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Tips to Improve Public Speaking

Yuri Choi
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For many people, public speaking is a nightmare. Having a crowd of people watch you while you try to give a speech can be very intimidating. The nerves get even worse when you are being assessed for your speaking skills. Your hands start shaking, your palms start to sweat, and it feels as if you’re going to completely blank out. Been there, done that. As terrible as public speaking is to some people, it is an essential skill for life. Public speaking is not only important for school presentations, but later on in life it may be required at your job. Not only that, but public speaking is important for you to convey your ideas in a strong, persuasive way. For those of you struggling with public speaking, fear no more. I have compiled a list of tips that helped me personally get over my fear of public speaking. 

 

1. Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse!

This may seem obvious, but I cannot stress enough how important it is to rehearse. It is important to know your information from top to bottom in order to perform well. If you know every aspect of your speech, it will be less likely that you will have to rely on your notes. I don’t know about you, but I have definitely experienced losing my place while reading my notes during the presentation. By rehearsing ahead of time, you will reduce the likelihood of awkward pauses while you scramble to find your place. Also, if you know what you’re talking about, you will seem confident to the audience. This helps you come off as knowledgeable, and like you put effort into your project. 

 

2. Find something that interests you.

Although often we don’t get a say in what we’re presenting, it is helpful to find a point that you are interested in. Scan through your presentation, and try to link it to something that you are passionate about. This will help you become more interested in your presentation. Interest builds passion, and when you are passionate, it will give you more confidence. Think of presenting as relaying information about one of your hobbies. Don’t think of it like a hard history assignment. If you genuinely enjoy yourself, there will be less mistakes to occur due to nerves. 

 

3. Know your audience.

Are you presenting to your classmates? Teachers? Parents? Whoever it is, it is important to know your audience. That way, you can adapt and tailor your speech in order to suit their level of comprehension. Consider what message you want to send, and how you can choose your words and gestures to do so. 

 

4. Watch your audience.

While giving your presentation, don’t completely focus on your presentation like a robot. Instead, watch the crowd’s reaction and body language. This will help you gain an idea of how you are doing. With this, you can adapt and adjust in order to keep your audience captivated. Remember to be flexible, you don’t have to go word for word on your script. 

 

5. Be comfortable.

Try not to think of it as a presentation. Instead, pretend like you are talking to your parents or friends, depending on your audience. This will help put you at ease. Use hand gestures, and make lots of eye contact. Try to sound natural, and remember that you are just talking to your friends or family. However, it is still important to maintain a certain level of formality. What I’m trying to say is, don’t be a robot. Be comfortable, be you. 

 

6. Move on.

Made a mistake? Flubbed a line? Don’t worry about it. Instead of pausing or apologizing to your audience, or worse yet, going into a bout of nervous giggles, move on. Go on to your next line, or whatever you prepared. If you don’t dwell on it, it is likely the audience won’t notice. However, if you do dwell on it, it will only draw attention to your mistake. Remember that your speech does not have to be perfect.

Take a deep breath, and tell yourself, you’ve got this.

 

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

What You Should Know About Calgary’s Free. Period. Initiative

Lara Mylde
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In September 2021, the City of Calgary launched the Free. Period. initiative as a way to combat period poverty and the inaccessibility of menstrual hygiene products in our city. Here’s what you need to know.

What is period poverty?

Period poverty is a global sanitation issue affecting people all over the world. According to globalcitizen.org, it refers to the lack of access to sanitary products, menstrual hygiene education, toilets, hand washing facilities, and/or waste management. A big part of fighting this is making period products more affordable and more accessible. Although some countries around the world have stopped taxing period products as luxury items—known as the “pink tax” or “tampon tax”—in others the tax, seen by many as a form of gender-based discrimination—continues. And simply removing the tax doesn’t suddenly mean everyone is able to afford period products, either.

Fighting period poverty is also about destigmatizing menstruation—in many places, people who menstruate are ostracized from society. For example, in Nepal women are sometimes forced to live in technically illegal menstrual huts during their cycles, as menstruation is seen as impure.

What is Free. Period.?

Partnering with Youth Central’s Mayor’s Youth Council and the Calgary Public Library, the City has made free pads and tampons available at select locations in an effort to improve the accessibility of period products for everyone. You can find these products at the following locations:

Alberta Trade Centre (315 10 Ave S.E.) – first and second floors
Calgary Central Library (800 3 St S.E.) – second, third and fourth floor
Municipal Building (800 Macleod Trail S.E.) – main floor
Village Square Leisure Centre (2623 56 St N.E.) – main floor

The City has also made these menstrual products available in men’s washrooms. This is an important step towards acknowledging the diversity within the category of people who menstruate—as the City’s website says: “Period poverty affects everyone including families and friends of menstruators, non-binary, and trans folks.”

What can you do?

Whether or not you menstruate, take the City of Calgary’s survey to help them collect data and feedback about the pilot program. You can also read up on period poverty and donate to or volunteer at organizations which help fight period poverty worldwide, such as Days for Girls, PERIOD (founded by two high schoolers, Nadya Okamoto and Vincent Forand!), or Dignity Period.

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Tips to Improving your Mental Health before Heading Back To School (and for 2022)

Samarah Kanji
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The last full week of winter break is upon us! Next week school starts and for some of us, that means exam season. This time of year can be stressful, so it is important to take care of your mental health! Ensure that you are set up for success and organized before heading back to school. Things that trigger anxiety and a bad mood are skipping meals, caffeine, negative thinking, not getting enough sleep, and messy environments. With that said, it is significant to fix these things to ensure you feel happy before going back to ace your school year! While improving mental health is not easy, here are a few things you can do to clear your mind and improve your mood to feel more ready to face what is to come in the new year.

1. Clean/Organize your space:

Messy spaces can make you feel overwhelmed and can trigger stress. Take some time to organize some binders, clean out your backpack, or organize your school supplies. This is one step to feeling more refreshed for going back to school. You can also declutter your study/workspace and create a cozy environment. Having a cozy, calming workspace can make you feel less stressed when you have to work. Your work environment can also boost your mood. Take this as an opportunity to redecorate or create a spot where you can focus best! The reason behind all this is that when you are in a relaxing environment, your brain releases waves called Theta. It induces a relaxing, sleepy, meditative, and daydreaming feeling also known as your “twilight state”.  It enhances the receptivity and how fast you learn and memorize things. Therefore, when you are in a clear space, you remember things better.

25 Cool Desk Accessories that Inspire and Organize – Ink+Volt

2. Fix your sleep schedule:

Over winter break, I am sure everyone can relate when they forget the day, or forget their schedule with sleeping times ranging from 2 am-2 pm. The amount of sleep you have can often impact your mood. This is the perfect time to get back into a good sleeping routine so you can be well-rested for the hectic schedule school brings. Try going to bed an hour early and wake up an hour early to slowly get back to a healthier sleeping routine. Because it is a break, make sure to get at least eight hours of sleep for your brain to function at its full capacity.

ravenclaw reign 💙

3. Eat a good balance of food:

Pinterest:@Heyitssavxo | Aesthetic food, Healthy recipes, Healthy

Winter break is the time to treat yourself! It is also the time to eat all three meals in a day, which can make you feel calmer. Trying to learn new cooking recipes or incorporating fruits and vegetables into your diet. There are many new recipes you can try creating from TikTok, YouTube, or from just surfing the internet. Regardless, you can cook for others and have a fun time!

4. Journaling:

Amazing Winter Bullet Journal Theme Ideas To Try This Season

Depending on what type of person you are, journaling has many benefits and can help you get your thoughts out. You can also make it artsy and bullet journal. Try writing some goals to achieve for yourself. Remember, make sure your goals are attainable and consider how and the time frame you want to achieve them to make them more manageable. Ideas for a journal include a bullet journal, gratitude journal, to-do list, or a dream journal. Whatever it is, make this just for you!

5. Do things you love to do:

image #4090557 on Favim.com

This is your free time, so make sure to use it wisely. Do things you perhaps have little time for during a regular school week, such as playing your favorite instrument or going skiing. Whether it is blasting some Taylor Swift and baking chai cookies, or spending time with friends, make sure to do what you love! Try to find what you are passionate about as well if you do not already have one!

6. Listen to Music:

Actively Listen to Music — The Blind Cafe

As an avid music lover, one of the best things I find that calms me down is listening to my favorite music. It is scientifically proven that music can boost your mood and also improve your focus. Take this as an opportunity to create new playlists and find something new! As someone who likes to listen to the oldies, try retro music as it is quite optimistic!

These are just a few tips to feel ready for going back to school and to improve your mood! Be sure to rest well, prioritize what you want to do, and have a great rest of your break!

Sources 1/2/3/4/5/6/7

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January Constellations: Start your 2022 with beautiful stars

Lucy Choi
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New year is coming towards us! There are a bunch of constellations that you will see in January 2022! It will be great to see beautiful constellations of January with your family to start off the new year. These are constellations that you will likely see in January and interesting Greek myths behind these constellations. 

1. Taurus

Taurus is a prominent and 17th largest of all constellations in the northern hemisphere’s winter sky lying north-west of Orion. Its name means “Bulls” in Latin. History of Taurus starts from the bronze age as it is one of the oldest constellations. It belongs to a zodiac family of constellations. Taurus is used to mark the Sun’s location during the spring equinox. From old cultures like Greek, Egyptian, even going back to Ancient Babylon, these cultures show that Taurus symbolized and associated with “bull” in many ways. 

Greek mythology of Taurus:

Zeus fell madly in love with Europa, beautiful daughter of King of Phoenice. So, Zeus changed himself into a snow-white bull to attract Europa. Europa was charmed by the beauty of the white bull and when she climbed onto its back, the bull(Zeus) successfully kidnapped Europa, and Zeus showed his divine form in front of Europa. To commemorate his feat, he placed the picture of Taurus among the constellations. 

2. Orion

Orion is one of the most recognizable constellations in the sky, located on the celestial equator. Seven highly luminous stars of Orion make it more prominent in the winter sky. Orion has been known since ancient times. Also, it symbolizes and represents the mythical hunter Orion from Greek Mythology.

Greek mythology of Orion:

Orion was a great skilled hunter, and he provided meat each day for the gods. One day, Orion enjoyed hunting with the moon goddess, Artemis. Orion’s hunting skills amused Artemis, and Artemis talked about how great Orion is to other gods. The next day, Orion tried to impress Artemis more, so he hunted every animal he could find, and put a large pile of dead animals in front of Artemis’ house. However, Artemis was horrified. She is the protector of animals and punished those who killed more than they could eat. Artemis stomped her foot on the ground, and a great scorpion appeared which stung Orion. Lastly, Orion died in great pain. However, in honor of his great service to the gods, Zeus placed his constellation in the sky. 

3. Gemini

Gemini is one of the constellations of the zodiac that is located in the northern celestial hemisphere. It is described by the 2nd century AD astronomer Ptolemy. West side of the Taurus, and east side of Cancer is the location where Gemini lies. Gemini means “twins” in Latin. It is dominated by Castor and Pollux, two bright stars which form an O shape. 

Greek mythology of Gemini:

Castor and Pollux were twin brothers, the sons of Zeus and Leda. They sailed to the Argonauts in search of the Golden Fleece. They were invincible and courageous fighters. These two fought their best when they were near each other and helped the ship. To commemorate their great feats and help they gave to the sailors and their love for each other, Zeus placed their constellation, Gemini, in the sky after their deaths.

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Image Sources: 1/2/3

Useful Links: Greek Mythology and January Constellations

Mr. Beast’s #TeamSeas aims to help save the world’s oceans

Iman Alvi
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Just over a month ago, the internet was taken by storm as the “#teamseas” was spread everywhere throughout social media. Whether it be Youtube or Twitter, everyone was supporting the message of one fundraiser. From gaming channels or lifestyle gurus, to influencers of all sorts, it seems just about every major content creator was hopping on this trend supporting this hashtag. However, what exactly was this all about, and who did it start from?

Who created Team Seas?

The premise is simple; YouTube star MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) and his frequent collaborator, Mark Rober, joined together with two prolific ocean cleanup organizations: Ocean Conservancy and Ocean Cleanup. For anyone unfamiliar with the two YouTubers, MrBeast (real name Jimmy Donaldson) has nearly 74 million subscribers and Mark Rober has over 20 million subscribers. The two also share a history of over-the-top and expensive antics that has gained them a large following on their platform. After MrBeast successfully created a massively successful environmental campaign #TeamTrees, which raised $20 million to plant 20 million trees in a few months, he once again jumped back into the fray to make the self-created fundraiser called #TeamSeas. 

Not only that, but it’s clear to see that MrBeast and Mark Rober did their research on organizations that would put the donations to good use. 

Ocean Conservancy is focused on prevention efforts such as educating the public about the importance of keeping the water clean or regularly arranging volunteer efforts to clean up the oceans. Conversely, Ocean Cleanup focuses more on using their solar-powered machine called the Interceptor to clean up ocean pollution. The machine, which was featured in Mark Rober’s own video, floats on rivers and other bodies of water guiding waste to the mouth with barriers and lifting it onto a belt that filters the water. It is a magnificent design that is also the first scalable solution to prevent plastic from entering the world’s oceans from rivers.

What is #TeamSeas?

First launched on October 29, MrBeast and Mark Rober simultaneously released videos introducing Team Seas and using it to promote the cleanup of beaches and waterways. Each dollar donated leads to a pound of trash removed from the ocean, and the campaign seeks to raise $30 million by Jan. 1. Just two weeks after the videos were initially posted, the fundraiser had already reached half of its goal.

Both MrBeast and Mark Rober went to the Dominican Republic for their #TeamSeas videos, a place where the rivers can get so polluted you cannot even see the water, just to help collect trash on beaches and riverfronts personally. In his video, MrBeast picked up trash on what he called “the world’s dirtiest beach” and showed the work of many determined volunteers at Ocean Conservatory. Mark Rober, on the other hand, took to one of the rivers using the aforementioned Interceptor to filter out the water. In those two videos alone, they collectively collected almost 100,000 pounds of trash.

The outreach

Despite how large their influence was, this mission was not one that could be done alone. Just like Team Trees, MrBeast and Mark Rober enlisted the help of the entire YouTube community to achieve this extraordinary goal. Hundreds of content creators, big or small, were inspired to create videos related to saving the seas. Now to give you a true scope of the outreach achieved, other YouTubers have added millions of more views on their website adding to the 75 million views on the original videos. Donaldson and Rober even appeared on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on Nov. 2 to talk about #TeamSeas, illustrating just how far their fundraiser had spread. 

Another huge contribution to Team Seas came from the large space of Minecraft YouTube and the Dream SMP. The survival multiplayer server in the popular sandbox game Minecraft had also run a major event in support of Team Seas, streaming for thousands of viewers live. 

Infographics Show’s “​​Removing 30,000,000 Pounds of Trash Will Actually Have This Impact”

All the videos and streams done in support of Team Seas are worth watching, but I would personally recommend The Infographics Show’s video on the subject, filled with fun animations and easy-to-understand statistics to give you an overview. 

Why is Team Seas significant?

It is no secret that we must protect the world’s oceans, and that the pollutants currently being dumped into the seas have major consequences. Not only do plastic pollutants and waste create harmful algae blooms and aid in destroying ecosystems around the world, it can cause harmful effects for humans as well. 

Team Seas sheds light on such an issue for millions of more people, but it does not stop there. The fundraiser was able to show just how big of an impact “Gen Z” can make through the internet. Despite how often YouTube and other social media platforms are said to be just videos about drama and video games, they have truly made a difference. In MrBeast’s video, he stated that while the primary goal of the initiative is to clean the world’s oceans and seas, it’s also to show society that our generation can make a difference beyond, in his words, “just retweets.”

So if you would like to be part of this and make a difference, head over to teamseas.org and donate!

If you would like to learn more about Ocean Conservation, a recent article by youth blogger Pareen Cheema gives a great summary of the subject. 

 

Sources: Featured Image/[1]/[2]/[3]/[4]/[5]/[6]/[7]

Plan a new year!

Lucy Choi
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Only seven days left till 2022! You should be proud of yourself for how much you have done this year. Now, this is a great time to set your goal and plan the upcoming new year. Science of goal-setting proved by neurologists that the brain cannot distinguish between reality and imagined reality. So, when we give ourselves a picture of the goal we want to achieve, the mind starts believing it to be real, which makes us most likely to achieve the goal and develop ourselves. Here are some ways to refresh the start of 2022.

1. Set your goal

Bring your planner, and on the very first page, write three main goals that you want to achieve academically and three main goals that you want to achieve for personal development. Lastly, three main goals about what person you want to be.

Examples for academic goals:

  1. Study at least 3 hours a day (bad example: study every day)
  2. Read at least five books per month (bad example: read a lot)
  3. Review what you have done in class for 20 minutes every day (bad example: review a lot)

Examples for personal development goals:

  1. practice violin at least an hour per week (bad example: practice violin)
  2. exercise at least 20 minutes 3 days/week (bad example: exercise)
  3. learn Japanese, study 1 chapter/week (bad example: learn a new language)

Examples for your personality goals:

  1. Be courageous: raise my hand in school, don’t be afraid to say my opinion
  2. be kind: be a listener, empathize with others
  3. be thankful: be thankful for small things

Remember, these goals should be realistic but in a detailed way.

2. Manage your planner/diary

  • After you set your goal for this year, write the specific plans you want to achieve each month.
  • Make some blanks to write about the good and bad things you did throughout the month. This will help you reflect on yourself and help you develop yourself into a better version.
  • Make some blanks to record your special moments with your loved ones.

A goal without a plan is just a wish

For this upcoming new year, let’s refresh and start it with planning to make your wish come true.

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The Science & Psychology of Goal-setting

Where we fail; tragedy strikes

Laiba Nasir
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The biggest crisis that we as humans face is the issue of insecurity. This exists on an incredibly minor scale, where we sit in the mirror and pick apart our every flaw, and on the major scale, where people cannot stay in their own country due to fear. The current refugee crisis that exists continues to be perpetuated for all people.

 

Specifically, I’m talking about the case of the very recent deaths in the English channel. To summarize, refugees from the Grande-Synthe camp in France were desperate to get to England. For a set of refugees, the only option they had were the people smugglers, who had cheap, inflatable boats. As all cheap things do eventually, with 30 people on the boat, the boat started slowly taking in water, before its engine gave out. 30 people were now thrown into the waters of the English channel. There were 30 casualties. 

 

The biggest issue I see here is not that these people were paying hundreds of dollars to be illegally smuggled across borders. It is that this was their only option. These people had no other way to get somewhere safe and to their relatives. Society likes to emphasize borders that exist for very little reason. This is echoed throughout all political policies. If you aren’t native somewhere, society thinks you should not be there. Of course, this statement itself is only around when it’s convenient, like we’ve seen with the indigenous people of North America.

 

The only way to fix this issue is to push more multiculturalism than already exists. With this, we need to love the intricacies that make us human. Our differences and our similarities. The more we push this narrative, the better society will be. We need to avoid these kinds of tragedies all when possible. That can only be done through forcing our understanding of all people and backgrounds.

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Really Quick Healthy recipes: An advocacy page for eating healthy

Suhani Gupta
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There’s always times when we feel lazy and we just don’t know what to do about it. Then it ends up making our whole day dreadful especially when it comes to food. HOWEVER this is the place for advocacy when you are lazy but want to still have a guilt-free day! These recipes include non-vegetarian, vegetarian, vegan options.

Nevertheless, there are two options for each category which I mentioned above for food recipes. They are easy and fun to make and you won’t feel like you wasted your day.

Non-Vegetarian :

1. Chicken Wrap

(Recipe is from BBC goodfood)

This recipe takes 5 minutes and serves 2 people: It can be used as a snack for on the go or can be used as lunch/dinner oh and breakfast.

Ingredients:

100g Cooked Sweet Potato

2 Multigrain Wraps

200g Cooked Chicken (Shredded)

Salad leaves

Baby Plum (Halved)

Cherry tomatoes (Halved)

Now that you know the ingredients, time for the steps!

STEP 1: 

Starting off with the Cooked  Sweet Potato, you have to mash it up until its all smooth. Then with your multigrain wrap, taking the mashed sweet potato spread it onto the wrap making sure that the layers aren’t too thick.

STEP 2:

Taking the other ingredients like the salad leaves, chicken and tomatoes, divide them evenly between the wraps.

STEP 3:

Lastly bend the wrap to fold it up, trying to not make the fillings fall out. This wrap could be eaten right away or you could save it for later. By wrapping it in baking parchment and then foil for later.

2. 5-minute Soup

(Recipe from Cooking.nytimes)

This recipe is an easy, quick, low-calorie appetizer.

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups : Chicken Broth
  • Half of Cucumber (scrubbed, sliced very thin and not peeled)
  • 4 raw mushrooms (sliced)
  • 2 cups of leafy green vegetables (shredded)
  • 1 tomato (cubed)
  • 1/2 cup lean meat (cooked and shredded)
  • Salt & Pepper

Now that you know the ingredients, time for the steps!

STEP 1:

Firstly you need to heat the broth.

STEP 2:

Afterwards you need to add the vegetables plus meat.

STEP 3:

Next you need to bring it to boil then reduce the heat. Finally it needs to simmer for 5 minutes.

This can be served immediately.

Vegetarian:

1. Mocha Oatmeal

(Recipe from HurryTheFoodUp)

This is a 7 minute, new twist of oatmeal breakfast recipe and serves 1 person. Its the perfect recipe for when you have a busy day ahead.

Ingredients:

  • 1 Banana
  • 1/2 cup rolled oats
  • 1 tsp instant coffee
  • salt to taste
  • 1/2 tsp honey
  • 1/2 tsp cacao powder
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 tbsp walnuts, crumbled
  • 1/2 cup milk (your choice) Ex: Soy, almond, rice, etc…

Now that you know the ingredients, time for the steps!

STEP 1:

Starting off from the banana, you have to peel then squash it.

STEP 2:

Afterwards grabbing the pan, with the next ingredients like the oats, coffee, cacao powder, salt and walnuts, not forgetting about the banana put it into the pan on medium heat.

STEP 3:

As well as add the cup of water.

STEP 4:

Following, wait while it’s simmering and stop it once it takes on a thick texture.

STEP 5:

Then put it into a bowl, with it add some milk and honey. You can eat it!

2. Scrambled Eggs + Cheese

(Recipe from HurryTheFoodUp)

Undoubtedly this recipe we’ve all heard, about the classic scrambled eggs, it’s easy to make and even the younger ones could help in the making. It takes about 5 minutes in total and serves one person.

Ingredients:

  • 2 Eggs
  • 1/4 cup of cheddar cheese (grated)
  • 1/2 tsp olive oil or can be replaced with butter
  • salt and pepper
  • 1 slice wholegrain bread (toasted)

Now that you know the ingredients, time for the steps!

STEP 1:

Starting off with the ingredients butter/oil, put them in the frying pan. In particular make sure you put it on medium heat.

STEP 2:

Then with the eggs, crack them and put them in a whole. Later beat it fast using a fork.

STEP 3:

Afterwards grate the cheese so it’s ready.

STEP 4:

Then using the eggs from step 2, put the eggs from the bowl to the frying pan.

STEP 5:

In addition coat the surface with cheese on top.

STEP 6:

Also the eggs will start to thicken really quickly, so remember that as soon as that happens, use a spatula to bring the eggs from the side so they can be in the middle.

STEP 7:

In contrast to the bringing the eggs to the middle from the side and middle to the side, repeat that procedure several times.

STEP 8:

It should be noted that the time taken for cooking should only be about 2-3 minutes as its very easy to overcook them. When you see that the eggs have no “watery bits” left it’s a sign that you are done. In a quick manner take them off from the heat to put it in a plate. Or an option is you can use the toasted wholegrain bread and put it on there instead. Adding on to enlighten the taste add some salt and pepper. That’s about it!

Vegan:

1. Spicy Udon Noodles

(Recipe from CheapLazyVegan)

This recipe takes such little time and fulfills the cravings of something spicy. I love Asian food so it was amazing when I found this recipe and I can have it when I am lazy or when I am in a hurry. It’s also not hard to make and could be eaten any point of the day only taking a few minutes of your time. This recipe serves 1 person.

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 block extra firm tofu (cut into cubes)
  • 1 serving of udon noodles
  • 1/2 cup chopped mushrooms
  • 1/4 of small onion (thinly sliced)
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • Optional: 1 stalk green onion (chopped)
  • Optional : 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds

Sauce:

  • 1 tbsp gochujang
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce/tamari
  • Optional: 1/2 tbsp mirin

Now that you know the ingredients, time for the steps!

STEP 1:

Firstly with a non-stick pan, heat it on high heat.

STEP 2:

Next you can coo the udon noodles. The udon noodles should have the instructions that come with it.

STEP 3:

Later on, taking the oil(small amount) and tofu pieces add them in the pan. While the tofu is cooking you can get the chopping of vegetables done or mixing together the sauce.  Adding on to the making of the sauce you can mix the sauce ingredients in a small bowl.

STEP 4:

Taking your focus back on the tofu, flip the tofu on the other side so the other side can be cooked as well. Once done, take them off the pan then add the mushrooms and onions. Saute them until they have the results that the mushrooms start to turn brown and the onions start to soften.

STEP 5:

Once the noodles are finished cooking, drain them and put them in the pan as well. Then you can add the tofu backing in along the sauce and mix it well.

STEP 6:

When its mixed well you can turn off the heat and stir in sesame oil. Later you can top it off with the optional ingredients such as green onion and sesame seeds. Then it’s ready to eat.

2. Sloppy Joes

(Recipe from OneGreenPlanet)

Another one of my favourite things to eat is sloppy Joes, and it’s something that the whole family will enjoy. However it is messy but that’s the just the fun part of what makes this dish one of the best. It takes only 5 minutes and 3 steps to create something that everyone will love!

Ingredients:

  • 2 tbsp veggie oil
  • 1 onion (diced)
  • 3 cloves garlic (minced)
  • half bell pepper (diced)
  • 1/2 jalapeno (diced)
  • 1/2 tsp
  • 1/4 tsp cumin
  • 2 packages tempeh (crumbled)
  • 1 tbsp raw sugar
  • 1 cup tomato sauce
  • 1/3 cup ketchup
  • Salt and Pepper
  • 4-6 whole wheat burger buns
  • Daiya cheddar cheese shreds
  • Dill pickles

Now that you know the ingredients, time for the steps!

STEP 1:

Early on starting from the oil in a large pot heat it on medium heat. Adding on the onions, garlic, peppers and spices. Something to remember is the could should take 1-2 minutes.

STEP 2:

Afterwards the crumbled tempeh can be added. Saute it momentarily. Then adding in the sugar, tomato sauce and ketchup. Finally season it with salt and pepper, let it cook for until the mixture is hot and bubbly.

STEP 3:

Lastly, put preferred amount of mixture in between the burger buns, topping it with Daiya, and pickle. It’s done!

In conclusion there are various options all from appetizers to breakfast to lunch to dinner. It includes recipes which are healthy, quick and also delicious at the same time. I hope this advocacy page helps you for lazy days!

Taking Action: Ocean Conservation

Pareen Cheema
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For many of us, oceans can seem daunting or spectacular natural phenomena. Despite our varying conceptions of the oceans, it is undeniable that they are an important natural resource to all of us. Oceans are not only essential to the livelihood of marine life, but they also supply resources for humans and act as a transportation network. Currently, this is threatened by unsustainable fishing practices and political tensions regarding the countries’ sea borders. Therefore, it is critical to reduce our harmful impacts on the ocean, and this requires a global effort that starts with awareness. 

What is Harming the Oceans?

Recently, it has come to light that 80% of marine pollution results from human activities such as overfishing, wrongful disposal of waste, oil spills, and the rise of pesticide use. Engaging in activities such as these may seem convenient, but it has adverse effects on the oceans. As you may already know, pollution causes habitat destruction. In recent years, many coral reefs have been damaged due to mining and sea drilling, displacing many animals away from their natural habitats. At the same time, chemical pollution negatively impacts marine animals upon ingestion. This causes the death of many animals and disrupts their biological processes. Plastic pollution is also detrimental to oceans as many animals accidentally recognize plastics as food which causes them to get stuck within the plastic or ingest them. Also, many plastics aren’t biodegradable, meaning that they stay in the ocean and continuously increase microplastics. It should also be considered that there are political tensions surrounding ocean “claims” as well. For some countries, there was the threat of pollution caused by long-distance fishing fleets and oil tankers. In comparison, others were more concerned about the presence of their navies in the waters. Therefore, there were disputes about sea boundaries, exclusive economic zones, and resources.

The Significance Behind Ocean Conservation:

You have probably noticed that water covers around 70% of the Earth. Thus, ocean conservation is vital as it is the world’s largest ecosystem that supplies the means of life. Therefore, by protecting the oceans, you are safeguarding marine life and your livelihood through the sustainable usage of the oceans’ resources. To further elaborate, the ocean absorbs 30% of the carbon emissions produced by humans and 90% of the heat. With that in mind, protecting the oceans also covers the world from the drastic effects of climate change. Furthermore, many people worldwide also depend on the sea for their daily resources, so it is also essential to living our lives sustainably for the good of everyone.

The Global Response:

To promote marine life and biodiversity conservation, the United Nations created the  Regional Seas Programme. This program was placed to promote the well-being of marine lids and the sustainable usage of the oceans’ resources. As a result, it protects the oceans and seas at a regional level. It does this by monitoring the oceans, conducting research, and better managing coastal areas. There are also Exclusive Economic Zones set in place that regulate which countries can trade and use resources in oceans. Additionally, some countries are banning single-use plastics that heavily pollute the oceans.  As you can imagine, the oceans are a vast space that requires a lot of time and effort to research. So, simple acts such as disposing of plastics properly and picking up any garbage you see near bodies of water can be your first step towards ocean conservation!

Call for Action:

What can you do to make a difference? As mentioned before, the first way is through awareness, which means educating yourself on these topics and informing those around you. Aside from that, you can participate in clean-ups around your city or donate to charities that work to enhance marine life. I also understand that using plastic is a big part of our daily lives. It is cheap and affordable, but you can also consider using plastic-free alternatives when possible. Another way you can help the oceans is by eating sustainable seafood rather than consuming products stemming from overfishing. You can do this by checking with restaurants before you order, reading labels, or looking at the Seafood Watch guide. In the end, all of these efforts lead to a reduction in one’s carbon footprint, which ensures that our oceans and wildlife will stay safe and prosperous.

 

“With every drop of water you drink, every breath you take, you’re connected to the sea”-Sylvia Earle

 

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Christmas In Other Countries

Samarah Kanji
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Feliz Navidad! Joyeux Noël! Frohe Weihnachten! Merry Christmas! School is out and you can finally relax with friends, family and some fun Christmas movies! Christmas is a time for many traditions that families participate in. As someone who likes to travel and see the world, it is often interesting to see what other countries do during Christmas. Here are some festive things other countries do during this time of year that you may have not heard of before: 

1. Costa Rica:

In Costa Rica, they use some tropical flowers as their decorations. They make wreaths with red coffee berries, cypress branches, and ribbons. The decorations also include fruits, models, and animal figures. Santa in Costa Rica is known as Niño Dios (Child God) or Colacho (St. Nicholas). On Christmas Eve, families get ready and go to Midnight Mass or Miso de Gallo (Mass of the Rooster). After church, families will eat a meal including chicken or pork tamales which are wrapped in plantain leaves. They also drink lots of eggnog or rum punch. The streets are also lively as there are parades, dances, rodeos, and parties. On the 27th, there is also a carnival with dances and floats.

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2. France:

While French Christmas traditions are similar to the ones you have probably heard before, a cool thing French children do is leave their shoes in front of the fireplace for Père Noël to leave fun treats and presents in. Tradition things you may see at the dinner table are a goose, smoked salmon, turkey stuffed with chestnuts, and vegetables with garlic and herbs. Traditional desserts include things with fruit, nuts, raisins, and a cake called Pompe à l’huile. There is a belief that everyone has to taste the desserts to bring them good luck in the coming year. The French also enjoy a good Christmas market.

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3. Mexico:

Christmas in Mexico is a long celebration ranging from December 12th all the way to January 6th! From the 16th up until Christmas Eve, children perform in posadas (processions) and are given a candle and a board with clay religious figures. They all say prayers and different houses hold Posada parties. On the Posada on Christmas Eve, after the final posada, families attend a midnight church service and there are more fireworks. A popular decoration in Christmas time is the Nacimiento ( a clay figure set including Mary, Joseph, the three kings, and Baby Jesus who is added on Christmas Day). Families also eat a nice meal known as Noche Buena which includes Pozole (a thick soup with chicken or pork and chillies), roast turkey, a Ensalada Nochebuena (Christmas Salad). Dessert includes bunuelos a sugary, fried pastry. They also enjoy eggnog and sometimes add rum to it. They also have a day similar to April fools on December 28th known as “Los Santos Inocentes”.  Finally, January 6th is known as “El Dia de Los Reyes” (the day of the kings). On this day, they eat a traditional cake called and whoever has the Baby Jesus in their cake, is the “godparent” of that year. Many traditions also include traditions from the indigenous people of Mexico.

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4. Russia:

In Russia, Christmas Day is celebrated on January 7th following the old “Julian” calendar. They also believe in Ded Moroz (Grandfather Frost) who brings fun trinkets to the children. On Christmas Eve, some individuals fast until they see the first star in the sky. They then eat a dish called Kutia ( a porridge with honey, poppy seeds, and fruit). They also eat Borch, vegetable pies, wheat dishes, and salads. There are a total of twelve dishes. In the end, they drink boiled water with honey and fruit. After, they go to a midnight service at church and do not wash dishes from their Christmas Eve meal until 3 or 4 am. On Christmas day, they eat roast beef and eat things like gingerbread and fruit pies for dessert.

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These are just some of the fun traditions different people celebrate around the world. Although some are different, a common theme between all is that they all spend time with other people! With that said, be sure to spend Christmas with the people you love most! Happy Holidays!

Source for Feature Image: https://www.primarybeginnings.com/blog/christmas-traditions-around-the-world

Sources:

  • https://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/russia.shtml

A Spoiler-Free Digest On Spider-Man: No Way Home

Daniyal Sait
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Approaching the one-week mark since its release, Spider-Man: No Way Home has already made its mark on the film industry. By breaking records within hours and reaching an audience far beyond the MCU’s pre-existing fans, the film is already thriving and even being seen as a historical cinematic event. Considering the success of previous films by Marvel Studios, such as Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Endgame, you can leave it to Marvel to produce a film with such immense and almost instantaneous recognition. The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is so vast and diverse, with millions of fans, that the insane amount of hype associated with their films even years prior to their release is not a surprise. If you ask me, Spider-Man: No Way Home has not only lived up to, but also surpassed the hype. And if you haven’t seen the movie yet, don’t worry – this article provides a spoiler-free outline on the film’s background in addition to some impressively mind-blowing box office stats.

Spider-Man: No Way Home is the eighth major live-action Spider-Man film based on Stan Lee’s comics. This latest installment is the third starring Tom Holland as Spider-Man/Peter Parker, following Spider-Man: Homecoming and Spider-Man: Far From Home, in that order. Tom Holland has also appeared as the same character in Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. This series of Spider-Man movies also features Zendaya as MJ and Jacob Batalon as Ned alongside Tom Holland. As shown in the image above, Dr. Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) is also making an appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home. This new era of Spider-Man movies is growing increasingly popular with the current generation, and this effect has been amplified by the final movie in the Homecoming Trilogy. While it is the final of this trilogy, Marvel and Sony reportedly have more Tom Holland Spider-Man movies in the works, so there is much to look forward to for the MCU fanbase. Below is a complete list in chronological order of all Spider-Man movies released to date, including those without Tom Holland.

  • Spider-Man (2002)
  • Spider-Man 2 (2004)
  • Spider-Man 3 (2007)
  • The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
  • The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)
  • Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
  • Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
  • Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
  • Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

The first three listed have a separate storyline and star Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man. The next two also have a separate storyline and star Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is an animated film in which the main Spider-Man’s alter ego is Miles Morales, not Peter Parker; this film, as of yet, is a standalone movie. And as mentioned above, the other three are also separate and star Tom Holland. However, since those three were released after the agreement between Disney, Marvel Studios, and Sony to share the film rights to Spider-Man, they are integrated into the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. As a result, there are surrounding storylines that would be helpful to know before diving in. Strictly looking at the MCU films directly associated with Spider-Man, the optimal viewing order would be as follows.

  • Captain America: Civil War
  • Spider-Man: Homecoming
  • Avengers: Infinity War
  • Avengers: Endgame
  • Spider-Man: Far From Home
  • Spider-Man: No Way Home

Evidently, there is an abundance of Spider-Man content when looking at all productions. If you’re thinking about watching the Spider-Man films and getting into the whole craze, you’re in for a ride.

In general, the film industry has taken a hit during the pandemic. While streaming services may be finding success, less people are physically going to movie theatres, which hurts their box office earnings significantly. Which is why the turnout for Spider-Man: No Way Home is so marvelous. Forget COVID numbers, the immediate outcome for this film was great even by normal standards. Potentially, it could be that people had been deprived of the experience for so long that this was a perfect opportunity to return to the theatre. However, like I said, these statistics do not need to be held under the light (or rather the darkness) of the pandemic – they are pretty amazing either way.

2nd Largest Domestic Opening Weekend Ever

No movie released during COVID has hit the $100 Million mark on their opening weekend. Spider-Man: No Way Home reached $260 Million on their opening weekend, the second most in history – only behind Avengers: Endgame ($357 Million).

3rd Largest Global Debut In History

Spider-Man: No Way Home’s overall global debut reached $600 Million, only behind Avengers: Endgame ($1.2 Billion) and Avengers: Infinity War ($640 Million). In addition, this latest Spider-Man film has yet to release in China, which accounted for a significant part of the other two’s successful debuts.

Most Successful Opening In The Spider-Man Franchise’s History

The second best was Spider-Man 3 with $151 Million in 2007. It seems like the anticipation leading up to the final movies of their respective trilogies does great things for box office earnings. Keep it up, movies #1 and #2.

2nd Best Opening Day Ever

Even during COVID, Spider-Man: No Way Home’s opening day was better than the opening weekends of Spider-Man Homecoming and Spider-Man: Far From Home. Just like all the other stats mentioned, Spider-Man: No Way Home’s single day earning of $121 Million is a pandemic-best. By now, you can guess who is number one all-time with $157 Million: Avengers: Endgame.

Those are just some of the mind-boggling stats accomplished by Spider-Man: No Way Home. The film also has the best opening in Sony Pictures history, the highest December opening (despite the month being popular for blockbuster films), and the list goes on. But perhaps what is even more impressive is that the only films to have ever done better in those categories are also Marvel Studios productions. And if you look further down the list to 3rd or 4th, the next best is often a Star Wars film, which like Marvel, is also owned by Disney. To further illustrate Marvel’s dominance, here are the top five theatrical debuts during the entire COVID-era, beginning in March 2020.

  1. Spider-Man: No Way Home – Marvel
  2. Venom: Let There Be Carnage – Marvel
  3. Black Widow – Marvel
  4. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings – Marvel
  5. The Eternals – Marvel

In terms of the box office, this film in addition to Marvel as a whole has been greatly successful. During the same weeks in which the Omicron variant has negatively impacted the sports world, the film industry has prospered due to Spider-Man: No Way Home. This film will probably go down as one of the most iconic movies of its time, and we’re lucky to be witnessing history as it happens.

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America’s Strangest Olympic Marathon

youthareawesome
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The very first American Olympics marked itself for its distinction. However, rather than being groundbreaking, this Olympic event was simply bizarre. 

August 30th, 1904, Francis Olympic Field

Held during the 1904 World Fair, this marathon was not the spotlight at the event. Primarily due to poor management and planning, this marathon established its reputation due to it’s chaotic events. 

While most marathons start in the morning before the sun fully rises, the officials fired the starting gun at 3:03 pm, the peak of American summer heat. Marking the first marathon in America, this was 40 kilometers of running, mostly on dusty off road paths. The officials drove in vehicles in front and behind of the runners, amplifying that dust. 

The first person to reach the finish line, Fred Lorz, a bricklayer, had suffered cramps near the first half of the race. He dropped out and was carried back to the stadium, claiming first place as a joke. He was promptly banned from competing again from this, though they vetoed that decision later on. 

The actual gold medalist, the professional clown Thomas Hicks nearly passed out from exhaustion. Thankfully however, his trainers fed him a concoction of rat poison, raw egg, and brandy to push him that extra 16 kilometers. By push I mean, his trainers had to physically carry this man over the finish line due to his injured stupor. Hicks lost 8 pounds over the course of the race. 

Thomas Hicks supported by his trainers

Felix Carvajal was the fourth place finisher, a postman who lost all of his money gambling before the race, and thus had to run in street clothes. He arrived at the last minute, without having eaten anything for 40 hours. He constantly stopped for broken-English banter with spectators, stole a couple peaches from some others, and midway he stopped at an off-road orchard to eat some apples. These turned out to be rotten however, and so Carvajal took a nap, yet still claimed fourth. 

Felix Carvajal running

Len Taunyane claimed ninth place, despite being chased over 1.5 kilometers off course due to wild dogs. Most believed he would have placed higher however. 

Results and Management

Overall only 14 runners actually completed the race. Many suffered extreme injuries due to the mass amount of dust and also dehydration. The Head of Physical Culture Department (but not Pixar protagonist), James Sullivan, decided to test one of his theories, that athletes should not drink water while running. In the dust. In 30°C weather. Despite having the slowest running times, and worst ratio of finishers to entrants, Sullivan still published a book based on his findings. Perhaps it was hubris, yet he ignored the empirical data before him to claim that water was not beneficial. Maybe he would have advocated for rat poison as a hydrating substitute. 

Sullivan, also an avid white supremacist, claimed racial superiority stating that white men were clearly better at running. The event was pretty much only made up of white men though. 

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Homemade Gingerbread Latte

Yuri Choi
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With Christmas fast approaching, it’s important to get into holiday spirit. What better way than to warm up by the fireplace with a cozy, steaming mug of gingerbread latte? Gingerbread latte is a classic Christmas time favourite, and for good reason too. The perfect blend of sweet and spicy– what could you want more? Well, instead of buying an overpriced, sugar loaded drink, why don’t you try making your own gingerbread latte at home the next time the craving hits? Not only is it cheaper and healthier, but you won’t have to go out into the freezing cold to buy yourself one! This gingerbread latte recipe is super easy to make, and is also made with simple pantry ingredients many have access to at home. To make it even more of an experience, turn on some Christmas carols, plug in the twinkle lights, grab a family member, and get your holiday spirit on!

Recipe

Serves 2

Ingredients

  • 1 ¾ cups milk
  • 1 cup coffee (can be hot or cooled)
  • 1 t cinnamon
  • ½ t ground ginger
  • ⅛ t ground nutmeg
  • ½ t vanilla extract
  • 1 T molasses
  • 2 T maple syrup

Instructions

  1. Add the milk, coffee, spices, vanilla, molasses, and maple syrup to a blender and blend until combined.
  2. Transfer mixture to saucepan, and set over medium heat. Be careful to watch closely, as it will boil very suddenly.
  3. Once heated to desired temperature, divide into two mugs.
  4. Garnish with whipped cream, extra cinnamon, gingerbread cookie crumbles, or whatever you desire and enjoy.

Sources [1][2]

Four Russian Authors: Book Recommendations

David Shao
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There’s something characteristic about Russian literature that I love. I can’t fully describe it. But I feel it has a lot to do with the nation’s complex history and—in my mind, at least—some stereotyped notion of its culture.

Regardless, there are four authors I want to highlight here. They have produced some of the most classic pieces of Russian literature, and hopefully, there will be something that piques your curiosity here as well.

Leo Tolstoy

Tolstoy’s works are go-to examples of nineteenth-century Russian literature today: iconic of the aristocracy in Imperial Russia, of a certain grandeur. This makes sense: Tolstoy, after all, was a count, and his writing reflects this milieu.

War and Peace

War and Peace, an utter behemoth of a work, recounts the lives of several Russian aristocrats in the period leading up to, during, and after Napoleon’s invasion of Russia in 1812. It is rich with military history—though not entirely accurate at times—and romantic subplots. Depending on what you prefer, though, either the “war” and history parts or the “peace” parts will seem boring. (On a related note, I skipped the second epilogue entirely.)

Anna Karenina describes a realist’s picture of love and adultery, filled with difficult moments, not quite as long as War and Peace but still notably lengthy, considered one of the greatest novels of the nineteenth century.

Fyodor Dostoevsky

Dostoevsky is well-regarded because of his incisive dives into the human condition, set against the backdrop of a politically and socially tense nineteenth-century Russia.

The only work of his I’ve had the pleasure of reading (so far!) is Crime and Punishment. This is a novel that draws out empathy for a murderer, the pained details of a protagonist whose psychological state deteriorates as his mind conflicts against his morals. There is a philosophical—and at the end, religious—undertone to the novel: at first, one about murder and utilitarianism. This, however, transitions to a commentary on crime and penance and what punishment truly means.

Also look at The Brothers Karamazov, The Idiot, and many others. I’m under the belief that you won’t go wrong with any Dostoevsky works—they are all said to be expressions of literary bravura.

Mikhail Bulgakov

Bulgakov’s most prominent work, The Master and Margarita, is spectacular. Writing in the 1930s, during the height of Stalin’s reign in the Soviet Union, The Master and Margarita is a daring satire on Moscow’s elite, a flamboyant tribute to art, a story about the Devil, a giant cat, and several other equally strange characters, a reinvention of the stories of Faust and—perhaps curiously—Pontius Pilate.

This work is filled with humour and absurdity and bound to make its reader laugh. I would highly recommend it.

The Master and Margarita: Bulgakov, Mikhail: 9780679760801: Books - Amazon.ca

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

I was first introduced to Solzhenitsyn through one of his non-fiction works, The Gulag Archipelago. This is a book describing life within the forced labour camps—Gulags—of the Soviet Union with uncompromising detail. Solzhenitsyn is famed for this writing, which was compiled through both first-hand experience in Gulags and other sources. And through it, he revealed to a global audience horrifying details of several repressive systems in the USSR.

Excerpt from One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich | Penguin Random House Canada

However, the work that people most commonly recommend, and one that I’ve found equally fascinating, is an earlier work. One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich is a novel following an ordinary prisoner in a Gulag. The writing at times is terse and abrupt—factual. Make-no-mistake-this-is-what-happened. Meanwhile, a certain mundane nature persists.

It’s a fundamentally political and social commentary, much like most of these works. To read it is to experience a fragment of history, and that’s worthwhile.

Image Sources: 1/2/3/4

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Good Deeds to do in the Holiday Season

Samarah Kanji
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The holidays, or any time of year really, are the perfect time to help others. It is a great way of giving back to the community and you can spread smiles on people’s faces. Doing good deeds are also good for your mental health. They clear your head and help you see things from a new perspective having an overall positive effect on your mental health. Here are just some out of many ways to give back to the community

Donate to the Food Bank:

With the holidays approaching, there are so many exciting things going on! Lights are everywhere, festive activities are taking place, school is out, and there are delicious dishes to eat! Depending on what you and your family partake in during this time of year, whether you celebrate something at this time of year or not, it is worth donating to the food bank if you can. Many people have lost their jobs due to the pandemic making it difficult to put food on the table. To see what the food bank needs most, you can log onto the food bank website and see what you can donate! Whether your donation is big or small, this small act will be bound to make someone happy!

Donate Warm Clothing:

If you have warm winter gear that is too small, or you want to get rid of consider dropping off some winter clothes to donating centers. With El Niño occurring in Calgary this year, it is necessary to bundle up in warm clothing to avoid freezing. There are quite a few people that do not have the necessities needed to survive the harsh, Canadian winters. With that said, there are many places to donate warm clothing in Calgary including Coats for Calgary, the Drop-In center, Project Warmth, and many others. From my experience volunteering with Youth Central at the Drop-In Center, an observation that was made was that people donate more women’s clothing than men’s. Regardless; however, a donation is a donation and can help people stay safe and keep warm and cozy.

Donate Toys and Books:

With the holidays approaching, consider giving away some old toys you have lying around. Many children look forward to the satisfying feeling of ripping open some wrapping paper to find a brand new toy to play with! Along with toys, books also make a perfect donation as people can get lost in the realm of a good story! Regardless, if you have old toys you do not need anymore, this could be the perfect gift to younger children who may not be able to have any gifts around this time of year! Places you can donate toys are the Women in Need Society, Calgary Firefighters Toy Association, the Salvation Army, and Value Village. Donating toys can help make someone else’s childhood memorable!

These are just a few ways to give back. You can also donate money or time to a cause you are passionate about. For example, I am passionate about mental health and finding a cure for Alzheimer’s. Volunteering is a great way to help others and you can meet new people! Overall, whatever you choose, you will be making a difference for someone else!

Sources: 1/2/3

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