisfied with what they already have. 

Is Greed Ethical?

It is up to each person to individually decide if they view greed as ethical or unethical. As mentioned before, greed is one’s ignorance of others in pursuit of self-interest. So, it is up to a person to decide if they have enough or want more. In a business sense, greed is a common concept that drives economic growth and profit incentive. But, the repercussions of greed often outweigh its benefits. In some cases, as one gains more wealth, their actions become increasingly unethical in an effort to gain more wealth. On the other hand, economists would probably view greed as ethical as it is what creates further economic development. But, that economic development comes at the cost of the exploitation of the underprivileged, which becomes unethical. In the end, it is truly a dilemma whether greed can be seen as ethical or not. 

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The Paris Agreement: From a Liberalist’s Perspective

Sanjuktha
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To what extent does the Paris agreement reflect the principles of Realism and Liberalism? The Paris Agreement is an international accord that was issued and signed by 196 countries on December 12, 2015. The agreement came into effect on November 4, 2016. This agreement was proposed in Paris during the 21st Conference of the Parties, held by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The purpose of the treaty is to combat the ineffectiveness of the Kyoto Protocol and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to ensure that global temperatures do not rise more than two degrees Celsius in this century.

4 Reasons The Paris Agreement Won't Solve Climate Change| CountercurrentsAdditionally, the Paris Agreement strives to ensure that all countries are committed to its policies by evaluating their commitments on an annual basis. The agreement also provides financial aid to underdeveloped countries to help them reduce their carbon emissions and adopt environmentally friendly practices, making it more effective than the Kyoto Protocol. The Paris Agreement is a milestone because it was the first time that nations across the globe were committed to a multilateral agreement that encourages all countries to pursue a common goal: reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change. Due to the magnitude of the event, the theories of Realism and Liberalism can be used to determine the motive and effectiveness of the Paris Agreement. The Paris Agreement reflects the principles of Liberalism to a great extent as the agreement encourages international cooperation and the exercising of state sovereignty and power in a democratic manner through diplomatic negotiations.

Realism, proposed by Hans J. Morgenthau, is a theory that is rooted in empirical evidence such as observable and tangible evidence. Realism is characterized by the belief that individuals are fundamentally self-centered and greedy, and will travel to any extent in pursuit of power and influence. And, it argues that the state is the central actor in international affairs because it is autonomous and acts with a single voice in the global platform. According to the principles of Realism, the state operates by utilizing anarchical principles: the goTOP 9 QUOTES BY HANS MORGENTHAU | A-Z Quotesvernment issues and enforces laws and policies as the state sees fit, to manage interactions between citizens with and outside the state. More importantly, anarchy refers to the absence of a superior authority to govern state affairs; as such, nations mediate their own conflicts and enforce their own laws. In an anarchical state, the state is primarily concerned with security, survival, and self-interest which can sometimes present a challenge to international cooperation. And, because of this, it is often believed that morality and ethics are not factors that are considered in the survival of the state. In the eyes of a Realist, if the state is not accumulating power and influence by strengthening their military and increasing their wealth, they are vulnerable to invasion and are not competitive participants in the global stage. In other words, if a state feels secure because of its economic and militaristic standing, another state will be insecure of its status. Realism suggests that a nation is interested in maintaining a balance of power: it ensures its security by accumulating the same amount or more power than the competing nation. Concisely, the theory of Realism is focused on conflict in international relations, and suggests that to protect the state, the state must obtain more power and wealth through any means necessary, and must not concern itself with the affairs of other states. The Paris Agreement can also be examined by another lens: Liberalism.

Like Realism, Liberalism, a theory suggested by John Locke, is also based upon empirical evidence. However, in many ways, its principles oppose that of Realism. Liberalism is defined by the assumption that individuals primarily make decisions through rationality and morality; therefore, they will consider the ramifications of their actions before they act on them. It explains that there are other global actors, aside from the state, to hold the state accountable for its decisions. Some of these actors include non governmental organizations such as the World Health Organization, United Nations, and North Atlantic Treaty Organization; they support individual liberty and encourage limited government involvement in the state. Under the principles of Liberalism, the state is one voice in the global stage but it is influenced by other states and organizations as well. Unlike Realism, Liberalism argues that history is progressive and suggests that states have understood the importance of fostering international cooperation and peace. In addition, they have engaged in international trade and are economically interdependent, factors which reduce the probability of a large-scale conflict. International trade and economic interdependence allows countries to access a wide variety of goods and services that may otherwise not be available within their own borders. Because of this, under the circumstance that countries were to engage in conflict, they would strive to mediate it efficiently to prevent economic challenges. International laws and policies also hold the state accountable. For instance, if the laws that are devised by a non governmental organization are violated, other states may limit their interactions with that particular state, which could be devastating to the state’s economy and military. And, Liberalism supports the principles of democracy as they are both interconnected. Like Liberalism, democracy has several controls to ensure that government rule is legitimate. For instance, in a democratic society the leaders of government are elected by the citizens of the state, and can be re-elected as necessary, and the power of the government is balanced by different branches: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. Thus, democracy reduces interstate and intrastate conflict. In short, the theory Liberalism provides a positive outlook on international affairs, encouraging international cooperation; it argues that conflict is unlikely due to international trade, economic interdependence, and democracy.

The Paris Agreement can be best explained by the principles of Liberalism. This is because it is the first climate change treaty that fosters international cooperation to achieve a common goal, and requires states to exercise their power collectively in a diplomatic manner. Additionally, the Paris Agreement, unlike the Kyoto Protocol, strives to include underdeveloped countries in the effort as well. The treaty encourages developed nations to provide financial assistance to underdeveloped countries to help them mitigate the struggles of adopting environmentally friendly practices, hoping to maximize benefits for all. As expected, these efforts are not necessarily economically friendly, and because the treaty emphasizes the inclusion of underdeveloped countries, international cooperation is demonstrated. Secondly, it holds countries that have signed the treaty accountable to international goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, by creating a transparent structure which allows all countries to monitor the progress. For instance, all participating nations are obligated to submit greenhouse gas emission inventories which are indexes that contain the source and amount of emissions per annum.

Locke | Lapham's QuarterlyThese submissions will be reviewed by specialized government officials, and under the circumstance that a country does not meet their expected goal, these officials will help the state to reach their goal, and penalties will not be imposed upon the state. As such, in relation with the principles of Liberalism, states are held accountable by other global actors such as these government officials, and the United Nations. Because the treaty focuses on supporting countries rather than penalizing them, it is clear that the agreement was designed under the belief that the leaders of countries are rational and moral. The United Nations believes that because leaders are fundamentally righteous, they will act in a socially responsible manner and strive to reach the standard to combat climate change. Additionally, it is evident that the United Nations is committed to resolving conflict in a diplomatic manner to avoid economic and trade disputes amongst countries. Therefore, the theory of Liberalism best supports the Paris Agreement because it encourages international collaboration to combat climate change, and holds states accountable for their actions, while still maintaining a positive outlook on conflict mediation and international relations.

References

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Strolling and Scrolling with Intent

Shreya Ivaturi
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Ever since I was young, I have adapted my stride to keep up with my older brother and dad, both of whom are taller than 6 ft. So naturally, whether I’m at school or the mall, my biggest pet peeve is when people, who can walk fast, strolling lazily to their destination at the pace of a snail. 

One core memory I have is my mother telling me, “When you’re walking, always walk with a purpose. Walk like you are trying to get somewhere.” Since then, taking a slow stroll seems like something I would never do. Every time my feet hit a sidewalk or a tiled hallway floor, no matter if I’m in fuzzy slippers or stiletto heels, the word intent replays in my head over and over. 

In Relation to Intent for Social Media

The other day, I woke up and immediately checked my phone before rolling out of bed. This got me thinking: Our generation’s reliance on phones has just amplified the importance of intent.

TikTok is an app that perfectly tests my ability to do things with intent and self-control. Despite what I would like to think, almost every time I open up TikTok, or practically any social media, there’s no real reason I chose to open it at that moment. I used to tell myself, “But you learned how to chop an apple more efficiently!” or “Well that video was really funny!” These reassurances would flood my mind and all mean the same thing: “it was worth it, wasn’t it?” The truth is, in order to get to these videos, I spent an equal amount of time mindlessly scrolling, most videos failing to produce a giggle or even a slight eyebrow raise out of me. 

Well great, I’ve just pointed out how unproductive most of us are being, but that won’t do you all much good. I could tell you to delete all social media, but that’s like telling someone to live their life off the grid. Many of us are heavily connected to our extracurriculars and relationships through social media and it gives us a break from the stresses of teenage life, so taking that away would just do more harm than good. 

Although it’s near impossible for us to perfect the art of intent on social media, we can do little things to achieve this goal. Here are some ideas to make your time on social media a little less wasteful:

  • Check your socials on your computer. Having to open your laptop instead of pulling out your phone forces you to think a little more. When you check your laptop, most of the time there’s going to be a reason for doing so instead of robotically or absently scrolling as you would on your phone. 
  • Set a designated time to scroll on your phone, but make sure the time stays set!
  • Depending on the type of phone you have (iPhones definitely have this), you can set a time limit for certain apps. 
  • Check the amount of time you spend on certain apps.

Intent doesn’t only apply to walking and our phones. Intent is a crucial building block for success. It may not be what inspires you to set a goal, but it is what allows you to achieve it and embrace any challenges along the way. That is why I challenge you: take a few hours, a day, maybe even a week, and pay attention to how much you are doing with intent. If you find yourself doing something without this key to success, figure out how to incorporate it into your task.

The next time you take a walk, let intent repeat in your mind with every step. If you can help it, don’t be the source of my irritation at the mall and walk with intent! Live every day with intent!

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Don’t Let The Time Pass You By; Write Things Down!

Lara Mylde
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I started my first official diary in 2011, fresh off the Royal Diaries and Dear Canada book series. I took it very seriously, detailing in colourful language the games and false scenarios I’d made up, the events of my day, and even occasionally roleplaying as one of the characters in books I’d read. One entry details my pretending to be Catherine the Great on the eve of her wedding; I went on at length about how scary it was that my fiancé Peter had contracted some form of the pox.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t keep the habit up. I kept a diary on and off for years, but never built the habit.

Then, when I started to take creative writing more seriously in 2016, I started my first writing book, and the difference was immediate. I took that sucker with me everywhere I went. I planned stories, made character profiles, kept a list of my favourite names in the back, and, most importantly, I was writing regularly. As I began to build this habit, I realized something essential; I was able to write more because I was doing so casually, without putting pressure on what I was writing. Keeping a diary with a strict format with a “Dear Diary” and a “Love, Lara,” and a mandate to write every day inevitably failed. But I wondered how I could bring this new casual approach into recording my own life—not just the lives of my fictional characters.

It’s 2022 now. I’m in grade 12, about to graduate high school, and I’ve finally figured out a system. I’m on my fifth writing book, as it were, with countless other notebooks on the go for varying purposes. I also use an agenda and keep a daily account of my life in Spanish, because I’ll be darned if I let six years of high school Spanish go to waste! Although it doesn’t always feel that way, I have by most accounts succeeded in my goal of writing things down—be that random shower thoughts, important memories, bits of creative writing, or just an interesting fact or cool song lyric I heard that day.

The Secret

So, what’s the secret? In fact, I mentioned it earlier on. The top three steps to learning to write habitually (and these tips apply to most every habit) are as follows:

1. Know Why You’re Doing It

We’ll cover some good reasons to write things down shortly, but the most important thing for building any habit is to set your intentions and be aware of your motivation. Write it in a visible place or just remind yourself. This will help you keep going.

2. Quit Putting Pressure On It

If you skip a day, who cares! (And don’t say you do, because no you don’t, stop it.) I often go back to retroactively fill in my Spanish journal based on my agenda and photos etc. from that day. And sometimes when I’m feeling tired, I will literally just write “Today I feel tired.” And leave it at that. One sentence—that’s enough! The habit you’re trying to build, at least initially, is about writing casually, so don’t forget that.

3. Tailor Your Experience

As your writing habit builds, consider what you need to feel satisfied and successful. For me, having several notebooks with different purposes and a healthy amount of crossover works really well. For others, one or maybe two notebooks do the job. Others still use apps like Day One or their built-in Notes or Calendar apps.

Find what works for you, and don’t be afraid to experiment. If one thing fails, it doesn’t mean you can’t do it. It just means you haven’t found your solution yet.

Why Do It?

There are a number of scientific and also purely vibes-based reasons to write things down. But for me, aside from the practical purposes of honing my craft, I’ve found that the number one thing that keeps me motivated to keep writing down the little things in life is this: time actually slows down.

Do you ever feel like the days blur together, and you look up and realize that a whole month has passed? Or do you get the sense that you trek from day to day without accomplishing anything meaningful?

Writing will ensure that you’ll have something to look back on for months or years to come, but more importantly it will affect you in the present as you’ll be able to see what you’ve done and learn to practice self-forgiveness and mindfulness when you maybe don’t do everything you were planning to?

How Do I Get Started?

It’s simple, really. It doesn’t take much. A notebook will probably serve your purpose best rather than loose sheets of paper, but it doesn’t have to be anything fancy—you can pick one up for two dollars at your local Dollarrama. And once you have that, tell yourself that you’re not limited in what you can write in this book. It’s your book, for your eyes only, and you can use it however you want.

Then, don’t hesitate to branch out! If your notebook isn’t around, use your hand and transfer later, or keep it in that good ol’ Notes app on your phone, or write it in the margins of your physics notes.

Thank me later.

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Cookies: Best Bake ever

Jaida Chadha
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Do you ever feel like baking? Let me describe the perfect scenario when baking. You decide to bake, but you are not sure what to bake. You are craving something sweet, but not too sweet, and something that has a wow factor. As you look for an easy recipe, you stumble across a simple cookie recipe with a twist.

cookies

Here’s the recipe:

1/2 cup – Brown Sugar

1 cup – Sugar

1 cup – Melted Butter

MIX

2 – Eggs

2 tsp – Vanilla Extract

MIX

3 cups – Flour

1 tsp – Baking soda

1/2 tsp – Salt

MIX

2 cups – Chocolate Chips

MIX

Set oven to 350 degrees, after preheating, put cookies in for 8-10 mins. Separately, put marshmallows on a parchment paper lined pan. Then, put the marshmallows in when only 1 or 2 minutes are left for your cookies. Once you take the cookies and marshmallows out, allow them to cool for thirty minutes. Once they have cooled, take the marshmallows off the paper, poke a hole in the bottom, and stick them on your cookie. Finally, enjoy!

The Trick to Reading Comprehension

Iman Alvi
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From instruction manuals and cookbooks, to articles and social media, our lives are surrounded by words. Therefore, the ability to understand and comprehend what you are reading is one of the most important skills anyone can learn. However, like any skill, it’s not an automatic ability. It is for this very reason that reading comprehension is stressed so heavily in English class for it is the only way to actually have a lasting impact on kids, much to many students’ dismay. 

As mentioned before, the skill of properly reading and comprehending texts is a complicated process. However, it is a necessary skill to master, both for work and for pleasure. In both the basic, literal level and on a more in-depth level, you will need to read and interpret all kinds of different texts throughout your schooling, in college and in the working world (as well as just in your recreation time)! If we define “reading” just as a literal or surface understanding of a piece and “reading comprehension” as the complete understanding, people can only get by in the world on pure “reading” for so long.

Over the years, it’s easy to pinpoint the locations where students most struggle with this seemingly elusive trait. Whether it’s because they miss or skip over the important ideas, prefer a different learning style, or simply don’t enjoy reading as a whole, it creates a mindset in students that either you are good at reading comprehension or you aren’t; nothing in between. Now, while it is true that some people find the skill easier than others, that in no way means that one cannot get better at reading comprehension. Like any skill, it requires a mix of practice and patience, as well as some tips to help along the way. 

In that case, what are the firsts steps to improving reading comprehension? 

 

  • Reevaluate how you are currently reading

Before you can start improving your reading comprehension, you must first understand how you are currently reading and be made aware of the limitations. You can start with excerpts from source material that you are less familiar with, such as textbooks, news articles, or really just any kind of text that you struggle to understand. Read them as you normally would, and then pinpoint the specific time that your concentration, energy, or understanding of the content starts to lag. This way, you can slowly build up stamina by reading for slightly longer periods every time. Instead of forcing yourself to sit for hours, you can start small and then build yourself up. It’s important to note that improvement comes with time, so if your concentration is lagging, just take a step back before pushing yourself more. 

Alternatively, the main issue could have less to do with the time spent reading and instead, with the source material itself. In that case, 

 

  • Improve your vocabulary

Vocabulary, context, and the interaction of words are the three main aspects of reading comprehension. So, you must be able to understand each moving piece before you can understand the text as a whole. If you struggle to understand specific vocabulary, it can be difficult to understand even with context clues. As you read, make sure to keep a running list of words you don’t readily recognize and make yourself a set of flashcards with the words and their definitions. If you dedicate some time to practicing these flashcards a few times a week, the new vocabulary will come easily. 

 

  • Read for fun

The greatest way to improve is just through practice. Of course, the best way to practice is to have some fun with it. Instead of making reading a constant chore, make reading a fun activity. This way, it will motivate one to engage with the text and embrace the activity as part of your daily life, as opposed to part of your work life. The more you practice and engage with the material, improvement will come naturally. You can always begin with reading texts that are slightly below your grade/age level (especially if reading is more of a frustrating or boring activity for you), and this will take pressure off of you and allow you to relax and enjoy the story. Eventually, when you get comfortable with reading comprehension strategies, you can read at whatever age level you like. Even if you don’t understand some of the texts right now, if you enjoy yourself and give it your best shot, you’ll find that your reading comprehension levels will improve over time.

Remember, reading should ultimately still be a fun and interesting activity. That said, try to keep reading exercises a balance of work and pleasure.

Improving this skill takes time and effort, but it can be done. The most important thing is to be patient with yourself while using the reading comprehension steps, and don’t get frustrated with ‘falling behind.’ In every piece of literature, there are useful worlds of meaning you can explore at your own behest, and learning them is always a rewarding experience. 

 

I might do a part 2 for actual tips and tricks, but that is all for now. 

 

 

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Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] 

Diplomas…..or not?

Penny Per Thought
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As a grade 12 student this year, I was particularly baffled at the turn of events that saved us from the first round of diplomas in January. But it seems that nothing will stop the impending exam season for us during our second semester.

We have truly experienced extraneous circumstances that no one expected throughout our high school experience. If students are in grade 12 this year, then the most sense of a normal high school experience they’ve had is one semester in grade 10. Needless to say, every experience of ours has been clouded in the waves of covid and regulations, that while keeping us safe, have left us lacking in the department of experience.

The most significant experience that we have missed out on is fulfilling our educational requirements. With the back and forth of online and in person, from quarantining and reveling in an ever changed world, it isn’t a fact that can be helped. So why is it that the government is so determined on making us do the exams that we, unlike people who’ve done them in the past, are so unprepared for?

Well, ladies, gentlemen and all others,  the answer is lost in my vigorous research for it. Though universities prefer having the diplomas as judge for applicants, it has been excused for students who’ve not completed them even after having two or else 2 and a half years to prepare for them. Us students who haven’t had to do a proper exam for the years leading up to it, are going to be at a great disadvantage. Even more so will be the students who will be completing grade 12 in the final year.

It is my belief, as is shared by fellow students, that we should have diplomas be optional for the graduates of 2022-2023. Though finals would make sense as a means to tie off the year, diplomas, worth even 10% of our grade jeopardize our capabilities to do well on the exams because we have been unprepared by lack of exam setting to experience from. People may assume that one normal semester would warrant exams, but to build up to diplomas, people typically have years of practice and experience which is critical in helping people study and learn how to prepare for an exam. Making them optional again this year would also be helpful to people who are taking all year courses and others who didn’t do the diploma first semester for some classes and others who will now have to.

The Alberta government rushed into reopening and discarding mask mandates to help rejuvenate society and the people’s mental health. But it seems that us students have been caught in that cross fire and willfully ignored to have our needs met, especially since our lives have been so heavily disrupted by the pandemic. 
 
They say you should speak out if you are being wronged, and so I hope that my voice matters as well, since the decisions that are being made affect me as a student and as an up and coming citizen of this country. And I am sure that I am not the only one who thinks so.

Apple Cinnamon Oats

Shraavni Patankar
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Growing up, we have all heard the phrase “breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” However, throughout the years, I have found that this statement could not be more true. Whether you have a big test or a relaxing day ahead of you, breakfast is a truly important part of any day. So today, I wanted to share one of my favorite breakfast recipes with you! These apple cinnamon oats are easy to make, filling and most importantly, delicious!

Ingredients:

  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 washed, diced apple
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 cup old fashioned oats
  • 2 cup water*
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup, more or less depending on level of preferred sweetness
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tbsp almond butter
  • 1/4 cup pecans

*add 1 cup of water and 1 cup of milk rather than 2 cups of water for creamier oats

Preparation:

  1. Place a medium saucepan over medium heat. After butter has melted, add the diced apple into the saucepan. Saute these for 3-4 minutes until the apples begin to soften. Sprinkle in half of the cinnamon at this point along with half of the maple syrup.
  2. Remove the apples and place aside in a bowl. Now, heat the oats and water over medium heat until the liquid has been absorbed and the oats have softened. This will take about 3-4 minutes.
  3. Now, add in the leftover cinnamon, maple syrup, vanilla extract, almond butter and pecans. Once combined, stir in the apples from earlier.
  4. Divide into separate bowls and enjoy!

That’s it! This quick and nutritious recipe makes a great breakfast in the morning. I encourage you to try this recipe out and let me know what you thought!

 

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Why Abortion Should be Easily Accessible Worldwide

Natasha
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Abortion is considered one of the world’s most controversial topics. Almost every culture or religion seems to have an opinion on whether or not it should be an acceptable practice. Despite the moral issues surrounding the idea of abortion, there is one thing that is true. Abortion is, in some cases, a woman’s best option. Every year, 211 million women get pregnant. Of these 211 million pregnancies, half of them are unplanned. Unplanned or not, pregnancy takes a detrimental emotional and physical toll on a woman. Abortion should be legalized and more easily accessible for women because many women are not ready or planning to get pregnant, many women are not financially capable of raising a child, and without access to abortions many women are forced to turn to unsafe options that put their own lives in jeopardy.

With almost half of all pregnancies being unplanned, this leads to the issue of many women becoming pregnant at times when they cannot emotionally, financially, or physically carry a fetus. According to Guttmacher institute, a pro choice research organization, most unplanned pregnancies that occur in America happen to women between the ages of 18 and 24. Women at this age are typically still in college or university, meaning they aren’t yet financially secure, or emotionally mature enough to raise children, or carry a fetus to term. Pregnancy at this age is, in some ways, dangerous, it threatens a woman’s education, career, and social life, all of which are desperately needed for a support system during pregnancy and raising children. These difficulties are even further escalated through parenthood.

Raising children is financially taxing on parents—this difficulty is exemplified on single mothers. Abortion aids women who aren’t financially capable of raising children on their own. According to the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture), raising a child can cost a middle class family upwards of $230,000, from birth to the age 17. This means that most single parents struggle with the cost of housing, school fees, and even putting food on the table. In addition to this, single mothers also face difficulty getting jobs and finding places to live, as most employers/landlords discriminate and offer them lower salaries/higher rent.

Even without access to safe and legal options, women won’t stop having abortions. In desperation, women could be forced to turn to unsafe illegal home procedures, the effects of which could become fatal. In an article featured on the National Center for Biotechnology Information’s website (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov), Lisa B Haddad, MD, MA, Clinical Fellow in Obstetrics and Nawal M Nour, MD, MPH state that out of the approximately 42 million abortions that occur each year, 20 million are unsafe. Of these 20 million abortions, 5 million women will suffer long term health issues. Almost 70 thousand women die as a result of unsafe abortions annually, which also makes it one of the leading causes of maternal mortality. According to the WHO (World Health Organization), every 8 minutes, one woman dies from an unsafe abortion in an undeveloped country. The most unfortunate thing about these procedures is not only that they are so common, but also that they are entirely preventable when women like this have access to proper healthcare.

In conclusion, abortion should be more accessible worldwide because having access to safe and legal abortions prevents women from having to undergo financially, emotionally, and physically draining pregnancies, from having to raise children they might not be ready to raise, and from undergoing unsafe abortions that can result in death or potentially long-term health issues.

 

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Feature Image 

The Importance of Financial Literacy for Teens

Steven Dong
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Inspired by the macroeconomics course I am currently self-learning, I wanted to share a new perspective that has donned on me since the beginning of semester 2.

Prior to second semester Grade 12, I had essentially zero experience in the economic world. (Unless you count the financial literacy class I took in Grade 8.) I was first introduced to the possibility of taking an econ course by one of my close friends, who had taken both AP Microeconomics and AP Macroeconomics. With some spare time, I thought, why not give it a try? And so starting in February, I began to watch online videos and learn the material in preparation for the exam in May.

A few weeks after I started, my parents started to have conversations about their personal finances. Nearing the age of retirement and having no previous knowledge about investing, saving, and other important financial tools and information, I saw them attend webinars and info sessions almost daily. Thanks to my self-studying, I am now able to be a part of that conversation and even help provide occasional advice.

While initially the content was a bit monotonous, it gradually picked up and now it’s definitely one of my favourite classes! My favorite part about macroeconomics so far is how easily you can apply your knowledge to the real world and understand financial decisions made by governments, corporations, and more.

Besides helping out family and sheer interest, there are also many practical reasons to learn economics—whether on your own or in class. First, because of compound interest, starting financial savings early is tremendously advantageous. Other aspects, like life insurance for instance, also become increasingly expensive as we get older. So, if we are financially literate as young adults, we can set ourselves up better for financial security later on our lives.

Furthermore, nearing the end of high school, I am often part of conversations discussing which career to pursue—and which make the most money. However, earning income means little if we do not know how to manage our finances. Thus, even if you don’t necessarily want to become an economist, becoming aware of the financial world in which we live helps anyone working any job.

So, I urge everyone, even if you don’t think you’ll enjoy it or have the time, to at least dip your toes into the world of economics. You surely won’t regret it.

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April: Upcoming concerts in Calgary

Lucy Choi
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Now our community is starting to change like it was before COVID 19. Here are some concerts coming up in April in the YYC area! 

For more information please visit this website: https://www.ticketmaster.ca/discover/concerts/calgary

 

Conan Gray: CONAN GRAY North American Tour 2022 with special guest Bulow

April 4, 2022 / Monday / 7pm

Line up: Conan Gray, Bulow

Venue: MacEwan Hall Calgary, Canada

 

Homeshake: HOMESHAKE

April 3, 2022/ Sunday / 8pm

Line up: Homeshake

Venue: Commonwealth Bar & Stage Calgary, Canada

 

SkiiTour, Smalltown DJS: Skiitour x Smalltown DJS x The Sponges

April 14, 2022 / Thursday / 8pm

Line up: SkiiTour, Smalltown DJS

Venue: Commonwealth Bar & Stage Calgary, Canada

 

Imagine Dragons: Imagine Dragons: Mercury World Tour

April 15, 2022 / Friday / 7pm

Line up: Imagine Dragons, AVIV

Venue: Scotiabank Saddledome Calgary, Canada

 

NEEDTOBREATHE: NEEDTOBREATHE: INTO THE MYSTERY ACOUSTIC TOUR

April 21, 2022 / Thursday / 7:30 pm

Line up: NEEDTOBREATHE, Patric Droney

Venue: Scotiabank Saddledome Calgary, Canada

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Voice

Aarushi Bhargava
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Our voices.

Words.

Sentences.

Melodies.

A scrawl of characters on a page.

 

Our voices.

They are a tool by which we can shape the world around us.

They give us power and meaning and the opportunity to share our stories. 

 

They are the way by which we protest the greatest injustices, the way by which we form bonds with those around us.

 

Yet, no one voice is like another.

They are hand-crafted through experiences and perspective and knowledge. 

 

A few words strung together can shape the minds and the thoughts of others. It can tell us to stand up, to be strong, to be brave. Or it can tear us down, batter us in the deepest hours of the night.

 

Words. They heal. They humble. They teach. They learn. They represent. But they can hurt. They can humiliate.

 

Words have power. 

 

In each of our lives there will come a time where we may doubt the power in our own voices. They may require us to be vulnerable, to share the deep thoughts of midnight tales.

 

Yet, it is your voice. It is our voice.

 

And so I urge you, from my voice to yours.

 

Believe, that you too, 

 

have a voice.

 

Image source

Quick and Easy Rosemary Garlic Focaccia

Natasha
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In April of 2021 I decided that I wanted to learn how to make focaccia. I had been in quarantine for just over a year when my feed had suddenly been bombarded by photos, videos, and seemingly over complicated recipes for this dish. I handled this how any sane person would: by researching focaccia recipes for two weeks before finally deciding to use the first recipe that shows up when you google “focaccia recipe”. 

Over the past 10 months, this recipe has become a staple in my home. It is my “go-to” for dinner parties, food gifts, meal prep, etc. What sets it apart from others is the fact that it can be made in about 3 hours, compared to others that require the dough to rest overnight or longer. One thing that I love about it is the fact that it is so easily adjustable. You can add new toppings or spices to the bread without having to adjust the recipe in any major ways. 

The original recipe can be found here: Easy Rosemary Garlic Focaccia Bread 

Here is the recipe with my adjustments:

Ingredients:

0.5 cup + 1 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil (plus extra for oiling bowl)

3-4 Garlic Cloves, Minced

1 tsp Dried thyme

1 tsp Dried Rosemary

0.25 tsp Fresh Ground Black Pepper

1 cup Warm Water

2.25 tsp Active Dry Yeast (1 Packet) OR Instant Yeast

0.25 tsp Honey

2.5 cups All-Purpose Flour

1 tsp Salt

Flaky Salt (optional)

Recipe:

  1. In a small pot, combine olive oil, garlic, rosemary, thyme, black pepper, and any other herbs/additions (see “tips”). Heat the oil mixture over low heat, stirring occasionally until aromatic (5-10 minutes).
  2. In a large bowl, combine warm water, honey, and yeast. Stir and let sit for 5 minutes.
  3. Add 1 cup of flour and 1/4 cup of the oil mixture to the bowl with yeast and honey. Stir a few times, just until the flour is moistened. Let sit for another 5 minutes.
  4. Stir in the remaining flour and salt. When a shaggy dough comes together, transfer to a clean, floured surface and knead until smooth.
  5. Transfer the dough to a large oiled bowl (I like to use the same one used for mixing the dough). Cover with saran wrap or a damp towel. Let rise for 1 hour if using active dry yeast or 45 minutes if using instant yeast. (Dough will rise best if in a warmer area of your kitchen).
  6. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
  7. Use two tablespoons of the remaining oil mixture to oil a 9×13 inch rimmed baking sheet. 
  8. Transfer the dough to an oiled baking sheet and press it down into the pan. Use fingers to dimple the dough and drizzle the remaining oil mixture over the top. Let the dough rise for 20 minutes, or until it puffs slightly. Sprinkle flakey salt over (optional).
  9. Bake until golden brown, 15-20 minutes.
  10. Cool focaccia on a wire rack, cut into slices, and serve.

Tips:

  • After taking out of the oven, let the focaccia sit for 5-10 minutes in its dish. This will help it absorb any leftover olive oil in the dish, ensuring that your bread does not dry out.
  • Leftover focaccia can be stored for 2 days in a well-sealed container in the fridge. Focaccia can also be frozen to keep for longer.
  • Toppings that can be put on top of focaccia:
  1. Sliced cherry tomatoes
  2. Thinly sliced rings of onion
  3. Garlic cloves
  4. Olives
  5. Thinly sliced bell peppers
  6. Chives
  7. Basil
  8. Mozzarella or Parmesan Cheese

I hope you try this recipe out!

Sources: 1, Featured Image

Potato Soup: a family favourite

Zainab Majid
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During the winter months, I’m pretty sure everyone craves a warm bowl of soup sometimes. Vegetable soups have a special place in my heart, especially potato and tomato soup. Today, I’ll be sharing one of my family’s favourite potato soup recipes that we make without fail almost every winter. There are quite a few ingredients, but don’t be intimated! The result will be worth it in the end.

Ingredients:
3 tablespoons butter or olive oil
2 cups chopped onion (1 medium)
1 cup chopped carrot (2 medium)
1 cup chopped celery (2 to 3 stalks)
1 tablespoon minced garlic (3 cloves)
1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary or 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
4 cups stock or broth, see our chicken stock or vegetable broth
4 cups chopped potatoes, cubed (1 1/2 pounds or 3 to 4 medium)
1 bay leaf
Salt and fresh ground black pepper
1/4 cup cream, half and half, sour cream or plain yogurt
1 cup (2 ounces) shredded cheese like sharp cheddar or gruyere, optional
For serving (optional): Chopped parsley, chives or scallions, extra shredded cheese, sour cream, crumbled cooked bacon, hot sauce

Method:
In a large heavy-bottomed pot (like a Dutch oven), melt the butter over medium heat. When the butter is melted, stir in the onions, carrots, and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally until they begin to soften; 5 to 6 minutes.

Stir in the garlic, rosemary, red pepper flakes, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper, and then cook, stirring everything around the pot, for 30 seconds.

Scatter the flour over the vegetables and cook, stirring, until it looks medium blonde in color; about 1 minute. It will smell toasty, like browned butter.

Slowly whisk in 2 cups of the stock, making sure there aren’t any lumps of flour. It will be thick.

Pour in the remaining stock and whisk until blended. Increase the heat and bring the soup to a boil then reduce to a simmer.

Add the potatoes and bay leaf, and then cook, partially covered, until the potatoes are fork tender; about 20 minutes.

Turn the heat to low, remove the bay leaf, and then stir in the cream and cheese.

Taste for seasoning then adjust with more salt and pepper as needed. Serve with fresh herbs on top or for a thick and blended soup, use a potato masher to mash or an immersion blender to blend about half of the potatoes in the soup (this is Joanne’s favorite way to serve the soup).

NUTRITION PER SERVING (these are estimates): Serving Size About 1 cup:
Calories 224 / Total Fat 11.8g / Saturated Fat 6.9g / Cholesterol 30.7mg / Sodium 302.2mg / Carbohydrate 23.9g / Dietary Fiber 3.6g / Total Sugars 3.9g / Protein 7.4g

Source: 1

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