Who I Am This Week

And Then What?

5/9/2015

High School is supposed to be the best 4 years of your life full of finding out who you’re going to be and what you want to do in life. For some people I’m sure that happens but for me and a lot of other people it’s the exact opposite. I've been on this earth for 15 years which is approximately ⅕ of my life and I’m being asked to choose the path I want to follow for the rest of my time here. Hell, I don’t even know what shirt I want to wear tomorrow!

In school you have a full day of classes. These may not interest you at all or not have anything to do with what you want with your life but no you must be there to get the credits to graduate from this anxiety riddled environment. One thing I've noticed in school is that if someone isn't good in Math or Science they are dismissed as dull or unintelligent even if they excel in the Arts. Also Math, Science, and English are compulsory subjects while anything to do with the arts has to be chosen as an elective. This is unfair to the students who want to be creative in their futures instead of living on the more logical side of life.

Then there’s the choosing of the post secondary education if you even decide to pursue that path. University or College? End schooling there or go into a trades program? If I go to university do I want to try to go abroad? No no that’s too expensive, I don’t want to be drowning in debt. I definitely want some freedom away from my parents! Yea that sounds great! ...until you realize that living on your own is expensive and your parents aren't there to do your laundry or go grocery shopping. That stuff’s harder than you might think. Wow, this school has everything I'm looking for! Great campus, amazing program, oh and of course a $6000 yearly tuition fee. Damn, what now? More loans? Probably. They’ll just keep piling up till you’re neck deep in debt and end up living in your parent’s basement for the next 15 years trying to pay them off. Good luck bringing a girl home to show her your rad set up...with your parents asking if you need snacks every 12 minutes.

Maybe you need to go out of your way to do something to get into your preferred program. For example, I want to go to the Royal Military College in Kingston but to get into the program I want I have a much better chance if I go into Cadets or do the Military Co-op program next year. Of course my time table is already full of university level courses and all the sciences I can take so the Co-op is out of the question. Well, Cadets I can do but it’s more time out of my day but I’m going to have to sacrifice that to secure something I may or may not get into but still will have a massive impact on my future.

We’re expected to know what we’re doing with our lives. Our entire future is being decided in about the last 2 years of high school. We can’t even vote, yet they say we are ready to choose what we’re doing with our lives? Am I the only one who sees a flaw in this?

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Vinyls Vs. Cds

4/26/2015

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In the past few decades the debate between vinyls and Cds has been the topic of many music lovers conversations. Which has better sound quality? Is the size inconvenience worth it? Why are vinyls coming back while Cds are starting to fade into musical history? Many people would argue that vinyls are and always will be the best way to listen to music but why?

As the argument goes, the sound quality can’t ever be matched by the attempts made to burn tracks onto Cds as many nostalgic listeners would chose to believe but in fact this may not be accurate. While the everyday music listener may convince themselves that this is true there have been people in the music industry trying to prove otherwise. This article states that if done correctly, the music can sound exactly the same on a Cd as it does on a vinyl. Sound engineers have proven that if mixed correctly the sound from a vinyl can be perfectly replicated onto some Cds but this isn't a constant occurrence. There have been songs that sound better on a record than on a Cd and vice versa, it all depends on the song. So technically this argument is invalid because this point can be used for both sides of the debate. Cd's 0, vinyls 0

For vinyls records there are two sizes. A 12” and a 7” which is more commonly known as a 45 because that is the rpm speed. Now even a 45, which is what singles were released on and contain one song on either side, are still larger than a Cd. A 12” is an entire album but is about a foot in diameter which is a significant difference from a Cd which has a diameter of 12cm. Vinyls were never able to be played in the car because of the size issue hence the invention of the cassette tape. Cd's 1, vinyls 0. As far as having a vinyl or Cd collection, vinyls take up a lot more space as well compared to Cd's so finding the space to keep a substantial collection can prove difficult. Cd's 2, vinyls 0.

*Interesting fact* Even if you replaced the needle on a record player with a pine needle it would still play because the music is etched directly into the record, it doesn't have to be read like a Cd. Cd's 2, vinyls 1.

Recently there has been a noticeable increase in the demand for vinyls and its not just by hipsters trying to find their way back to the 70’s. Then generation in which vinyls thrived have started up their collections again. Many gave them away or sold them to make way for the newest thing in music, Cds. Now the same thing seems to be happening as Mp3 files have made their appearance in the music industry. It’s quicker, cheaper, and they take up no physical space so they should be the obvious choice right? So why are people becoming so enthralled with the idea of vinyls again? Is it a sense of loyalty in former record listeners? A sense of nostalgia bringing people back to their golden years? Could it be angsty teenagers trying to escape to a “more enriched” musical era than the pop ruled industry we have today? No one can say what the reason is for sure but either way vinyls are making a comeback in a big way. Cds 2, vinyls 2.

So what is my conclusion? I have made the educated decision that there is no winner. Neither is better than the other. Both formats are exceptional and as long as there’s music to be listened to it doesn't matter what it’s played on.

“I think music in itself is healing. It’s an explosive expression of humanity. It’s something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we’re from, everyone loves music.” ~ Billy Joel

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Good Vibes Only

4/12/2015

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Have you ever met someone for the first time and had an immediate connection or found that there was an easy flow of conversation as you talk to them? Some people say it’s a six sense or just human intuition but I see it as vibes. Vibes are the transmission of non verbal messages between you and the atmosphere you’re in. Scientifically it is closely related to the Fight or Flight response we all naturally have. Do we want to be around this person or not? Is there a dangerous aura about them or not? These are the type of things vibes tell us.

You hear people talking about good vibes all the time but why? The way people present themselves has a lot to do with this, the way they come across. Some people you can have such a quick attraction to a personality, it makes you want to sit down with them and talk for hours because you genuinely want to hear what the other person has to say. You know those conversations that you just get lost in? The ones that you lose track of time and all of a sudden its 2am and you're talking about the fabrication of the universe. Those are the conversations that mean the most, the ones that can change the way you see the world. I believe that these conversations can only be truly achieved by someone you have a connection with, someone with good vibes.

On the flip side, when you get bad vibes you should listen to them. When someone gives you the creeps or you're not comfortable in a place you probably have a good reason for it. Again it's your fight or flight response, your brain telling you that it's most likely the best to get out of there. It's curious how we come to pick these habits and tendencies up, how we learn what is good and what is bad.

Vibes, fight or flight, a six sense, or just human intuition. They are all similes for the feeling you get from your surroundings. My word of advice is to inhale the good vibes and exhale the bad vibes and you'll end up in the right places.

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4 British Babes

3/29/2015

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Arguably the biggest band there ever was or will be, 4 British heart-throbs, and a sound that would change music forever. The Beatles were the band of the century, climbing into the hearts of millions. John, Paul, George, and Ringo have made music what it is today.

Beatlemania was the first real insane, cry your heart out, scream at the top of your lungs if you catch a glimpse of them band. With the majority of girls that made up their fanbase the numbers climbed almost as quickly as the pitch of the screams that The Beatles induced. During their peak time they had millions of fans across the globe but they really made it big in America bringing The British Invasion along with them. This paved the road for the massive “fandoms” we see in our media today such as Directioners, Beliebers, or Lovotics. People argue that bands like these are bigger than The Beatles but if you factor in the fact that when The Beatles were around there was no itunes, no twitterverse or social networks to share your love of these boyson, there was television and radio. What they accomplished was simply by talent and luck. Not to say bands and performers today are not talented but The Beatles just had something special about them, something that drew the world to them like flies to honey.

Around the time The Beatles got together guitar music was becoming less and less popular on the radio. The Beatles decided that that was the type of music they wanted to do, but everyone in the industry told them to drop it, to find another sound. Producers, managers, record labels. They all said the same thing, “Guitar music isn’t what’s hot anymore, find something else.” That is until Capitol Records took a chance on them and allowed them to make the iconic sound that is loved so dearly today. With a mix of pop, rock, and blues the boys skyrocketed to the top of the charts pounding out hit after hit where songs like Hey Jude would stay sitting at number one on the American charts for 9 weeks straight. Eventually, of course, as The Beatles matured so did their sound. Straying away from that pop/rock sound they moved towards psychedelic or hard rock with classical bits included in innovative ways. As the music changed the fans followed bringing in a more diverse range of admirers anywhere from 15 year old girls to middle aged men.

It may be hard to believe but The Beatles have so heavily influenced the music we hear today. From Nirvana to the Beach Boys to the Foo Fighters and everything in between The Beatles have revolutionized music like no other band in history. Its not just the classic favourites though, it’s the bands and performers we hear on the radio everyday. Bands like Greenday, the Arctic Monkeys, Oasis, and One Direction who have made it so big in the industry account much of their musical style and influences to these four men. The Beatles have had such an effect on so many people, from producers to aspiring artist to the everyday music listener, they have touched so many lives and ears with their music. Generation after generation have listened to The Beatles’ music and as the years go by more people fall in love with the sound that shook the world. Personally, I believe that The Beatles will never be forgotten, the mark they left on the world is too big to ever be covered.

The people of the world loved The Beatles and The Beatles loved the people of the world. That’s why their legacy will live on forever.

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Makeup or Made up?

3/7/2015

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Makeup is an $18 billion dollar industry that thrives off the insecurities of women. Whether it’s the fear of looking old or just a general discontent of how someones face looks there’s a product to “fix” that. There are infinite cosmetics out there for the average women to buy but the question is what else does makeup do to us?

Society pressures you to chose from a young age whether or not you wear makeup. Are you genuinely interested in makeup? Then you’re self obsessed and spend too much time caring about what others think. You don’t wear makeup at all? You don’t care about how you present yourself, you don’t even make an effort. If you show up to a job interview without makeup you may be viewed as unprofessional but if you’re wearing alot of makeup you can be perceived as “easy” or unintelligent. You can’t win either way.

Then you have the judgement of other girls. Is your mascara clumpy? Are your eyebrows “on fleek”? Do you even wear makeup? Personally I envy the girls who feel confident enough to go to school or just out in public without makeup. ⅕ of girls as young as 12 refuse to leave the house without makeup and over half of girls over 14 refuse to do the same. There’s also brand name vs. pharmaceutical brands, did you spend $25 on a lipstick or $7? God forbid you pick up some mascara from Shoppers Drug Mart on short notice and use that for awhile. Come on though, what teenager has $40 to spend on eyeshadow!?

Worst of all you have boys. Have you ever heard a guy say "take her swimming on the first date so you know what she really looks like!" because I know I have and it outrages me immensely. But there are still many expectations. Make sure you have the natural look. But don't actually be natural. Be gorgeous and have perfect skin. But don't cake your face because that’s gross. Have pin straight, perfect hair. But don't have dry ends. Wear makeup. But not too much because then you're a fake. Boys say they have "trust issues" because girls can look different when wearing makeup. Try having trust issues because a boy pretends to be your friend just to get in your pants then becomes angry and violent when you don't want to be with them. The double standards pushed on us to please boys are impossible to meet but it's still expected. As women, it's ingrained in our brains that we need to please boys when in fact the only person you need to please or impress is yourself.

I'm not trying to say make up is a bad thing by any means, I wear it every day! Makeup should be used to enhance the features you already have not change how you look entirely. You shouldn’t change yourself to fit anyone elses expectations.

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Tattoo or Taboo?

2/20/2015

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Tattoos have been around for thousands of years, a proven 5,200 years at least but they are still considered unprofessional in the work place. Putting tattoos on your body is an artistic expression of you who are, it’s one of the most under appreciated art forms in my opinion. There are so many different styles and types to chose from such as water colour, white, realism, 3D, black work, tribal and so many more. These can be used to be showcase what means the most to you or even just what you think is cool. No one said that you have to have a meaningful reason behind a tattoo, if you think it’s rad go ahead, you do you.

For many businesses in many cultures, tattoos are seen as unsuitable for professional environments. But why? People tend to perceive tattoos as rebellious or alternative, a decision made on a whim or one they will soon regret. This has been used as a reason time and time again to deny employment. The prejudice shown towards people with tattoos seems to stem from older generations being uncomfortable with this art form to the point where people are considered less intelligent or to have less class for having a tattoo. As these generations have started to deteriorate in population tattoos are slowly becoming more widely accepted in professional environments, though there is still miles of progress to go.

I asked both my parents, who have hired people for corporate jobs, if they would consider hiring someone with a tattoo sleeve on their arm. Both of them said “yes, as long as they can dress and act professionally it doesn't make a difference to whether I would consider them for the position or not.” As the years pass big companies are starting to change their view on tattoos in the workplace due to younger generations being put into positions of power. For instance, Starbucks recently changed their tattoo and piercing policy to allow their employees to show tasteful tattoos and nose studs at work, hopefully this will set a precedent for other companies to follow.

If you’re a hard working, genuine person why should the ink on your skin take away from that? Opinions are changing rapidly on tattoos and I think it’s about damn time!

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The Pressures of Valentines Day

2/13/2015

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Every year, around this time people get animated over the most romantic, face squishing, butterfly inducing holiday on the calendar. There are two sides to this holiday though with moans and groans or sighs and swoons. One leaves you feeling adored while sitting on top of a pile of chocolate while the other could leave you feeling lonely and unwanted.

On the feel good, heart racing part of this day when you have someone special to share it with there’s the pressure of finding the perfect gift, finding that perfect date spot, or cooking that perfect meal. There is so much thought and planning in trying to get across just how much you care. Is it too much? Not enough? What are they doing? What if my idea isn’t as good? At the end of the day your partner should not care particularly much about the extravagance or pizzaz of your Valentines Day plans, just spending time with each other should be more than enough.

On the sadness inducing, buy your own chocolate to eat away the loneliness side of the things a whole different set of pressures are present.You don’t want everyone judging you for not having a valentine but you still have family and friends to show your affection towards. As well said by Psych Central “If you don’t buy something red and heart-shaped for someone, you’re going to hurt someone’s feelings and contribute to the fall of the economy. You’d best be buying.” Then there’s the outward expression of what your thoughts on this holiday are. “Should I just wear all black to let everybody know about my bitterness towards this holiday? Should I just suck it up and try to get in the spirit? Is it obvious that I don’t have a valentine this year?” Everywhere you look there are couples kissing, festive school events, and just a general presence of love in the air, none of which you feel you are apart of. If you’re in this position this year don’t fret over the lack of a “special someone” focus on all the people in your life that you love and who love you.

This sickly sweet holiday will be over soon enough whether that’s what you want or not. By the time it rolls around next year you may be in a completely different position than you are now . Either way it will pass so try not to stress yourself out over this one, arguably insignificant day of the year!

Happy Valentines Day!

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And Then What?

Vinyls Vs. Cds

Good Vibes Only

4 British Babes

Makeup or Made up?

Tattoo or Taboo?

The Pressures of Valentines Day

Maddy A.

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