Youth Are Awesome, commonly referred to as YAA, is a blog written by youth for youth.
YAA provides the youth of Calgary a place to amplify their voices and perspectives on what is happening around them.
Youth Are Awesome is a program of Youth Central.
Any views or opinions expressed on this blog belong solely to the author and do not represent those of people or organizations that the blog may be associated with, unless explicitly stated. All content is for informational purposes only.
If you have watched the youtuber nigahiga, you may have witnessed him and his friends playing Fakin’ It. This is a game mode that can be found on the Jackbox 3. If you are unaware of what Jackbox Games is, to sum up, it is a series of video games designed to be played at parties or group events. Typically, the game modes consist of trivia style questions, fill-in-the-blank questions similar to Cards Against Humanity, truth or dare, or would you rather options. I have recently had the opportunity to experience playing Jackbox with my friends. Let me say, I had a blast and would recommend every individual should have a chance to play Jack box. I’d say that playing this game literally made me and my friends laugh for hours while also getting us to be more comfortable with how weird each other is. Unfortunately, if you thought this was a free online game it is not. However, it is available on platforms like Steam, xBox 1, Playstation 4 and many more. You also have the ability to choose from five different game packages. Additionally, mobile devices, laptops, tablets or controllers can be used to participate in playing Jackbox. If you do buy purchase this game you will discover that most of the game modes have a maximum capacity of 8 players. People are still able to join as they will become members of the audience. Depending on the mode, the audience becomes one large team making it harder for indiviudal players to win.More information can be found here
The following are the available Jackbox Packages and their contents:
You Don’t Know Jack (2015) (1-4 players)
Comedy trivia game
Drawful (3-8 players)
A whacky and bizarre drawing game
Word Spud (2-8 players)
Fill-in-the-blank word game
Lie Swatter (1-100)
Whacky and fact-filled mode
Fibbage XL (2-8 players)
A hilarious bluffing game
Quiplash Xl (3-8 players)
Fill-in-the-blanks with gut-busting prompts
Fibbage 2 (2-8 players)
A bluffing game with 500 new questions that are different from the ones found in Fibbage 1
Earwax (3-8 players)
Creating or matching sounds to convey an odd phrase or experience
Bidiots (3-6 players)
Auction game where players vote on each other’s drawings
Bomb corp. (1-4 players)
Players must defuse random bombs in order to remain in the game
Quiplash (3-8 players)
A sequel Quiplash with new questions
Trivia Murder Party (1-8 players)
A deadly trivia game show
Guesspinoage (2-8 players)
Brain – battering guessing game
Tee K.O. (3-8 players)
Players create hilarious t-shirts and vote on the best creation
Fakin’ It (3-6 players)
One player must fake it till they make it (win)
Fibbage 3 (2-8 players)
A sequel with a new mode where you guess weird facts about your friends
Survive the Internet (3-8 players)
Twisting your friend’s fake online comments in hysterical ways
Monster Seeking Monster (3-7 players)
Messaging and dating monsters with special powers (date-a-thon)
Bracketeering (3-16 players)
An odd debate where players place smart bets on stupid arguments
Civic Doodle (3-8 players)
Competing with other players to improve a town mural
You Don’t Know Jack 2 (1-8 players)
Sequel; pop-culture trivia mash-up with some new surprises
Split the Room (3-8 players)
Split the opinions of players by creating odd and divisive hypothetical situations
Mad Verse City (3-8 players)
Roast your opponent in a robot rap battle
Patently Stupid (3-8 players)
Drawing game where individuals draw odd inventions in order to solve the bizarre problem prompt
Zeeple Dome (1-6 players)
A deadly game show where players try to win the most money
A wise man once said “Start-stop saying I wish and start saying I will” this quote shows how a dream without a goal is just a wish. In a world where failure is inevitable, there is always a way to reach your aims. The future takes many steps to create success, from doing your homework, to running a marathon. The world doesn’t last forever, live every day as it is your last.
– 7 Ways to Reach Your Goals –
1. Be Passionate
One of the most important attributes to reach your goal is being passionate. If you’re passionate about your goals or dreams, you will have the determination to do more. Passion leads to success, from working hard to being resolute. Albert Einstein once stated, “You only fail when you stop trying” where he ultimately revealed how by having the passion, the drive, you will be able to overcome your failures and losses. This is a fundamental skill; it enables you to conquer your challenges. In a world where one will always fail before they succeed, there is always a way to reach your aims. The future takes many steps to create success, from doing your homework, to running a marathon. The world doesn’t last forever, live every day as it is your last. Be passionate in your actions and you are bound to accomplish any goal.
2. Embrace Failure
Everyone has losses, but one thing is certain you can always come back from your defeats. Many people give up after failing an exam but by embracing failure you let yourself strive for success. You will never reach your goals, without failure, you discover more from your failures than your success. Failure helps you take the necessary steps to your goal. Everyone makes errors, even Einstein made mistakes, but the most important thing is to learn from them. In your life, you will make mistakes, but failures don’t have to be fatal, by learning and working harder you can learn from your mistakes.
3. Get Assistance
You may believe that you are on your own, but a little bit of aid can get you closer to your goals. Have you heard the saying, two heads are better than one? This demonstrates how by getting support on your journey you can achieve objectives that would have been impossible alone. Many goals require assistance, one of the most common pieces of assistance is teachers. Many of your professors or teachers will be a great asset in achieving your goals. The first step in coming closer to your aims is getting a tiny bit of guidance, it could be your educator or it could even be electronic. One of the greatest assets that most people don’t see is the internet, the internet is packed with knowledge. Many of the inventions we have today wouldn’t be possible without assistance, even Galileo had help to create the theories we have today. Don’t be afraid of asking for help, no great task could ever have been accomplished if people were afraid to get some guidance.
4. Be Proactive
A key step in reaching your goals is being proactive. Many people have heard of the word proactive, but don’t entirely comprehend the full meaning. Being proactive is facing the obstacle before it happens, or causing something to occur rather than responding to it after it has occurred. Many people don’t understand this, though it happens everywhere. Being proactive will assist you to attain your aims, and overcome the steps to the objective. Having this attribute is not easy to obtain, but you can take the required actions to get to be proactive.
Steps to Becoming Proactive –
Problem Solve – An valuable skill in being proactive, is obtaining the skill of overcoming your challenges.
Participate – Proactive people are not observers, but are engaged participants. In order to be proactive, you must take initiative and get involved.
Prioritize – Planning your objectives, can easily lead you to obtain the attribute.
5. Balance Time
Often people are overwhelmed my their goals and contribute too much time trying to achieve them. This is a common misconception on how to reach your goals. Getting to your objective doesn’t just happen overnight it will take time but putting other elements at risk for your goal is not worth it. For instance, maybe you want to pursue medicine, that doesn’t imply you don’t try in Language Arts. A significant amount of people don’t see the worth of planning and ultimately can’t time manage. Time management is an essential skill to learn, to attain your goals.
6. Visualize the End Result
The benefits of seeing the result are endless if you can see the possibilities and your potential for greatness. Audrey Hepburn once said “Nothing is impossible, the word itself is I’m Possible”, this woman believed in visualization. Numerous objectives may seem impossible at first, winning the Nobel prize, running a marathon but once you see the result, your goal is in your reach. Visualization enables your creative strategies to obtain your objective, and it provokes your brain to analyze the resources required to reach your objective. Lastly, looking at the result, it creates a feeling in yourself to achieve it. The only thing stopping you from reaching your goals is yourself, your future is in your hands.
7. Set Short Term Goals
Long-term goals may seem impossible at first. But by breaking the long-term goals into multiple short-term goals, the things that appeared impossible start looking easy. An important step in reaching your goals is creating more goals. Instead of taking an impossible jump, walk to your goal. Steven Hawkins didn’t become one of the worlds greatest theorist by thinking about the future, he focused on the present. He built his way up to success, as you should. The world may seem impossible but that a closer look!
With Black Friday around the corner, most of us are probably thinking of one of life’s greatest joys: shopping. However, as students, we’re often limited to our allowances from our parents. This makes shopping difficult when we’re alone: we’re not really capable of affording good quality clothing. So, many of us turn to fast-fashion: it’s cute, and cheap. Such brands, like H&M, Urban Planet, Bluenotes, Garage, Forever 21 etc. have extremely low prices, and trendy, appealing styles. However, they also lack something that I really value: quality. After a couple washes, most of these $5 shirts end up pilled and wrinkled.
Finding clothes that are both cute, cheap and good quality is difficult: many times, it’s a stroke of luck. Usually, they’re hugely discounted items leftover at the back of the shop. When you’re seeking these hidden gems, strategy is key: you have to know where, and when to look.
When to Shop
1. Shop at the end of the season
End of season clearouts are the best times to score deals at any clothing stores. This is when the leftovers from the previous season are put on discount to “clear out,” in order to make room for the new stuff from the new season. Just make sure to arrive early, especially if its a largely-advertised sale.
These end-of-season clear outs typically occur around the same times each year: mid-March for the winter season, early June for the spring season, early September for the summer season, and the end-of-year Boxing Day/New Year’s period for the fall season. Although many items discounted will be clothes that may not perfectly suit the weather of the moment, if you find a piece that you love, you can find time to wear it, even if it means next year.
2. Take advantage of shopping holidays such as Boxing Day, Black Friday
Although sales like these are hugely advertised, and the discounts do usually run pretty low, this is not always the best time to shop because a) there are way too many people at the malls, which makes the shopping stressful, and b) the discounts advertised are usually available year-round. However, that doesn’t mean it’s not a great time to score some good deals. Just make sure to arrive at the mall early on that day. Or, consider shopping online to skip the crowds.
3. Take a peek at the clearance rack
Typically, stores will have a clearance rack at the back of the shop. Here, even at the most high-end stores, you can count on finding some pretty steep discounts on last season’s styles. This is where you’ll find obscure, outdated, unpopular, or unusual sized pieces from the store. However, these are also the best places to browse: these messier racks often hide unique (and cheaper) items that others just happened to miss.
Next: Places to Shop
One piece of advice I’ve found to be extremely useful: shop where you would’t normally think to shop. Most times, you’ll end up finding a piece that you like. Reason is, other people with similar tastes wouldn’t think to shop there either, so the good stuff is left there all for you.
The Bay is a Canadian department store, selling everything from clothes, to furniture, to household appliances. Although it’s not the first place you’d think of for shopping for people our age, The Bay has got an amazing range of styles from high-end to low-end designer, and many of the brands there carry trendier, more modern styles. It also has some pretty decent deals most of the time, especially around their clearance section. Among the (usually messy) racks, typically located in the middle of the walkways, you can find clearance items from any price range. Most of the time the racks are labelled “up to 70% off,” but the highest discounts I’ve seen is 90% off. Despite the higher original prices at this store, with such steep discounts, you can easily find shirts, pants, dresses, and skirts for $10-$20.
One sale to watch for: Bay Days – these sales are advertised as “the lowest price of the season.” Although the magnitude of the discounts themselves are similar to those year-round, during Bay Days, you can get an additional 15%-20% off your purchase. As well, the clearance racks will be pretty loaded around this time, so you have lots more variety pick through. However, make sure to arrive early; coming on the last day of the sale usually means you’re picking through the leftovers of other people’s hauls.
As well, discounts are available year round! You just have to have the patience to pick through the racks. However, shopping at the end of each fashion season (and not during an advertised sale, like Bay Days) is most likely to land you with an easy, no stress super-steal.
Simon’s is another Canadian department store, organized much like the Bay. They too carry a variety of items, and a variety of designer brands. Similarly to the Bay, they carry lots of different styles, so although they have the appearance of a store for middle-aged people, they also do carry trendier, more youthful styles. As well, they also offer some pretty steep discounts in some corners of the store. Look for clearance signs at each brand’s section, especially at the end of the season; I’ve found clothes up to 85% off (final cost of $10-$20).
Winner’s is a Canadian off-price department store, already known for their low prices, that functions a bit like an outlet. They offer many designer brands, but at discounted costs. Again, it may seems like a shop for middle-aged people, but upon closer inspection you’ll find many, many trendy pieces. As well, much of the time, these styles get discounted, because the middle-aged people who do shop at Winner’s don’t think to buy them. Although the prices at Winner’s are never high, during end of season, they too have clearance events where you can score discounts on the already-discounted items. Fair warning, the racks during these times are messy, and if you want to find the best items possible, you likely need to go through racks that aren’t meant to have your size.
Website (they do not offer online shopping, but have a list of stores): https://www.winners.ca/
4. Thrift stores/Consignment stores
As the saying goes, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” Thrift and consignment stores are the classic way to get cheap clothes. And, with “vintage” being a trend right now, they are becoming an increasingly popular place to shop, even for those who can afford to shop at boutiques. Again, at these second-hand shops, you have to go through the racks (which will take a while) individually, but if you’ve got a bit of spare time, you can easily find vintage, designer brand items for fast-fashion prices. As an added bonus, wearing second-hand clothing is not only easy on the wallet, but also good for the environment, since you’re keeping clothing that would otherwise be thrown out out of the landfill.
Some thrift/consignment stores in Calgary include: Value Village (3 locations), SalvEdge Boutique (2 locations), but many more exist.
5. Online Shops
Online shopping is by far the easiest way to score discounted clothing. Although there are many, many cheap and trendy online shops (ie. FashionNova, YesStyle), if you’re looking for quality, it’s best to stick with reputable brands. Online shops often have lower price points and greater variety than physical stores, because they a) do not have to invest money on furniture, decor, or displays, and b) are not limited by store space. Therefore, even with the same brand, the online version of the store will probably have better deals, and more options. Take advantage of end-of-season clearouts, and check for sales often (you can subscribe to a brand’s email newsletter if you especially love their styles). With due diligence online, you’ll likely find some obscure, heavily discounted item that fits you perfectly.
There are also many brands that operate online only, and many times, these brands will offer steep discounts on your first purchase (to draw you in). However, before you buy anything online, check the legitimacy and reputability of the website. Some good-quality but affordable online-only clothing shops that I’ve had good experiences with include Missguided and Fabletics.
As well, don’t forget to look up any coupon codes that may be available! They can sometimes add an extra 15-20% off your purchase without any effort at all. Honey is a useful Chrome extension that automatically finds and applies coupon codes at checkout for you, just in case there may be a code you don’t know of.
All in all, if you’re looking for quality clothes on a budget, you have to shop smart: get on those clearance events/seasons, keep an eye out for sales (especially on the brands you love), and shop at stores you wouldn’t normally think to shop. Shopping is one of life’s greatest joys! Making the most of your money, shopping smart, and finding what you’re looking for while having fun makes it a satisfying and wholly positive experience every time.
A city I’ve never been to feels like home to me It’s the best feeling ever known to me I can hear the trumpets calling me As I lay at 3 am falling asleep Street musicians under warm lampposts Seem like cheerful welcoming hosts Oh how the blues Awaken my soul in different hues In the French Quarter, My life now in pleasant order Colours of yellow and orange and red swirl in my mind Leaving the despair of winter greys behind Let the jazz clubs revive the childhood dreams of life as a Broadway musical None of this I’ve actually seen,
Only things I’ve dreamed of One day I’ll wake up to these dreams In the City of New Orleans
It’s almost Christmas time, the most awaited festival of the year. From the gifts to the decorations, Christmas makes us feel rejuvenated after a long semester of hard work. Along with spending time with family and friends, the music is arguably the best part. Here are the top 10 songs that must make it on to everyone’s playlist this Christmas:
10. Santa Tell Me
by Ariana Grande
“Santa tell me if you’re really there Don’t make me fall in love again If he won’t be here next year Santa tell me if he really cares ‘Cause I can give it all away if he won’t be here next year”
9. Last Christmas
by: WHAM
“Last Christmas, I gave you my heart But the very next day you gave it away This year, to save me from tears I’ll give it to someone special”
8. Mistletoe
by: Justin Bieber
“It’s the most beautiful time of the year Lights fill the streets, spreadin’ so much cheer I should be playin’ in the winter snow, but I’ma be under the mistletoe I don’t wanna miss out on the holiday, but I can’t stop starin’ at your face I should be playin’ in the winter snow, but I’ma be under the mistletoe”
7. Santa Claus is Coming to Town
by: The Carpenters
“You better watch out, you better not cry Better not pout, I’m telling you why Santa Claus is comin’ to town He’s making a list and checking it twice Gonna find out who’s naughty and nice Santa Claus is comin’ to town”
6. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
by: Sam Smith
“Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Let your heart be light
From now on your troubles will be out of sight”
5. That’s Christmas To Me
by: Pentatonix
“Hang all the mistletoe I’m gonna get to know you better, This Christmas And as we trim the tree How much fun it’s gonna be together, This Christmas”
4. Wonderful Christmas Time
by: Paul McCartney
“The mood is right, the spirit’s up
We’re here tonight and that’s enough
Simply having a wonderful Christmas time
Simply having a wonderful Christmas time”
3. Jingle Bell Rock
from: Glee
“Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells swing and jingle bells ring
Snowing and blowing up bushels of fun
Now the jingle hop has begun”
2. Do They Know It’s Christmas
by: Band Aid 30
“It’s Christmas time, and there’s no need to be afraid
At Christmas time, we let in light and banish shade
And in our world of plenty, we can spread a smile of joy”
And In First Place, The Classic: All I Want For Christmas Is You
by: Maria Carey
“I don’t want a lot for Christmas There is just one thing I need And I don’t care about the presents Underneath the Christmas tree”
We hope you enjoyed this list. Have a Merry Christmas this year!
When it comes to demonstrating proficiency in the French language as someone who is not French, the DELF is an official qualification that does just that.
DELF stands for Diplôme d’Études en Langue Française, or Diploma in French Language Studies. It can be used to enhance your resume, give you an advantage for postsecondary studies, and recognize your achievements in the study of French.
The DELF is made up of four independent diplomas that each indicate a certain level. Candidates can choose the level that they register for. For basic users, the DELF A1 and A2 are available. For independent users, the DELF B1 and B2 are available.
The exam assesses four aspects of language: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Each part is out of 25 points, and at least 5 points must be obtained in each section. To get the diploma, an overall mark of 50 out of 100 is required.
There are different versions available: one aimed at adults, one aimed at children in elementary school, one aimed at preadolescents and adolescents, one for schools, and one aimed at people seeking employment in French-speaking workplaces. The first four do not indicate the version on the diploma, but the last one indicates that it is the “professional option”. The DELF exams for children and adolescents are created with the same model as the DELF for adults, but the topics are more relevant to the age group.
The DELF is valid everywhere and for life. It is recognized internationally, and it never expires.
When I don’t have anything to do, I usually just Google “movies that give you the feels” and find a list to pick a movie from. After years of reading lists and watching those feel good movies, I have decided to make a list of my own. So, on that note, here is my list of my top 5 feel good movies!
5. The Intern
I first watched this movie about a year ago and it instantly became one of my all time favourites. The Intern tells the story of business owner, Jules Ostin, who meets widower Ben Whittaker. Their relationship starts out as a business relationship when Ben signs up as an intern, but ultimately blossoms into an unlikely friendship. From the heart warming story to the effortless acting, this movie will take anyone through a roller coaster of emotions with characters you will learn to love.
4. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty follows the story of Walter Mitty, an average man with some wild daydreams. He works a job that it seems will lead to nothing, but a missing photo takes him on the journey of a lifetime. I first watched this movie in my English 20 class and I have to say that it did not disappoint. Watching this film has made me question if I had been making the most out of my life, and it pushes me to do so. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty tells a wonderful story with a great message that anyone can take from.
3. The Proposal
Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock are two of my favourite actors, so naturally, their movie The Proposal made it’s way into my list of top movies. The reason I say this movie is so great is because of how meaningful but funny it is at the same time. I won’t go into too much detail because it is hard to do so without spoiling too much of the plot, but The Proposal tells the story of Margaret Tate, a Canadian at risk of deportation, who lies about being engaged to Andrew Paxton, her assistant. From there, things just get crazier. Regardless, this is a must watch for anyone looking for a light rom-com.
2. Eddie the Eagle
Eddie the Eagle is on my list for a couple of reasons. The biggest reason is because of how inspirational it is. It tells the story of aspiring ski jumper Eddie Edwards who, against all odds, makes his way into the 1988 Calgary Olympic games. Every actor in this movie was amazing, but Hugh Jackman really stole the show. This movie really shows how far determination and a little bit of faith can go.
1. Begin Again
This is, without a doubt, my all time favourite movie of all time. From the acting to the story all the way to the soundtrack, there was nothing that I disliked about this movie. Begin Again tells the inspiring story of a New York music producer who has hit rock bottom and feels that there is nothing left in his life. However, everything changes when he meets Greta, a girl stuck in a similar in a similar situation. I cannot continue writing about the movie without spoiling part of it, but if you are a person who loves a heartwarming story filled with good music, Begin Again is definitely a movie you should consider watching.
That concludes my top 5 list of feel good movies. If you are ever bored and want to watch a good movie you should definitely consider one on this list.
Dogs are amazing creatures full of energy and joy. I am so grateful that I have a dog. Today, I thought you should enjoy some cute, funny, and scary moments I have captured of my dog.
Some facts about Ellie:
She is a Boxer (a breed of dog that originates in Germany)
Ellie is born October 25, 2015
She is 3 years old
She enjoys sleeping, barking, and begging for food.
As you can see in these photos she really loves sleeping. Sometimes she sleeps in the sunlight (left photo) or sometimes she likes to steal your napping spot (right photo).
How can anyone get mad at her cute face! Ellie is so adorable.
She either is smiling or shines her puppy dog eyes.
However, Ellie can be terrifying too. If you wake her up at night she’ll bark angrily and her eyes will glow. Okay, her eyes will only glow if you take a picture of her with flash. But, hey, I would also be mad if anyone disturbed me while I was sleeping.
Officially as of November 19, 2018, the Bank of Canada issued a new vertical $10 banknote. It might take a while to see them due to circulation, but they look like this:
The new bill, alongside being the first vertical banknote in Canada, is equipped with enhanced features that make it harder to counterfeit. There is a colour-shifting eagle feather that changes from gold to green. The Library of Parliament’s vaulted dome ceiling, maple leaves, and Canada’s flag and coat of arms are detailed metallic images in and around the large transparent window. As well, the whole note is a single piece of smooth polymer with transparent areas. One major improvement of the note is that its distinct purple colour and high-contrast numerals act as accessibility features for Canadians who are partially sighted.
The new $10 bill features social justice icon Viola Desmond, honoured as the first Canadian woman to appear on a banknote.
Viola Desmond, in 1946, took a stand for equality and justice in Canada at a segregated Nova Scotia movie theatre. The movie she went to see was The Dark Mirror, a psychological thriller starring Olivia de Havilland. Ms. Desmond was at a segregated theatre, the Roseland, and the floor seats were for whites only, while black patrons were confined to the balcony. Ms. Desmond needed a better view as she was short-sighted, so she tried to buy a floor seat, but was of course refused. She then bought a balcony seat but ended up sitting in the floor area. The theatre staff called the police and she spent 12 hours in jail. The balcony seats cost one cent cheaper than the floor seats. Nevertheless, Viola Desmond was charged and convicted of tax evasion. She did not have a lawyer and was fined $26.
The back of the banknote contains many symbols that represent Viola’s legacy. The eagle feather represents the ongoing journey towards recognizing and acknowledging human rights for Indigenous peoples in Canada. As well, there is an excerpt from the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and lastly, a pattern of laurel leaves which is an ancient form of justice.
Why vertical? Well, the Bank says they wanted to make room for a larger picture of Viola Desmond. They also said that since vending machines accept bills vertically and many people place money in their wallets vertically as well, the graphic design firm decided to make the bills vertical. However, not many are happy with this. A commenter on a HuffPost post said, “…It looks like a piece out of a colouring book or a magazine.”
The Bank of Canada’s new approach to issuing bank notes is that instead of changing all five notes in one go, one note will be changed every couple of years. This will allow the Bank to integrate the latest security features quicker.
Viola Desmond may have died in 1965 without any acknowledgment of racial discrimination in her trial, however, in 2010 she was granted pardon. She is now free and walks among us as an example of our past and our future.
After three visits to the stunning Central Library during the two weeks that it has been open, I am in awe. From the remarkable architectural design right in central Calgary to the way it has been fully utilized, I have no doubt the Central Library will be place of learning and connection in the coming months and years. It will be a space where people of all ages, backgrounds, languages, affiliations and beliefs will come together to build community. The first time I stepped into that building, just a couple days after the opening, I saw young children eagerly playing with books and reading stories in the Early Learning Centre, students intently studying by the spectacular artwork piece, The FISH, and old friends chatting over a coffee at Luke’s Cafe .
The FISH artwork by Christian Moeller
I was lucky enough to catch a tour and it was neat that as we were going along, patrons of the library heard the voice of our kind and knowledgeable guide, and tagged along. By the end, our group had almost tripled from 15 to 40 people in size. I immediately fell in love with the circular, wooden TD Great Reading Room; a delightful, quiet study space which was already packed that I will definitely be using in the future! The next weekend, in the maybe half hour I was there to check out one of the rooms for a meeting and meet a friend, I saw someone I knew every few minutes! It was so cool to see how all of my various connections; friends, family and classmates, were harnessing the space in their own ways.
TD Great Reading Room, Level 4
From a young age, the library has been a huge part of my life. I remember ever Wednesday after school, my parents would take me to the Crowfoot branch, and I would eagerly pick out my seven books, one for each day of the week! When I got home, I would carefully stack my Magic Tree House and Amelia Badelia stories whose crisp pages I couldn’t wait to open. But that’s not where it stops.
As with most immigrants, when my grandparents came to Canada in 1971 they struggled and they didn’t have a lot. Both my parents spent countless afternoons and weekends of their childhood at the public library. It was a place they could get help with their homework while their parents were busy trying to make ends meet. It was a place they could be transported into fictional worlds they never would have imagined. And, it was a place of comfort and safety. All for free. And still to this day, the feeling I get when I walk into a public library is one of solace.
It was also super special to deliver the youth volunteer speech in the magnificent new auditorium to over 300 hundred guests last weekend. I started sharing my passion for literature at the library three years ago when I was in grade seven. Since that time I have volunteered for Reading Buddies, Coding Buddies, 3 Things for Canada Squads, Math Quest, and more. I have had so many beautiful moments as a youth volunteer at the library, but the most rewarding of them all that I shared in my speech that evening occurred when I was volunteering for the English as a Second Language (ESL) program. I love being able to watch those new to this country and this city thrive through the countless opportunities the library has to offer.
As a volunteer I formed such tight connections with the participants and by the end of the two-month period, all of them had improved significantly and were speaking English much more comfortably. In fact, when I went back to the library a few weeks later to start my new program, one of the participants from my pervious ESL program was now back as a volunteer. She told me she had been inspired by the work of other volunteers and wanted to give back herself. This warmed my heart.
In a time where hatred and division seem to be a mighty forces and where half-truths and lies are often presented for self-serving purposes, I believe libraries are of ultimate significance. Not only because the art of picking up and reading a book seems to be fading, but also because the art of acquiring knowledge and understanding seems to be fading. Through literature and stories, we are able to absorb the world around us, but also gain awareness about each other and discover ourselves. Libraries create, thoughtful, critical, reflective, individuals – something that our world so direly needs right now.
I have come to realize, that so much of who my family and I are is due to the public library. I am privileged to be giving back to this particular organization, especially as I am able to help other youth find their potential. And it is my sincere hope, that for years to come, the public Library will continue to serve the community of Calgary as a beacon of light.
By 2035, climate change will reach a point of no return. Unless immediate, monumental action is taken, 2035 will literally be the beginning of the end. These number are optimistic, as science sides with caution. That mean we have 17 or less years of living without food shortage, economic collapse, unliveable environments, and inevitably, extinction. Ice melt and sea-level rise, which has been dominating the climate change news, is barely scratching the surface. Fleeing the coastline from soon to be underwater cities won’t be nearly enough to save the human race. By the end of this century, within a teenagers lifetime, much of the Earth will be completely unliveable or impossibly undesirable.
The seed bank “Doomsday”
It is, I promise, worse than you think.
In February 2008, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault opened in Norway. Ironically nicknamed “Doomsday,” it was flooded 10 years later when a string of warm days melted permafrost in the North Pole. The only thing more ironic than “Doomsday” being flooded, is permafrost melting. Permafrost hasn’t been a climate concern because the name, “permanent-frost,” suggests it won’t melt. This melting only adds to global warming in a positive feedback loop. Lakes are already bubbling with trapped greenhouse gases as the permafrost melts and seeps into the bodies of water. Bubbling to the surface is methane, a greenhouse gas 34 times more powerful than carbon dioxide. As temperatures rise, Arctic ice melts. This ice contains 1.8 trillion tons of carbon, twice as much that is suspended in the atmosphere, causing the temperatures to rise even more, melting more ice. Global warming since 1998, has been moving twice as fast than originally predicted. This May in Antartica, a crack in an ice-shelf grew 11 miles in six days. It is now in open water. A trillion-ton piece of ice is now the largest iceberg… ever.
The ice-berg is the size of Delaware, and this crack was predicted to occur much later than it actually did
When it comes to climate change, we aren’t nearly imaginative enough. We have barely grasped the consequences of our actions. A potential reason is timidness in science. The extreme editing of scientific research has caused scientists to not effectively express how dire the threat of global warming is. For some reason, we believe that climate change will always effect elsewhere. However, the more frequent and intense hurricanes in America are proving that global warming will completely change everyone’s way of life. Within a century, we could lose Miami and Bangladesh, even if we stop burning fossil fuels in a decade. We are reaching the point of no return. These aren’t predictions anymore, this is our path. At one point, global warming by two degrees was considered the point of disaster, where millions of climate refugees would be released. N0w, it is our goal in the Paris climate accord. Yet, we still have slim odds of hitting it. The U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issues serial reports that we will hit four degrees of warming by the beginning of the next century on our current path. However, the upper end of the probability curve reaches eight, and the authors still haven’t figured out how to deal with the permafrost melt.
The Earth has experienced 5 mass extinctions (other than the one we are experiencing now). All but one were caused by climate change from greenhouse gases. The extinction of the dinosaurs, which had a relatively low death toll, was the only extinction caused by asteroids. 252 million years ago, the Earth rose 5 degrees. At that time, the oceans were hundreds of feet higher, and 97% of life on Earth was killed by methane gas released in the Arctic.
97% of life on Earth was destroyed at end-Permian from climate change
We are adding carbon to the atmosphere 10 times faster than the extinction 252 million years ago. Experts in the field have reached an alarming conclusion… no amount of emission reduction alone can fix climate change. We are reaching a new era, and it is defined by human intervention
This information is shocking, but the true panic comes from the main 7 predicted aftermath effects. Firstly, with extreme heat, much of the Earth will become unliveable for humans. As warm-blooded mammals, survival requires constant temperature control. We achieve this through sweating and other somatic systems. This also means the air must be cool enough to draw heat off the body. At 7 degrees of warming, this would become impossible at many areas around the equator, where heat is amplified due to humidity. Moving around at 41 degrees celsius would be lethal, effectively cooking the body inside and out. Within a few hours, moving outside would cook us to death! Skeptics argue that the climate has warmed and cooled before, but this rate of warming is unheard of, and the temperature window of human life is extremely narrow. At 11 or 12 degrees of warming, half of the worlds population as currently distributed would die because of heat alone. We have already reached a point of extreme heat stress. Since 1980, the planet has 50 times more areas with extreme heat and temperatures. In the sugarcane region of El Salvador, one-fifth of the population has chronic kidney disease, and with expensive dialysis, those with kidney failure have a life expectancy of 5 years; without dialysis, they have a few weeks.
Secondly, global warming won’t just bring heat death, it will bring aggressive and constant famine. The areas that have ideal temperatures for growing will soon become to hot. However, the areas north and south aren’t fit for farmland. They may soon have the ideal temperature, but they are often hilly and rocky and lack of vegetation means the soil isn’t fertile to sustain growth. Constant cycles of death and regrowth causes the formation of nutrient rich topsoil fit for the farming capacity we require today. Forming topsoil however, takes centuries. The basic rule of cereal crops is that for every degree increase, yield declines by 10%. Some predictions are as high as 15% and 17%, meaning we may have 50% more people to feed with 50% less grain at the end of the century. Not even to mention the unsustainable diet we all have. North American’s have extremely meat heavy diets, and it takes 16 calories of grain to produce just one calorie of beef. There is no possible way we could sustain our population, let alone a population that isn’t completely vegan or at least vegetarian. Soon, Northern Canada and Russia will be at peak temperature to grow cereal crops, but our soil is nowhere near fertile enough to grow food for a global population. Drought might be an even bigger problem. Predictions for this century are essentially unanimous: unprecedented droughts will appear nearly everywhere that crops are currently grown. By 2080, without permanent emission reductions, Europe will be in an extreme and permanent drought much worse than the American Dust Bowl. The same will be true in much of the Middle East, densely populated areas of Australia, Africa, and South America, and the breadbasket areas of China. America would experience worse drought than in the 1930’s, as predicted by a 2015 NASA study. They also predicted it would be the worst drought in thousands of years, even worse than in the 1100’s and 1300’s when the rivers East of the Nevada mountains dried up, which most likely caused the extinction of the Anasazi civilization. Today’s experts estimate that 800 million are undernourished. This is relatively good, but the U.N. has estimated that this year, separate famines in Yemen, Somalia, Nigeria, and South Sudan will kill 20 million alone.
Droughts brought by modern climate change are predicted to be much worse than the devastating Dust Bowl or Dirty Thirties
Further, ice carries a record of Earth’s history. Air bubbles in Arctic ice carries information of the climate. Not only will the melting of this ice-release carbon from ancient air, it will also release air-born illnesses. Currently, there are diseases, trapped in Arctic ice, that haven’t circulated Earth for millions of years, in some cases, before human were even able to experience it. Alaskan researchers have already discovered remnants of a 1918 flu that killed 100 million people, infecting 400 million more. Although many organisms won’t be able to survive the thawing process, already a boy has been killed and 20 others were infected by anthrax that was exposed on a reindeer carcass after permafrost retreated. The bacteria killed the reindeer over 75 years ago. As well, as tropical temperatures creep farther from the equator, so will diseases. Areas unaffected by malaria due to cold winters, will soon have the number one killer in their backyard yearlong.
Mosquitoes are the deadliest animals in the world due to their ability to carry the malaria virus
That’s still not all. Eventually, even the air will become unbreathable. By 2100, carbon dioxide in the air will reach a concentration of 1000 parts per million. It is already at 400. At that concentration, human function will decline by 21% due to the lack of oxygen. Increased warming also relates to ground-level ozone forming in our atmosphere. By 2090, the National Centre for Atmospheric Research concluded that 2 billion people will be living in areas above the World Health Organization’s “safe” air quality level. Among increased asthma diagnosis and other respiratory disease magnification, ozone inhaled by pregnant mothers has been shown to increase risk of autism, which mirrors the autism epidemic in polluted West Hollywood. Over 10 000 people die each year from particles emitted from burning fossil fuels. Over 300 000 die from wildfire smoke, which is particularly concerning as global warming has exacerbated the effects and length of wildfire season in much of America and around the globe. These fires continue to add to global warming as stored carbon is released, and they are no longer able to recycle carbon dioxide into oxygen. There is fear that the Amazon will soon dry out enough to be susceptible to forest fire. The Amazon alone supplies 20% of the world’s oxygen. In 2013, melting ice caused weather in Asia to completely change. Once the natural filtration system was demolished, northern China became completely unbreathable. Literally. The air quality index measures the 301 to 500 range as warning of
Serious risk of respiratory effects.
At that level,
Everyone should avoid all outdoor exertion.
China reached 800. Smog was the cause of a third of all deaths in the country that year.
Crop failure and resulting economic disputes among other factors have caused scientists to predict that for every half a degree of warming, there will be 10-20 percent increase in armed conflicts. Syria’s drought that caused their civil war was due to climate change. One cannot conclude that the war was caused by climate change, as Lebanon, a neighbouring country, experienced the same crop failure. Climate science isn’t simple as it stretches into all aspects of our life. Although one can’t predict climate change’s direct relationship to conflict, the arithmetic suggests that within 5 years, our planet will have half as many wars as we do today, and by the end of the century, social conflict could double. With over 65 million people displaced and wandering the planet right now, migration will put a strain on our current systems. The connection between conflict and climate is tricky. It partly has to do with agriculture and economics. Immigration also plays a large role. One things for certain, crime rates will rise and violence will be magnified by our current course of action.
Migration has already been on the rise with increasing populations and current conflict; global warming and resulting violence will only exacerbate these figures
A growing number of historians studying “fossil capitalism” are beginning to even suggest that the swift economic growth that began in the 18th century is not due to innovation and inventions. Rather, it simply began when we discovered fossil fuels. Perhaps, a onetime injection of value to an otherwise stagnant economy. Before fossil fuels, no one lived better than their parents before them 500 years down the line. Except for the immediate survivors of epidemics like the Black Plague who benefited economically from resources liberated through mass casualty. After we’ve burnt all the fossil fuels, some suggest that we will return to a steady global economy. Not only will that drastically change our way of life, but that onetime injection comes with a devastating cost: climate change. Other research suggests that for each degree of warming, global warming cost 1.2 percent of GDP, which is huge considering growth in the low single digits is considered “strong.” This a result of changes in agriculture, weather, increased violence, and loss of labour. At the higher end of the curve, there is a 12 percent chance that global output will be reduced by 50 percent by 2100. There is a 51 percent chance that it lowers by 20 percent or more by then. The Great Recession lowered GDP by 6 percent by comparison. It’s hard to comprehend, but imagine an economy half as big, with half the value, producing half the jobs we have now, and half the products. It’s frustrating and impossible to fathom the idea of postponing government action and waiting for technology to solve the problem when it is such a terrible business model.
The sea has been a major cause for concern regarding climate change. Rightfully so, without radical action we’ll see 4 to 10 feet increase in sea levels. A third of the world’s major cities are on the cost. Not to mention the millions of people living there, these cities also contain major energy sources, fisheries, navy bases, and farmland. Even those above 10 feet will flood much more intensely and readily once the water gets that high. At least 600 million people live within 10 meters of sea level today. That’s just the start. A third of the world’s carbon is stored in the ocean. This carbon sink is the reason we haven’t been warming at a faster rate than we are right now. However, as carbon mixes with water it creates forms of calcium carbonates, which causes pH levels to decline through a process called ocean acidification. On it’s own, this process may add a half degree of warming. This acidification is destroying the various environments that caused life to arise in the first place. Coral bleaching (or more accurately “coral dying”) is another casualty of ocean acidification. This is extremely terrible as coral reefs house a quarter of marine life and supply food to half a billion people. Ocean acidity will also harm fish directly. It’s hard to predict that effect on humans, but experts are certain that oysters and mussels will struggle to grow their shell. When human blood drops in pH as far as the ocean has, the results are seizures, comas, and death. Further, ocean acidification causes vicious dead zones in a positive feedback loop where bodies of water drastically lose dissolved oxygen concentration. In the Gulf of Mexico these dead zones are already created. The “Skeleton Coast,” which was originally given that name due to whale detritus, is bubbling with hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide is so toxic our noses are evolutionary trained to recognize it for survival. It was also the gas that killed 97% of life on Earth. During that time, the dead zones in the ocean spread, killing off marine life that dominated the oceans. The gas then went into the atmosphere, killing everything on land, even plants. It took millions of years to recover.
Coral bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef
So what now? Soon natural disasters will be called weather. Maybe no amount of fossil fuel reduction will help. Some scientists believe that climate change is the answer to Fermi’s paradox,
If the universe is so big, then why haven’t we encountered any other intelligent life in it?
The answer suggested is that civilizations life span is only a few thousand years. For industrial civilizations, maybe only a few hundred.
In a universe that is many billions of years old, with star systems separated as much by time as by space, civilizations might emerge and develop and burn themselves up simply too fast to ever find one another.
Peter Ward, a charismatic palaeontologist among those who discovered mass extinctions were caused by greenhouse gases, calls this the “Great Filter.”
Civilizations rise, but there’s an environmental filter that causes them to die off again and disappear fairly quickly. If you look at planet Earth, the filtering we’ve had in the past has been in these mass extinctions.
Our extinction is only just beginning. Yet, scientists are optimist about human ingenuity. They point to the 1980’s when we successfully patched the hole in the ozone layer. We created our deadline, and surely we can avoid or doomsday.
Your may be asking: what do I do? The truth is, we all know what to do. As voters and consumers we have real power to start change. Supporting environmentally friendly companies, buying products with less packaging, recycling, composting, driving less, having less food waste, turning off the lights and the taps… all of these are simple things that matter. We live comfortably. Our comfort may kill us.
One thing that can’t be emphasized enough is believe this. Believe the facts. Don’t get caught up in insignificant disputes over the proper way to handle climate change. Handle it and encourage your government to do the same; vote and take action. Show your elected official that this is important to you. The facts are clear. Yes, the Earth’s climate is prone to change, but not like this. It is without a doubt our fault, and we must speak the truth and take action. Maybe we’ll all have a future, 17 years down the road.
I hope this scared you. That sounds absolutely horrible I know, but I’m at a bit at a loss. Frankly, this scares the hell out of me. I feel like I have this constant deadline hanging over my head, which I kind of do (all be it a gruesome one). Yet, it motivated me. I’ve been far more conscious of the way my personal consumerism impacts the environment. I’ve ben wasting and buying less all together. I truly hope this will do the same for you. As individuals, all we can really do is use our power as voters and consumers and hope that others and our government stand with us. It can often feel like our vote is insignificant, but a storm is made from only tiny droplets. I encourage you now or when you’re old enough, to make sustainability a priority as a voter. Make your elected officials listen to you. Email them, phone them, talk to them in person. Do whatever you can to make your voice heard because it is your duty as a citizen and as a steward of the Earth. As a consumer, put your money where your mouth is. Issues you care about, climate change or not, should be reflected in your purchases. That way, you encourage companies to be better and improve. We hold unimaginable power. On thing I can’t stress enough is believe science. Believe these facts that have been well known and agreed upon since the early 2000’s. Solving this problem will come with a cost, but nothing compared to the cost of leaving it be. Human innovation has solved a lot of problems in the past. Disease, poverty, and more have been solved with the human mind. We have our solutions, and we have the facts; all we need is as individuals and governments to put these sometimes drastic solutions into action. We are all accountable for what becomes of our Earth. Unfortunately, stewardship has become divisive and partisan. It shouldn’t be political to care about our future. One frightening aspect of global warming is the magnification of pre-existing problems. With increased immigration, poverty, lack of jobs, and dangerous communities, violence will spike. These problems, which have been historically felt unproportionately by minorities, will be exacerbated. If you think that this is just a simple problem of saving some fish, you are and will literally be, dead wrong. This is a socio-economic monster that will completely destroy our quality of life and magnify our pre-existing problems. So, be scared! And please, get to work… save your future.
Over this past week, I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with and getting to know the newest blogger of the month: Shayan! Since joining Youth Are Awesome just this year, he’s contributed a number of posts that have all been very well written and informative.
Currently in grade 11 and attending Webber Academy, Shayan seems to have a lot of ideas to share with the world. When asked about his aspirations for the future, he talked about how he would like to become a lawyer, one who is successful enough to make changes and impact his community. Shayan also says he finds inspiration to write from his own passion of spreading his opinion. When asked what writing means to him, Shayan says,
“Writing has been a hallmark of civilization for millennia, so I see it fit that anyone who cares about their community should be well versed in writing, or at least reading.”
With an eager passion to make a difference in his community, Shayan says that even with an infinite amount of money, he would start charities, create trust funds, and also invest into AIDS research. Shayan is well versed in current events and has written about pressing issues in the world in his blog posts.
But other than writing and working every day to make a difference in the world, Shayan also has an array of interests, which include storytelling, books, and movies. His favourite book is 1984 by George Orwell, a classic! (I know this because, unlike Shayan, I was forced to read it in English class.) Shayan is also an avid movie-goer and especially enjoys movies based on true stories, an example being Bohemian Rhapsody.
It was great getting to know Shayan, as he is a refreshing and distinguished personality on the YAA website. Even though the timing was difficult and adjustments had to be made, he was fantastic and cooperative through it all.
To take a look at some of Shayan’s posts, click here!
When we think of superheroes, we usually conjure up images to the likes of Spiderman and Captain America, and a lot of the reason as to why can be attributed to the works of Stan Lee. Stan Lee’s death has affected hundreds of millions of people worldwide, just as his tales of superhuman good-guys had done ever since the first comic book he published got printed in 1941. So what does a man so well accomplished and venerable have to say about life?
Let’s find out!
Top Seven Stan Lee Quotes:
7.
“I wanted them to be diverse. The whole underlying principle of the X-Men was to try to be an anti-bigotry story to show there’s good in every person.”
Stan Lee, born in 1922, has seen his fair share of the dark side of humanity, and unlike many authors, namely the likes of William Golding and his cadre of like-minded individuals, Stan Lee decided to spread the message of love and goodness through his work. This is from a man who has seen a heated World War, and a bitter Cold War. A man who has seen The Civil Rights movement, and the Vietnam War.
6.
“I used to be embarrassed because I was just a comic-book writer while other people were building bridges or going on to medical careers. And then I began to realize: entertainment is one of the most important things in people’s lives. Without it, they might go off the deep end. I feel that if you’re able to entertain people, you’re doing a good thing.”
This quote illustrates the nature of Stan Lee’s personality. Many today associate goodness with the actions that have very concrete and physical results, however helping people through tough times is seldom thought of to the same respect as building a new building is.
5.
“The more you read, the better you’re going to become as a storyteller.”
This quote deserves its spot on the list purely because of its sagacious nature. It is also good advice to anyone interested in writing. Reading is slowly becoming a lost media and many youths today are going to the TV screen for their source of interaction with the world outside their window sills.
4.
“A… definition of a hero is someone who is concerned about other people’s well-being and will go out of his or her way to help them—even if there is no chance of a reward. That person who helps others simply because it should or must be done, and because it is the right thing to do, is indeed without a doubt, a real superhero.”
This quote needs its place on the list because of its topical nature. Many individuals today only act out of self-interest, and it’s important to realize that acts of kindness may go a long way to improving one’s day, or even one’s life.
3.
“America is made of different races and different religions, but we’re all co-travellers on the spaceship Earth and must respect and help each other along the way.”
Another topical quote which deserves the third spot on this list. Stan Lee firmly believed that there was no place on this earth for bigotry and hatred of any kind, and his views are becoming ever more important in the 21st century as racial tensions are rising globally.
2.
“Life is never complete without its challenges”
This quote justifies its own place on this list. It is of utmost importance to know that the road to success is littered with bumps and curves and that the only way to go through life is by persevering and accepting the challenges head on!
1.
“You know, my motto is ‘Excelsior.’ That’s an old word that means ‘upward and onward to greater glory.’ It’s on the seal of the state of New York. Keep moving forward, and if it’s time to go, it’s time. Nothing lasts forever.”
This quote deserves its spot on the list because of its timeless nature. Any individual on this planet can connect with this quote, and truly shows the impact of Stan Lee on the modern audience. His positive outlook on life and people is an outlook seldom seen in our time, and thus highlights the importance of his message. It suffices to say that Mr. Stan Lee will be more than missed in the times to come. Excelsior.
I’m the kind of person who really loves cooking and baking, it’s something that I do when I need to calm my brain down. Enjoying cooking and doing it often is really helpful when it comes to feeding myself and my parents. I’ve had loads of my friends tell me that they’re helpless when it comes to cooking. I will admit, having both my parents be chefs is quite helpful, but I can usually manage to follow a basic recipe. I’m not one to use cook books, because I usually find things online. So, I thought, for those who want to cook but don’t really know what recipes to follow or where to look, I’d write down my top 3 food websites, all jam packed with what I think are some pretty good recipes to follow.
#3 Serious Eats
So the Serious Eats website is loaded with recipes and techniques to help people with cooking. The website also has videos and visual aids that don’t quite come in cookbooks. I will admit I don’t use it too too often, but the few times that I have, I have found it wonderfully helpful and easy to follow.
If you’re a vegetarian, it can be sometimes hard (in my opinion) to find recipes that aren’t based around meat, and this blog is full of veggie friendly dishes. It’s run by three lovely bloggers and I can always find different plant based meals on the website. The photos are absolutely stunning, the recipes simple to follow and it’s very aesthetically pleasing.
This website and I have been through a lot. I’ve been using it for years and its so helpful. It’s packed with easy recipes (baking and cooking alike) and I use it all the time. There are blog posts and blurbs before every recipe and it’s always my first choice when I’m looking for something to cook. (There’s also a surprise me button that’ll bring you to random recipes in the site and it’s really helpful for when you have no idea what you want to.)
If you are looking for a great card game to start playing, either casually or competitively, Magic: The Gathering is a great game to get into! I personally have been playing Magic for over 5 years now and I honestly can say that it is one of the most interesting and innovative games I have ever played.
The way the game works is pretty simple, each player has a sixty card deck and start with twenty health. A player wins by reducing their opponent’s health points to zero. Sounds simple doesn’t it? And that’s the beauty of the game it can be as simple as reducing an opponent’s health to zero and can become more complicated once you are more comfortable with the game.
So in the game there are a couple types of cards:
Lands: A player can play one land per turn and lands can “tap” for mana, the currency used in game to play other cards.
Creatures: Creatures are cards that are cast and stay on the battlefield. They can be used to attack or block. When a creature attacks, it usually gets tapped.
Spells: There are a few types of non-creature spells, there are thousands of different spells and they all have different effects. Spells are usually cards with one time effects and get put into the graveyard after they have been cast. Some spells do stay on the field however, it just depends on the card.
Each turn has a couple of phases:
Un-tap: During this phase, all card that are tapped get un-tapped.
Draw: The player draws a card.
Main Phase 1: This is where it starts to get interesting, during the main phase, players can play creatures, cast spells, play lands, or pretty much anything else.
Combat: During combat, players can use their creatures to attack other players, attacking creature become tapped.
Main Phase 2: This is a second main phase, it is the same as the first main phase. After this the turn ends.
This is an oversimplification of how that game works, but it does give the basics.
Magic: The Gathering is a game of both luck and skill. The reason I find this game so appealing is because there are just so many ways a game can go. I also love how I can build a deck and chances are, I won’t find someone else with the same one. With over one hundred sets and around three hundred cards per set, the chances that someone else will build a deck that is the exact same as yours is pretty slim. This game can also be extremely casual, or can be taken seriously and be played at a competitive level. So if any of you guys are looking to play a new card game, I strongly encourage you check out Magic: The Gathering.