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A Blast From The Past

Daniyal Sait
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Time flies over us, but leaves its shadow behind.

– Nathaniel Hawthorne

With time passing so quickly, let’s take a look at the 80s in comparison to the present day. One way that time leaves its shadow is through pop culture, and it can be fun to see how various industries have changed over the years. Without further ado, here are some head-to-head comparisons from the 80s to now, in movies, music, and sports.

Movies

Information gathered from Film Site

Rankings based on box-office earnings

Highest grossing movie by year in the 1980s:

1980: Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back

1981: Raiders of the Lost Ark

1982: E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial

1983: Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi

1984: Ghostbusters

1985: Back to the Future

1986: Top Gun

1987: Three Men and a Baby

1988: Rain Man

1989: Batman

Highest grossing movie by year since 2010:

2010: Toy Story 3

2011: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2

2012: Marvel’s The Avengers

2013: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

2014: American Sniper

2015: Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens

2016: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

2017: Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi

2018: Black Panther

2019: Avengers: Endgame

2020: Bad Boys for Life

While some things never change, such as Star Wars’ popularity, there are some differences between the two groups of movies. Many movies from the 1980s are originals. On the contrary, every single movie listed in the second batch is based off of something – all Harry Potter and Hunger Games movies are based on their respective book series, all Marvel movies are based on the comics, American Sniper is based on an autobiography, and Toy Story 3, all Star Wars movies of the 2010s, and Bad Boys for Life are based on prior movies from their franchises. Some may see this as a sign that we are running out of ideas. However, I believe that it is just a great example of the idea, ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’. This idea is very consistent in the entertainment industry, and almost always leads to success. It is the reason why so many reboots are coming out, and it goes to show just how good the originals were. These movies entertained countless people decades ago, and they still continue to do so today.

Music

Information gathered from Billboard

Top 15 from Billboard Hot 100 (1980s):

  1. “Physical” – Olivia Newton-John
  2. “Endless Love” – Diana Ross and Lionel Richie
  3. “Bette Davis Eyes” – Kim Carnes
  4. “Every Breath You Take” – The Police
  5. “Say, Say, Say” – Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson
  6. “Eye of the Tiger” – Survivor
  7. “Flashdance…What a Feeling” – Irene Cara
  8. “Ebony and Ivory” – Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder
  9. “Waiting for a Girl Like You” – Foreigner
  10. “I Love Rock ‘N Roll” – Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
  11. “Call Me” – Blondie
  12. “Another One Bites the Dust” – Queen
  13. “Centerfold” – J. Geils Band
  14. “Lady” – Kenny Rogers
  15. “Billie Jean” – Michael Jackson

Top 15 from Billboard Hot 100 (Week of August 14th, 2021):

  1. “Stay” – The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber
  2. “Good 4 U” – Olivia Rodrigo
  3. “Levitating” – Dua Lipa feat. DaBaby
  4. “Butter” – BTS
  5. “Bad Habits” – Ed Sheeran
  6. “Kiss Me More” – Doja Cat feat. SZA
  7. “Industry Baby” – Lil Nas X & Jack Harlow
  8. “Montero” (Call Me By Your Name) – Lil Nas X
  9. “Deja Vu” – Olivia Rodrigo
  10. “Save Your Tears” – The Weeknd & Ariana Grande
  11. “Happier Than Ever” – Billie Eilish
  12. “Leave The Door Open” – Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak)
  13. “Peaches” – Justin Bieber feat. Daniel Caesar & Giveon
  14. “Skate” – Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak)
  15. “Fancy Like” – Walker Hayes

In comparison to film, the music industry has drastically changed. Over the years, new and different genres of music have become popular. If you listen to music from the 80s in comparison to current hits, they will sound very different.

Sports

Information gathered from NHL.com and NBA.com

Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy* Winners of the 1980s:

*The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded to the most valuable player of the playoffs.

1980: New York Islanders – Conn Smythe Trophy Winner: Bryan Trottier

1981: New York Islanders – Conn Smythe Trophy Winner: Butch Goring

1982: New York Islanders – Conn Smythe Trophy Winner: Mike Bossy

1983: New York Islanders – Conn Smythe Trophy Winner: Billy Smith

1984: Edmonton Oilers – Conn Smythe Trophy Winner: Mark Messier

1985: Edmonton Oilers – Conn Smythe Trophy Winner: Wayne Gretzky

1986: Montreal Canadiens – Conn Smythe Trophy Winner: Patrick Roy

1987: Edmonton Oilers – Conn Smythe Trophy Winner: N/A

1988: Edmonton Oilers – Conn Smythe Trophy Winner: Wayne Gretzky

1989: Calgary Flames – Conn Smythe Trophy Winner: Al MacInnis

Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy Winners since 2010:

2010: Chicago Blackhawks – Conn Smythe Trophy Winner: Jonathan Toews

2011: Boston Bruins – Conn Smythe Trophy Winner: Tim Thomas

2012: Los Angeles Kings – Conn Smythe Trophy Winner: Jonathan Quick

2013: Chicago Blackhawks – Conn Smythe Trophy Winner: Patrick Kane

2014: Los Angeles Kings – Conn Smythe Trophy Winner: Justin Williams

2015: Chicago Blackhawks – Conn Smythe Trophy Winner: Duncan Keith

2016: Pittsburgh Penguins – Conn Smythe Trophy Winner: Sidney Crosby

2017: Pittsburgh Penguins – Conn Smythe Trophy Winner: Sidney Crosby

2018: Washington Capitals – Conn Smythe Trophy Winner: Alex Ovechkin

2019: St. Louis Blues – Conn Smythe Trophy Winner: Ryan O’Reilly

2020: Tampa Bay Lightning – Conn Smythe Trophy Winner: Victor Hedman

2021: Tampa Bay Lightning  – Conn Smythe Trophy Winner: Andrei Vasilevskiy

NBA Champions and Finals MVP Winners of the 1980s:

1980: Los Angeles Lakers – Finals MVP: Magic Johnson

1981: Boston Celtics – Finals MVP: Cedric Maxwell

1982: Los Angeles Lakers – Finals MVP: Magic Johnson

1983: Philadelphia 76ers – Finals MVP: Moses Malone

1984: Boston Celtics – Finals MVP: Larry Bird

1985: Los Angeles Lakers – Finals MVP: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

1986: Boston Celtics – Finals MVP: Larry Bird

1987: Los Angeles Lakers – Finals MVP: Magic Johnson

1988: Los Angeles Lakers – Finals MVP: James Worthy

1989: Detroit Pistons – Finals MVP: Joe Dumars

NBA Champions and Finals MVP Winners since 2010:

2010: Los Angeles Lakers – Finals MVP: Kobe Bryant

2011: Dallas Mavericks – Finals MVP: Dirk Nowitzki

2012: Miami Heat – Finals MVP: LeBron James

2013: Miami Heat – Finals MVP: LeBron James 

2014: San Antonio Spurs – Finals MVP: Kawhi Leonard

2015: Golden State Warriors – Finals MVP: Andre Iguodala

2016: Cleveland Cavaliers – Finals MVP: LeBron James

2017: Golden State Warriors – Finals MVP: Kevin Durant

2018: Golden State Warriors – Finals MVP: Kevin Durant

2019: Toronto Raptors – Finals MVP: Kawhi Leonard

2020: Los Angeles Lakers – Finals MVP: LeBron James

2021: Milwaukee Bucks – Finals MVP: Giannis Antetokounmpo

When it comes to sports, there is a general consistency that is not found elsewhere. Going into each season, you know what to expect as a fan. Pre-season, regular season, playoffs, finals, and the crowning of a champion. Over the decades, that stays the same for the most part. However, the successful and struggling teams are not the same at all. As a team becomes successful, they go through a term of ‘glory days’, in which their core is in their prime years, and the team keeps winning. They are at the top of the food chain, finding immediate success. However, the best teams receive the lowest draft picks. This impairs their ability to build for the future. At the same time, teams at the bottom of the standings are feasting on the best of each draft class, assembling solid teams for years to come. Then, as the winning teams’ superstars exit their prime, and the newly drafted young guns enter their own, the tables are turned. The struggling teams enter their ‘glory days’ and find success, and the winning teams find themselves at the bottom of the food chain. They then receive their set of high draft picks over the course of a few years, and rebuild for the future when they will once again rise to the top. This ongoing cycle is exactly why dynasties occur so frequently – an example of this would be the Chicago Bulls winning 6 championship titles from 1991 to 1998. Because of this cycle, you often see a handful teams winning multiple championships within a few years, and then completely new teams entering the picture. Due to league expansion, modern dynasties are not as extreme – think about the Golden State Warriors winning 3 championship titles from 2015 to 2018 – but a similar pattern has been maintained in sports even several decades later.

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Tips for Athletic Recruitment

Steven Dong
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As a committed volleyball player, athletic recruitment has been on my radar for 4 years. Here are the most valuable tips for playing post-secondary volleyball that I have ever come across. Please note that these tips apply to any sport, not just volleyball.

#1 Do Research

Schools across North America have almost limitless variety. All of the information you seek is online, just a Google search away. And, if there is any info you cannot find, coaches are typically happy to chat over text, email, or phone. Some questions to answer while researching may be: How many players of my current position are on the team? When do they graduate? What is the level of gameplay at this school? Where do I rank among the current players? Do I have any connections with current/past athletes or coaches that I can use to my advantage?

#2 You’re not just there to play

Post-secondary is an invaluable part of your life. Don’t throw away this experience just to play your sport. Ensure you consider campus location, campus size, faculty to student ratio, and whether or not the school offers the academic path that you are looking for. Remember, your athletic career, no matter how successful, will likely not last long financially, so having a good education is crucial to earning a living after playing sports.

#3 Clean up your digital footprint

If coaches do not know you personally, they will be doing some research of their own. They will Google your name and look you up on social media. The last thing you want is to be rejected because of an offensive post you made 2 years ago that you barely remember.

#4 Plan ahead

Start the recruitment process as early as you can. Begin doing research. Gather video clips. Reach out to coaches or schools directly. Take your sport to the highest level you can. Put in extra hours. The earlier the better, 100%.

#5 Be selfish and honest

This is the next 4-5 years of your life. Be as selfish as possible when considering your options. Ask yourself, what do I really want? Similarly, be as realistic as you can. The recruitment process is a time to put your ego aside and see where you truly fit.

That’s all! Remember, this process is undeniably difficult, so try your best to be patient and to persevere. Good luck!

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How to Answer Key Interview Questions

Cindy Lei
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So… you just got invited to interview for a job you really want to get into. If it goes well and you answer the questions confidently, you could sell yourself to the employer as the perfect person for the job. But if you have no idea how to answer, you could lose a huge opportunity. To help you succeed in this key moment, here are some of the most common interview questions and how to answer them:

“Can you tell me about yourself?”

This is usually the first question of an interview. Although it sounds like an opportunity to introduce your personal life, it’s more of a question  about your experience. Answer this question by giving a 2-3 sentence spiel about your previous experience that makes you stand out for the position.

Example answer: My name is xxxx and I am a grade 10 student at XYZ high school. I have 3 years of experience in clothing retail, working as both a cashier and sales associate at SportChek.

“Why are you interested in this position?”

This question is testing how much you know about your employer and your specific position. An outstanding answer shows that you are clearly interested in your employer organization and know a lot about your position. Try to answer this question by pointing out a few things you like about the employer and some previous experience relating to the position.

Example: I volunteered for Youth Central for the past three years and I love the supportive environment here. As a youth who wants to engage in the community, I’m very excited for this opportunity. I have also taken a leadership position in the past as the president of my school’s debate club.

“What is your greatest strength?”

This question gives you a great opportunity to sell yourself to the interviewer. Try to be as detailed and convincing as possible when you’re describing this strength. In other words, describe why your biggest strength is whatever you say it is. Remember to use specific details!

Example: My greatest strength is my skill in writing, and I consistently received outstanding feedback on my creative writing and essays. A few months ago, I received first place in my school’s essay writing contest.

“What is your biggest weakness?”

This is one of the hardest questions to answer. After all, who would want to hire someone with a huge weakness? For this question, try to put a positive spin on your answer by describing how you’re trying to improve your weakness.

Example: My biggest weakness is my procrastination, but I’m trying to procrastinate less by setting alarms to remind myself of upcoming deadlines.

“Do you have any questions for me?”

Usually, you should ask the interviewer to describe the position in some way. If you ask these types of questions, you can show your passion for the position and also get a hint of how well you did in the interview (which is very relieving!) If you see bad hints, however, don’t worry. Sometimes, interviewers get very tired from talking and don’t have the energy to answer enthusiastically despite liking you a lot.

What will the first few days of the job look like?

This question shows that you’re excited to start the job, because you are planning for the job before the interview is over. Your interviewer’s answer can also give you some information. If they start describing the first days in detail, they probably want to hire you and are answering to help you fit in better. However, if they are vague, they probably aren’t very interested and might not see you fitting into the position.

Example answer with good signs: Thanks for asking me! In our first meeting, you will be planning an icebreaker game for about 10 other volunteers. Then, we will start a social media campaign where we will make 15  posts for our Facebook and Instagram accounts.

Example answer with bad signs: Well, you’ll be doing some activities leading other volunteers and some social media stuff as well.

Do you have any tips for me to be successful in this position?

This is one of the best possible questions to ask, because it shows that not only are you planning ahead for the job, but you are also aiming for success. Again, the specificity of the interviewer’s answer can tell you a lot. If you get very detailed advice, it’s usually a good sign. However, if you don’t get a lot of specific pointers, the result might be unfortunate for you.

Example answer with good signs: Great question! I would say it’s important to keep a to-do list to check off as you do your tasks, because we have deadlines every week starting next month. 

Example answer with bad signs: Alright… I think time management is important in the job because it gets really busy.

After they tell you the tips for success, mention that you’ll keep the tips in mind and briefly describe some strategies you will use to incorporate these tips into your work. By doing this, you will connect yourself to an example of success in the position. Whenever the interviewer thinks of success, they will think of you!

Example: Great, I will definitely keep your time management tips in mind! I have an agenda that I already use on a daily basis, so I will make sure to write my checklists on there.

Again, a vague answer doesn’t necessarily mean you did bad on the interview. Interviewers speak with up to dozens of people a day, so they might just be tired from talking so much!

Conclusion

And that’s a  how to answer some of the most important interview questions! Remember, interviewers are not looking for the perfect candidate, because there are no perfect candidates. When you are answering interview questions, all you need to do is show experience, honesty, and a willingness to learn. Good luck!

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Thank you for saying “Thank you”.

Cindy Lei
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Showing your gratitude isn’t a life-consuming chore. It only takes minimal time and effort to say “please”, “thank you”, “I appreciate it”, and “have a nice day”.  However, it’s these seemingly insignificant words that have sparked my gratitude time and time again.

Working for Work’s Sake

Imagine this: you’re doing a project you love: making a presentation, or delivering a speech, or planning an event for a large crowd of people. When you first sit down to plan the project, you’re full of energy. You work for weeks to make your project as perfect as possible. Your audience is very pleased and loves what you’ve done. But they don’t tell you.

When you say “hello”, everyone likes your greeting but they don’t say “hello” back to you.When you’re presenting the project, everyone is excited, happy, and proud of you. But they don’t say they feel that way. When you finish your project, everyone is grateful for what you’ve done-but their gratitude is silent. They never say a single “thank you”.

If nobody says a single word of politeness or gratitude to you, how do you know your audience is grateful? Silence can mean anything. And when we are uncertain, we always assume the worst. After all, who is grateful for someone they won’t openly thank? When we present our efforts but no one says a single word of thanks, we feel as if this effort meant nothing and we are working for work’s sake.

Telling is Believing

A few months ago, I was in a very similar scenario to the one I just described. However, in my case, there were some small differences that completely changed my feelings. Because I struggled in my first few years of high school, I decided to make a presentation on study tips for students and their parents. I worked for about a month making my presentation as clear as possible. Luckily, my audience was very pleased with my presentation, and they made sure I knew it.

How did I know they felt this way? It’s because of a very small difference-my audience was grateful, and they went the extra step to share their gratitude with me. When I said “good evening”, they told me that they were excited to hear what I had to share. When I explained information, they told me that I helped them understand the information better. They smiled and laughed when I made jokes. And when I finished my presentation, nearly every single audience member thanked me. Some of them even stayed after the presentation to talk to me.

Because my audience took the time to tell me how grateful they were, I was able to share this gratitude with them. I had no doubts about my presentation, because their enthusiasm left no room for me to doubt. Even now, months after this presentation, I feel proud of what I did, because I know my efforts completely paid off.

Small Words, Monumental Appreciation

We often think that only grand acts of bravery or sacrifice can be rewarded with appreciation. However, doing something as simple as taking a few seconds to voice your gratitude can completely change someone’s day for the better. Here are my words to show my gratitude for these simple acts of kindness: Thank you for saying “thank you”!

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You and the Online World

David Shao
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Privacy online is becoming a lost ideal. And pretty much everyone who uses the internet is under a gloom of surveillance—one that constantly records and monetizes their data.

It’s no secret that privacy loss occurs all the time on the internet. And in many cases, it goes unnoticed. Users have come to acquiesce to the “privacy policy” of any app or service; the world as a whole, meanwhile, has slowly conceded more and more of our private data—often in the name of convenience or security.

Every single concession, every “I agree” clicked, piles up over time, and the climate of online privacy today is one with extraordinarily limited protection for the average user.

These losses of privacy often mean giving up sensitive, personal information to companies and governments. They involve tracking our behaviour. And they follow us across the internet, collecting bits of data that form a hefty dossier of private details.

Mostly Invisible

Most of the time, however, this goes ignored, even for people who are mindful of its existence.

The information is monetized to show personalized ads or recommend videos. Some of the largest tech corporations in the world, like Google (Alphabet) and Facebook, for instance, are also some of the largest advertising companies in the world. Corporate incentives drive them to know the user as well as they can—because with knowledge comes the power to influence our behaviour.

Yet just as this blends seamlessly into the background of our Google searches and website visits, it also becomes painfully apparent every time a headline appears with the phrase “data breach.”

Sometimes, personal information is just lost because of malicious third parties, who scrape data off large websites like Facebook, with billions of user accounts. Sometimes, hackers manage to leak private details. But at other times, it’s the companies themselves who actively participate in data collection—and with questionable intent.

Why We Should Strive for Privacy

Beyond just the potential for data loss, when personal details fall into the wrong hands, we should strive for stronger privacy protection. People with hostile intent can easily abuse information. We’ve already seen examples, as in the Facebook–Cambridge Analytica scandal, where, without user permission, data was collected to help target political advertising campaigns.

Likewise, in normal use, advertisements can also push us to spend our money in crafted ways. Tailored recommendations, meanwhile, lure us into spending more time scrolling through feeds or watching videos, where companies can show us even more ads.

From Fiction to Reality

Several generations of dystopian fiction authors have warned about the control of information, when governments exert total control over citizens’ lives through continued surveillance and privacy loss.

Nearly a century ago, Yevgeny Zamyatin in We and Aldous Huxley in Brave New World imagined this; Orwell and Bradbury each also created their own worlds of elite government control. Modern authors and screenwriters have similarly followed, each with novel renditions of an all-too-familiar archetype: the totalitarian regime.

In these works, information and privacy loss become central tools to retaining power over people’s everyday lives. Today, however, a growing threat comes not only from the government and their monitoring of individuals but also from corporations incentivized to collect digital user data themselves.

When companies and governments misuse information, they can manipulate individuals’ behaviour with remarkable influence. Just consider how Google, controlling over 90% of search engine market share, can influence the webpages users access just by placing certain pages above or below others. Indeed, allowing a singular party to know too much about far too many people results in a drastic power imbalance. Simply trusting companies to act in people’s general interest is far from enough.

Above all, however, privacy should be a right. It should be a right in that all humans deserve a certain level of privacy, where their actions and information go completely unrecorded and unobserved. Moreover, it should be solely within our right to prevent privacy loss without inconvenience or having to give up our access to certain digital tools.

Onward

It is nevertheless important to recognize that much of the internet is free because of ads. But privacy loss and advertising are not mutually exclusive. New, privacy-oriented models of online advertising are emerging, fuelled by a transparent, open-source rebellion against tech giants. Individuals are becoming increasingly privacy-conscious, and rightly so.

Likewise, governments have taken increasingly strict measures. The EU’s GDPR, for one, has paved a way forward in data usage regulation (and this is the main reason for all the “accept cookies” buttons on websites). Many other countries, including Canada, have followed, realizing the need to update existing digital privacy laws.

However, many of these updates will take time: one proposed law from late last year, Bill C-11, has yet to make its way through Parliament. Other changes, meanwhile, have been further recommended but not taken at present.

Of course, in the online world, taking control of your privacy is important to both you and also the entire online ecosystem. Here are some resources to learn more about the steps you can take:

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A Few Quotes That Are Worth Reading

Daniyal Sait
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In our everyday lives, it is healthy and beneficial to seek guidance. Luckily, the world we live in has no shortage of it. You can turn to family, friends, and other members of your community, but you can also turn to many public figures and even fictional characters. These people include some of the most successful and interesting individuals we know, and they have a lot of wisdom to offer. While you cannot always interact with them directly, quotes are an amazing way for them to offer their thoughts to society. Quotes have the potential to create inspiration, give you a good laugh, or provide something to relate to no matter what the situation. Without further ado, here are a few short, random quotes that I find are helpful to live by.

If we wait until we’re ready, we’ll be waiting for the rest of our lives.

– Lemony Snicket

The first quote is one that can generate a spark within you. It says that the time is now, and that it’s alright to not be completely prepared for whatever life throws at you. The important thing is to keep moving forward and to take advantage of the moment.

In times of crisis, the wise build bridges, while the foolish build barriers.

– King T’Challa/Black Panther

This quote is one of the many great examples of how fictional characters can offer valuable words. In particular, this one speaks about leadership and how to work around problems. It encourages you to find solutions, rather than avoiding the issue. Fictional worlds are incredibly diverse, which is why they are a great source for guidance. For example, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has such a wide variety of heroes and villains; as a result, a leader such as King T’Challa can provide a great quote on leadership.

No alarm clock needed. My passion wakes me up.

– Kyrie Irving

Often, when you come across a motivational quote, the words are instructional. They tell you what to do or how to be. One thing I like about this quote is that Kyrie Irving talks only about how following his dreams has led him to have a unique lifestyle – a lifestyle that allows him to achieve his goals because his passion drives him everyday. Rather than telling us to follow our dreams, he gives us a glimpse into what that looks like, and therefore he indirectly motivates us to seek something that we are passionate about and follow it.

Everyone fails at who they’re supposed to be, Thor. A measure of a person, of a hero, is how well they succeed at being who they are.

– Frigga (Mother of Thor)

The reason why I chose to use a second quote from the MCU is to show how a single fictional world can provide inspiration in different ways due to unique characters. The first quote was by a leader, King T’Challa, and that added value to the quote in a certain way. Frigga is the mother of Thor, and a parental figure such as her can provide wisdom in a completely different way – and that’s what I like about this quote.

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Tips to Expand your Vocabulary

Bhavani Potdar
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Improving my vocabulary has been a goal of mine over the summer – especially since vocabulary is a very important skill that can be useful in all areas of communication. For example, knowing a broader width of vocabulary can help you express your thoughts in a clearer and more succinct manner. So, because of all the benefits of improving your vocabulary, in this blog post, I will be highlighting four tips to improve your vocabulary. 

1. Use a dictionary or thesaurus. 

This is self-explanatory. If you encounter a word that you do not know, use a dictionary to find out its meaning, and make sure to remember it. If you are writing, try to use a thesaurus to find synonyms that make your writing more vivid. However, another tip is to try to read one page of the dictionary or thesaurus a day to see if you can add more words to your vocabulary list. 

2. Read.

Obviously, reading helps you learn new words. But, reading also allows you to see words used in a context, which also helps see how new words are used appropriately. One key tip is to highlight whenever you see a new word, then find its definition, and finally try to figure out what it means in this context; by this exercise, you will be able to actively recall the word. If you are looking at reading books specifically for the purpose of improving your vocabulary, I would recommend “The Meaning of Everything: the Story of the Oxford English Dictionary” and “Word By Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries.” 

3. Play Word Games or “Word of the day” feeds.

Word Games and Word of the Day feeds can help you learn new words in a fun way. Word Games such as scrabble, crosswords puzzles, and boggle can be great ways to expand your vocabulary. Word of the Day feeds, such as the one offered by dictionary.com, can help you learn a new word a day with minimal effort, and over time, increase your vocabulary. To put this into perspective, there are 365 days in a year, so if you put in the time to do the ‘word of the day’ every day, then you will learn 365 words by the end of the year. 

4. Word Books.

Words books are a very convenient way to help build your vocabulary skills. Books like “The Vocabulary Builder Workbook”, “Word Power Made Easy”, or “504 Absolutely Essential Words” are very resourceful books that contain activities and exercises to help you learn new words as well as thoroughly understand the meaning of these words. 

All in all, having a good vocabulary has a plethora of benefits, and these four tips are good excellent ways to expand your vocabulary. In the end, since the English language is really voluminous (there are more than a million total English words, and an estimated 171,146 English words are currently in use), you will probably never run out of words to explore. So, I hope you enjoy your journey in expanding your English vocabulary (or any other language for that matter)!

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A Wonderful Beet Salad

Steven Dong
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A Wonderful Beet Salad

My family and I did not like beets— that is, until this recipe came along. The earthy, sweet, salty, sour and creamy notes of the salad make for a delectable, healthy dish. That it is visually beautiful is another plus! Without further ado, here is my recipe.

Ingredients (For 4 servings)

  1. 4 raw beets (2 red and 2 golden)
  2. 3 oranges
  3. 2 tbsp Fresh herb of choice (tarragon, chive, etc.)
  4. 1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese
  5. 1/2 cup walnut chunks
  6. 3 tbsp olive oil
  7. 3 tbsp orange juice
  8. 1 tbsp white wine vinegar
  9. Salt and Pepper

Procedure:

  1. Cut beets into bite sized pieces. Tip: the red beets stain things very easily, so I suggest cutting the golden ones first so that the cutting board and knife does not get blood red instantly.
  2. Boil beets for 20 minutes, or until slightly tender
  3. Combine the olive oil, orange juice, and vinegar for the dressing.
  4. Peel the oranges and slice into rounds. Arrange on serving plate. (This is a hard step. To avoid peeling and slicing, you could also substitute with mandarin oranges)
  5. Shock boiled beets in ice water, then peel off the skin. Arrange drained, peeled beets onto serving plate.
  6. Dress the beets with goat cheese and walnuts
  7. Garnish with your herb of choice
  8. Before eating, drizzle salad with dressing and season to taste
  9. Enjoy!

 

 

11 Things That I Can’t Stand

Kassidy Thompson
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We all know things that annoy us more than they should. There are some things that I just cannot stand. However, I’m going to be honest, I like talking about things that annoy me.

Bananas.

Yes, bananas. It’s not the taste of the banana that bothers me but its the texture. It reminds me of mashed potatoes, baby food or straight-up dog poo. Whenever a banana somehow finds its way into my mouth, my first reaction is to gag. They’re horrendously gross. Plus, they smell so…..bland.

People who eat with their mouth open

You’re not a cow. Have some decency and stop disrupting everyone with your obnoxiously loud chewing. It isn’t that hard to close your mouth while you eat.

Liars

Liars bother me A LOT. Especially if you have no reason to lie and/or I know that you’re lying. It make you look incredibly silly and sly. Not only that, but people won’t trust you and will have a hard time believing you because you already broke their trust. Most people can’t stand liars.

Copy-cats

The amount of intense rage I feel when someone copies me is indescribable. I get so angry that I feel myself getting warm. I try to calm myself down by saying that their lack of creativity leads them to believe that copying me will help fill that void.

Close talkers

Please take a step back. I understand that you may be interested in our conversation but that doesn’t give you the right to violate my personal space. Our noses don’t have to be touching whenever we have a conversation.

Slow internet

Incredibly annoying. No comment needed.

Slow repliers/People who complain about slow repliers

Whether it may be that you’re busy, or just don’t want to talk to me, communicate that. It’s incredibly annoying having to wait several hours for a reply. Not to be a hypocrite but…. I’m also a slow replier…lol. It does annoy me sometimes when people ask why I leave them on delivered for several hours/days when I’m always online. Sometimes I have things to do, my phone got taken, I don’t feel like answering, I forgot to answer or I just don’t want to talk to you.

Single socks

HOW DOES THIS EVEN HAPPEN? I put two socks into the washing machine and only one comes out???? Is my washing machine eating my socks? Is someone stealing them? Why do I never find the missing sock? So many unanswered questions.

People who constantly ask for food but don’t give you food when you ask

You are in no way obligated to say “yes” every time someone asks you for food. But if you constantly make it a habit to ask for some of mine, I expect you to do the same for me. Don’t be selfish, it’s not like I’m going to eat all of your food. One or two bites won’t kill you.

Strangers who call me “bestie”

I genuinely cannot stand people like this. No. I’m not your bestie. I’ve talked to you once.

People who steal your seat

“Is your name on it?” No, Jessica. No my name isn’t on public property. I’ve sat there everyday for the past 6 months. EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THERE’S AN INVISIBLE SEATING CHART. GO SIT SOMEWHERE ELSE.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*   *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧  ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ :*  *:･ﾟ✧  *:･ﾟ✧✧ ･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ :*    *:･ﾟ✧*: ･ﾟ✧✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*   *:･ﾟ✧*:*: ･ﾟ✧✧･ﾟ:

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Transition to “Normal” Life

Shreya Ivaturi
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It’s undeniable that the infamous COVID-19 has left us all disequilibrated. With uncertainty tainting practically everything around us, it took a while but many of us got used to the “unprecedented/uncertain times”. A roll out of bed to class or work seemed perpetual. But now, the month of July felt like a Band-Aid was ripped off of Calgary. Everything from vaccine distribution, to restrictions being lifted felt surreal. Now, we must relearn how to interact with day to day life because the fast paced world isn’t going to stop for anyone or anything.


From discussions I’ve had with other teenagers and young adults, the unease of interacting with many people at once or even being around large groups of people has exacerbated feelings of restlessness, anxiety, and trauma responses. Things like taking public transport or going to the mall have now become utterly alien to many people. With school starting up this fall, it won’t be easy to cope with these new realities. 


Given these perplexing realities, I wanted to provide 5 simple, brief methods to help you all reduce feelings of anxiety and unease before the “dreaded” 2021-2022 school year beings and “normal life” is in full effect. 

 

1. Meditation 

Setting aside even five minutes of your time a day to meditate can go a long way. It provides both your body and mind with a well deserved break! It can be helpful for relieving stress and anxiety as well!

2. Exercise

Virtually any exercise from simply controlling your breath to going for a run is helpful for anxiety and stress relief.  Your body will thank you later!

3. Schedule

Specifically for the new school year, keeping a proper schedule is a necessity to manage your time and prevent stress overload. Planners, online or physical, are the most practical option!

4. Get a buddy

Whether it is taking transit or going for a shopping trip, try going with a friend or family member if you feel anxious. When you start to feel more comfortable with your surroundings, start reverting back to your positive pre-pandemic routines. 

5. Talk to someone

Expressing your worries verbally or even in a journal forces you to hear them in a different way. This can help you put the situation into perspective rather than blowing it out of proportion. 

 

NOTE: These methods are ones that myself and others I know use but do not rely solely on them. If you are struggling with anxiety, depression, or any other type of mental illness please seek professional help!

 

Check out this website for information on mental health services in Alberta: https://ab.211.ca/how-we-help/helplines/ 

 

I hope you all have had an enjoyable summer break so far! See you next time!

 

Resources:

1/2/3

 

 

Writer’s Block; Poetry

Laiba Nasir
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Writing poetry is like a roller coaster

All is well as the roller coaster begins to build momentum for its uphill climb

It builds and builds,


But sometimes

That roller coaster gets stuck

Losing all momentum and will that it had

 

People get  disappointed as they are  ushered off

Ruining their day

With one bad experience

 

They no longer go on the roller coasters of that amusement park

Fearing disappointment at every turn

Every drop laced with fear on the uncertainty of the ending

 

Eventually, everything ends

And so does the roller coaster

With its heavy huffs as it comes to a stop


For some people, that was the best rollercoaster they’ve ever been on

Some like the works of other parks better

But they all experienced the same situation

 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

But so  is the beauty of the roller coaster

And the beauty of poetry

 

Often times, a poem can come to a standstill

A form of writer’s block in which

Nothing useful gets onto the page

 

Except the occasional tears of not being good at something you love

The writer in question needs to re-build their poem

Re-building the momentum

 

And making the roller coaster satisfying

Without an eventful end to the coaster

No one will want to come back and ride again

 

The rise, the fall, and the end 

Can make or break the experience

Poetry is one of the best things to stem from the human mind

 

We just need to believe in its power

And the power of the writer as they put the pen to paper

As they write your roller coaster into existence

And with it, an experience you can never forget.

 

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Noor Mukadam: A story that left the whole world in shock

Zainab Majid
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South Asia has had decades of abuse against women, but now things are starting to leak out into the world. News channels are reporting misogyny and abuse against women, and people have begun peacefully protesting for equal rights. For anyone who doesn’t know, on July 20, 2021, Noor Mukadam, the daughter of former Pakistani diplomat Shaukat Mukadam, was killed out of revenge and rage. She had refused to marry her killer, Zahir Jaffar, who then beat her and stabbed her, and later beheaded her.

Noor Mukadam was a 27-year-old daughter to Shaukut Mukadam, who was a former Pakistani diplomat in South Korea and Kazakhstan. She was murdered on July 20th, in Islamabad’s F-7/4 sector.

Zahir Jaffar is a citizen of both Pakistan and the United States, and he had been banished from the UK as a result of several rape and abuse charges against him. He was arrested, along with his parents who let the abuse happen, and confessed to the murder on Monday. He is the son of one of Pakistan’s biggest businessmen, and his parents will help release him
because of their high status and power within society.

Jameela Jamil, a British-Pakistani actress, expressed her concern for women following this incident:
“I am disgusted to learn the details of what happened to Noor Mukadam,” she wrote. Jamil added “that this level of violence no longer surprises me considering the ongoing violence against women in Pakistan and India.” She urged “men in the public eye to speak out about this” (The Washington Post).

This being said, abuse towards women is prevalent throughout the world but is more common in South Asia because there aren’t many laws that protect the rights of women or punish rapists or murderers. Although this is the first incident that has been brought to public and international attention, I’m sure there were countless other incidents, some even worse, that have been buried in history. The patriarchy supports male dominance, which gives them the power to materialize and abuse women and children. It isn’t right to say Pakistan is the only country that supports this abuse, but it definitely has become the site for international attention and the beginning of a new era of power and change for women.

To make things clear, I definitely do not think all men make up this vicious population. Lack of education and teachings on how to respect women lead to unfortunate events like this, but that doesn’t mean all men are part of the problem. Some are even voicing their opinions and concerns and fighting in solidarity with people for the things they believe in. 

At times, words can overrule power. That’s why it is important for us to stand up for what’s right by any means, whether that’s by spreading information and facts or protesting. Although it’s not much, it’s a big step toward granting justice to women who became victims of some men’s anger and privilege.

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4

Ocean Acidification

Bhavani Potdar
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I’ve written a fair share of environmental posts, from deforestation to climate change and plastic pollution. But, in this blog post, I wanted to write about another environmental problem, one that is not so ‘well-known’ but is nevertheless very imminent in the world today: The Problem of Ocean Acidification.

What is ocean acidification? How might it impact global biodiversity?

Ocean acidification refers to the decline in the pH of the ocean, caused primarily by uptake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. It can affect many aquatic organisms and negatively impact global biodiversity.

Since the industrial revolution, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has significantly increased. The ocean absorbs approximately 30-40% of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The introduction of carbon dioxide to seawater leads to the formation of carbonic acid (CO2+H2O–>H2CO3) which leads to an increase in the number of free hydrogen ions in the water (as carbonic acid forms bicarbonate and carbonate molecules), which causes an increase in the acidity of the ocean. As the acidity of the ocean increases, it can cause several negative consequences for many organisms.  One of the most serious effects is the overall drop in the number of carbonate ions available (due to an increase in the amount of hydrogen ions in the ocean) which as a result, reduces the amount of calcium carbonate available in oceans. As the amount of calcium carbonate available decreases, organisms with a calcium carbonate skeleton (which includes many important organisms like corals, coccolithophores, snails, and crabs) have trouble maintaining, growing, and repairing their skeletons, which can threaten the existence of these crucial organisms. Even aquatic organisms that do not have calcium carbonate skeletons can face many negative consequences due to increased acidity, such as a drop in metabolic rate, drops in immune responses (hypercapnia), interference with sensory mechanisms, and interference with the construction of body parts like ear bones and balance organisms.

These changes caused by ocean acidification can negatively impact many organisms, threaten the existence of important species (extinction), disturb the marine food chain, and affect the ocean ecosystem as a whole. Since biodiversity is the number and variety of organisms in an ecosystem and is composed of all these interconnected factors in the ecosystem, it can be directly correlated and threatened by these changes happening because of ocean acidification. Geological history proves to us that biodiversity can be vulnerable, by the increased ocean acidity.

In summary, ocean acidification refers to the process in which the acidity of the ocean is being increased, which can affect the ecosystem of the ocean as a whole ( and harm many important aquatic organisms), and all these interconnected factors in the marine ecosystem can threaten the delicate weave of global biodiversity in the world.

How can you as an individual help tackle this problem? (What specifically can you do?)

Ocean acidification is primarily caused due to increasing levels of carbon dioxide on earth, due to human activities. In order to help tackle the problem of ocean acidification, you as an individual, should reduce the amount of carbon dioxide that you create (carbon footprint), and to do this, you could take many steps. One of the things that you could is to help plant trees and plants in your backyard and neighbourhood, which can help clean carbon dioxide pollution from the air. Another thing that you could do is to use, and encourage others to use the car less, and opt for other alternatives like walking, biking, carpooling, or the public transit, which can help reduce the carbon dioxide emissions that is exerted. Another step that you could take would be to reduce, reuse, and recycle, which can help reduce greenhouse emissions (like carbon dioxide) by reducing energy consumption and reducing waste that goes to landfills. Moreover, another step you could take would be to reduce your electrical consumption (by taking actions like remembering to unplug my devices when not in use), which can reduce energy consumption, and as a result reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Furthermore, another step that you could take would be to raise awareness of the huge and important situation of ocean acidification in your family, friends, and community members, to inspire them to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions that they make. Taking these steps will help reduce the carbon dioxide emissions that you make, and inspire others to do the same, which can help reduce carbon dioxide emissions in our world and help tackle the problem of ocean acidification.

Sources 1/2 

Why You Should Read “The Remains of the Day”

David Shao
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England, 1956. An old butler by the name of Stevens sets off alone on a summer holiday.

As he unhurriedly drives through the English countryside, he reflects on his decades of service to Lord Darlington and his wish to serve humanity by serving “a great gentleman.”

Yet now, near the end of his career, Stevens finds himself doubting his late employer and his own dignity as a butler.

Lord Darlington, as Stevens gradually reveals, played a significant role in the politics of the interwar years in England as a Nazi sympathizer. And in the aftermath of the Second World War, Stevens’s conscience remains marred by his own inaction and loyalty.

He finds himself having dedicated the prime of his career to serving Darlington, who was much less of “a great gentleman” than he had supposed.

Yet this is only at the surface of the internal struggle Stevens faces as he recalls his past. To him, “greatness” as a butler meant restraint. Decades later, he has to confront his blind loyalty and restraint, not just as a butler but also as an individual, missing opportunities to find himself and find love.

His unquestioning dedication to this “great gentleman” over the 1930s eventually leaves him with nothing—without dignity, without respectable accomplishments, without love. He chased after an unknown ideal—that was never realized—while dismissing everything else his life had to offer.

And in the present, Stevens sets off on this solitary trip, trying to reconcile himself with his past.

A Character Study

As one of my favourite novels, Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day is a character study in every respect. It gives us a glimpse into a flawed protagonist. It asks us—the readers—to empathize with a character who is distinctly different from ourselves. We’re able to draw meaning from the novel on the significance of those around us and what we pursue.

When I first went through the book, Stevens appeared to be an unapproachable—if not frustrating—protagonist. He is aloof, and his loyalties and values seem inscrutable. However, as he recounts his time at Darlington Hall, Lord Darlington’s country-house estate, the reader slowly understands his vulnerabilities and flaws.

Ishiguro’s storytelling is imbued with descriptiveness at every turn. But it is also dynamic. He gracefully shifts the narration forward and back in time, giving readers a sense of connection to the past and the changing times.

Indeed, as I interpret it, even the title highlights the importance of time: we are left only with the remains of the day unless we cherish present experiences, allowing them to live on as memories.

In the end, Kazuo Ishiguro’s work is moving. It reveals the painful loneliness and self-deception that exists in life, yet it is also spectacularly beautiful. It emphasizes that we should spend our limited time focusing on what is truly important. The novel does so through a character at times distant but at other times inconceivably relatable.

I highly recommend The Remains of the Day to anyone looking for a thought-provoking read.

The Remains of the Day won the Booker Prize for Fiction in 1989. Kazuo Ishiguro won the 2017 Nobel Prize in Literature.

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The Emotional Rollercoaster Of Annotations

Grace Du
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I wanted my summer to be reminiscent of a coming-of-age film, but I made the questionable decision of signing up for English Literature IB. Instead of hangouts and late-night conversations with my friends, I guess I’ll have them with my books. 

Before the first day of classes, I must fully annotate two texts for my summer reading: Perfume by Patrick Süskind and Macbeth by William Shakespeare. I deeply regret not starting earlier and evenly distributing my workload through summer, but I started annotating this week, and it’s beginning to take over my personality. 

Why Do We Annotate?

Annotations are comments and markings added to the text to enhance your overall comprehension. By highlighting, underlining, or writing in the margins, you give your copy of the book an identity distinct from millions of others. Annotating is reacting to a book, which we already do subconsciously. Expressing these often unsaid thoughts can help you gain more from your reading. After reading, I usually remember the plot, some themes, a few powerful quotes, and whether the book was generally well-written or not. However, by personally interacting with the text, I can extract much more than that. I feel like I could discuss the book with others years after reading it.

How To Annotate

All you need to annotate is a pen. Highlighters allow you to colour code, but symbols, such as stars and exclamation marks, will suffice. I advise using post-it notes to revisit plot events with ease, but you genuinely don’t require many resources to annotate.

There are limitless possibilities of what you can annotate. Here are a few:

  1. Unfamiliar words; write the definitions directly into the text
  2. Characterization and character development; what is revealed about the personality and motivations of the characters? How do these change?
  3. Literary devices and their effects; symbolism, contrasts, figurative language, irony, imagery, repetition, foreshadowing, e.t.c
  4. Style; diction (word choice), sentence structure

Fill the margins and write in between the lines. Ask questions, summarize, draw inferences, comment whenever you have an epiphany, make predictions, and form connections to the real world. Annotating depends on the individual, so feel free to create a legend tailored to your liking. 

Is Annotating Worth It?

Since I have to annotate for school, I feel insecure about the quality of my annotations. It feels significantly less personal because my teacher will grade my comments based on how insightful they are, which I find subjective. Other times, I want to see the story unfurl, and annotating hinders my enjoyment of the book. I read over a section first, and then I go back to annotate. When you manufacture your reactions, doesn’t that defeat the purpose? This all makes for a time-consuming process.

I think annotations are an excellent concept. I’m engaging more when I’m reading, and I might even try annotating young adult fiction one day. However, annotations should never detract from your appreciation of literature.

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