Showing posts with label culture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label culture. Show all posts

Monday, 4 May 2015

May The Fourth Be With You

By: Joshua Volkers

Daaaa, da da daah, du da daaaah dududududah dah daaah! Dah da daaaah dah, da dah daaah --
 

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, today is May the Fourth, and it is Star Wars day! A few years ago this article would have simply been a nice tribute article, however, seeing as the franchise has been bought by Disney and is set to be revitalized with this year’s The Force Awakens opening worldwide this December, we at the newspaper decided it would be a nice way just to recap everything that has been going on with Star Wars so that anyone who possibly feels confused about the announcements that have been released can get caught up on what’s what. Now, as a big Star Wars fan myself, even I get a little overwhelmed with the amount of news coming out about what Disney plans to do with this franchise and what they are currently in the process of doing as you read this article, so I hope that this clears the air for some people.

Monday, 6 April 2015

Easter Traditions

By: Izabela Pitula

Many people think that Easter is all about the Easter egg hunts, the Easter bunny, chocolate candy and toys, but for Christians, Easter is also about how Jesus died for our sins on the cross and then came back to life on the third day. He sacrificed his own life for the sake of ours.

"God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son. Anyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life" (John 3:16).

Every country around the world has different traditions when it comes to Easter. Right from north to south and east to west, we can find a tinge of local flavor in Easter celebrations in various countries across the world.

Thursday, 2 April 2015

Autism Awareness Day Lights the World in Blue

By: Izabela Pitula
https://www.autismspeaks.org/sites/default/files/images/logos/logo-large.png

As dusk falls on April 2nd, many buildings around the world will light themselves blue in support of World Autism Awareness Day. This is a day for people all around the globe to come together to raise awareness about a disorder that is diagnosed in 1 in 88 children. As it keeps on growing, it is more important than ever to raise vital awareness about this lifelong disorder.

Wednesday, 1 April 2015

What's Going on with Indiana's Religious Freedom Law?

By: Ema Brazdeikyte
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All of the attention this week is focused on the state of Indiana and its governor, Mike Pence. Organizations like the NCAA want to pull March Madness and its Final Four round out of Indiana all because of their new religious freedom law, SB 101. There’s nothing new about religion-based freedom laws in the US, but Indiana’s law is different because, thanks to the wording, it sounds like the state of Indiana may be legally allowing discrimination.

Monday, 23 March 2015

Spring Fashion Focus

By: Julio Balda

The sun is shining, the grass is greener, the birds are chirping. What does that mean? A whole new spring wardrobe! This spring, fill your closet with some daring pieces and styles that can’t be missed.

Flare jeans aren’t just a thing of the past anymore ladies. Buy yourself a pair this spring and top it off with a crop top of your choice! Speaking of crop tops, a fuzzy, pastel-coloured crop top is the perfect piece to have. You can wear it anywhere. From day-time walks to a night out with your friends, a fuzzy crop top is an essential!

Think only farmers can wear overalls? If you do, you’re clearly mistaken, as overalls are a huge trend now! They aren’t considered a “lazy” article of clothing anymore, and they can even look high-fashion. Match it with a nice white blouse and some heels and you could be walking the runways!

This year’s spring wardrobe includes a lot of colours for boys. Light-wash jeans are a great must-have for spring to coincide with that “almost summer” vibe! Varsity jackets are also a go-to for those chillier nights. Something that guys will have no problem wearing are sports shoes! Nike Roshe Run shoes, Adidas originals, and New Balance 574 shoes are some of the best sports shoes to get this spring - they can be worn casually (with a pair of jeans) or even in a classier setting (with rolled up trousers).

Spring 2015 consists of three patterns: stripes, double denim, and dare I say it, florals? For spring? Groundbreaking. Striped dresses for girls and a simple striped shirt for men can be worn at casual occasions, as well as classier gatherings. After reading the words “double denim”, Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears’ 2001 denim catastrophe probably came to mind, but I assure you—with the right pieces—you can make a statement, and look good doing it! The key is to never wear the same coloured denim. Wear a lighter coloured denim shirt/jacket with jeans that are shades darker! Lastly - floral crop tops, floral skirts, floral button-ups, floral everything! Flower power is ALWAYS a go to during this time of year; it’s classic.


I hope you Titans are ready for a wave of fashion this upcoming civvies!

Friday, 20 March 2015

Flashback Friday: Valentine's of HT

By: Rebecca Vukojevic
Photo Credit: Taryn Bratz

With St. Patrick's Day now passed, we're throwing things back to another holiday- Valentine's Day. Just like our previous Titans of HT feature in our December print edition, we interviewed people around the school with a variety of quick questions. Here are three of our favourite responses:

Tuesday, 17 March 2015

An Irish Feast for St. Paddy's Day

By: D’Arcy Murphy and Molly Pearson

We all know about the traditions that make St. Patrick’s Day - the feast day of the Roman Catholic Church celebrating the life of Ireland’s patron saint - so popular. Aside from a few famous beverages from the Emerald Isle, what else is there to mark this feast other than great food? Here is a collection of recipes that will set you up for the perfect Irish meal on St. Patrick’s Day:

St. Patrick's Day: Why We Celebrate?

By: Darryl Young
Photo Credit: D'Arcy Murphy

St. Patrick’s Day, the one day everybody is Irish. It is full of celebrations with family and friends involving drinking and classic pub foods. But why do we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?

Friday, 13 March 2015

Ojibway Storyteller Aaron Bell Visits Trinity

By: Maddi McNevitts
Photo Credit: Katarina Brkic
On March 10th, the grade eleven students listened to the Aboriginal storyteller Aaron Bell speak. He explained who he was and how he discovered his Aboriginal culture as he got older. But the highlight of his speech was truly this rendition of the Haida creation story.

He explained how humans came to the earth through the trickster figure—the Raven. Bell spoke about it in a way that kept its traditional roots while making it relatable to teenagers - which is an achievement in itself. He poked fun at girls always talking and gossiping and boys being physical. However, intertwined within these jokes were how humans began to grow and develop relationships, which is a concept that is relatable to everyone, whether it be with a significant other or through platonic and familial relationships. Throughout his story was an important moral message—humans need to improve their communication skills. With screen-to-
screen communication becoming even more popular in this technology-based world, it was a message that everyone needs to be reminded of once in a while.


Afterwards, he explained a bit more about his culture and spirituality. He talked about the tools he used to tell his stories, including the drum and fox tail, and also about his outfit. Every item he wore had a significant role and purpose; for example, he adorned ribbons on his shirt as way to respect the Creator.

I was glad to have the opportunity to listen to him speak and hear him tell his story. It’s hard to believe that years ago- and even today- Aboriginals were ostracized in Canada. Nevertheless, the passion behind his words and culture should act as an inspiration for everyone to be true to themselves, their own history, and their own passions. 

Wednesday, 11 March 2015

Chrono Trigger 20th Anniversary


By: Joshua Volkers

Hello there, Titans! Do you know what day it is today? Forget about the title, what day is it today? Some may say an ordinary Wednesday, where they wait for the rest of their week to unfold to reach the weekend. If you’re not reading this on the day it’s published, you may be enjoying a nice Sunday, or struggling through a dull Monday, or chugging through Thursday, possibly planning to go out somewhere to avoid the usual throng of people that flood the restaurants on the weekend. But today, March the 11th of 2015, marks the 20th birthday of Chrono Trigger, the beloved JRPG videogame released back in 1995 and celebrated as one of the best video games of all time.

Tuesday, 10 March 2015

March Break Bucket List

By: D'Arcy Murphy

March Break is right around the corner. Are you still trying to figure out how to spend the week off from school? Aside from lounging on the sofa with some friends, some snacks, and Netflix (certainly nothing to be ashamed of- we all do it), here are a few more interesting suggestions for how you can make this Break a memorable one.

Monday, 9 March 2015

International Women's Day: One Day Later

By: Ema Brazdeikyte

Here’s to the women who are told they need to change to fit into society’s narrow-minded view of femininity. Here’s to the women who face discrimination because of their skin colour – you are beautiful. Here’s to the women who never stop studying and those who want to stop – proving you are capable of making your own decisions. Here’s to all the women: you are strong and capable of many great things.

Friday, 27 February 2015

The Snake Under The Grass: Why Black History Month?

By: Ben Kwashigah

As Black History Month draws to a close, you may wonder why we even honour this annual observance. I mean, black people aren’t slaves anymore, we can vote, one of us is even a president! Yes, our society has progressed a lot since the 1960’s and does (most of the time) reject blatant racism, but what about when it’s hidden behind subtlety? In Ghana, there’s a saying that the snake under the grass is more threatening than the snake on the tree. You can see the snake on the tree and deal with it accordingly (fight it, or run away), but, you can’t escape from the snake under the grass. It kills you before you even see it. Modern day racism
exists similarly to this.

For most of our lives, we’ve been taught that racism is prejudice and discrimination based on one’s race. It is. But it’s much more complex than that. The expanded definition of racism recognizes that it is systemic, institutional, and normalized within our culture. It’s covert, and like the snake under the grass, it can be more sinister. In the form of profiling, racism can become deadly, as seen by the tragic and unnecessary deaths of Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, and countless other black men and women. But don’t fool yourself into thinking covert racism is just an American problem - it’s a Canadian one as well. In 2009, researchers doctored 6000 fake resumĂ©s, all with the same experience, to 2000 job postings in the GTA. They found that resumĂ©s with English names such as “John Smith” were 40 percent more likely to be offered an interview than names such as “Sana Khan”. In a study done in 2012, it was found that a Canadian man who was a part of a visible minority earns 18 percent less than a Canadian white man. In a report done by the Correctional Investigator of Canada, black inmates were discovered to be “over-represented in maximum security and segregation, incur a disproportionate number of institutional charges, and are more likely to be involved in use of force incidents.” Racism is alive, well, and existing in our own backyards.

Racism also creeps its way into our entertainment. For example, the movie Exodus: Gods and Kings, which takes place in Egypt (in Africa), is made up of a primarily white cast (except for the slaves, of course). Even the Great Sphinx of Giza was altered to have more “European” features. At the Oscars, all 20 of the acting nominations were white, with 94 percent of the Academy being white. Looking through other movies and TV shows, it becomes hard to find adequate minority representation. Why is that?

All in all, racism is an issue that still exists today. There are multitudes of issues that affect black people, and other people of colour, right here Canada. That’s why Black History Month is important. We must recognize that certain groups of people are oppressed, while other groups benefit from this oppression. After all, the snake under the grass is more dangerous than the snake on the tree.

Thursday, 26 February 2015

Oscars Red Carpet Recap

By: Katherine Liakakos

The 87th Oscars fashion compiled of pearls, slicked-back hair styles, sequins, and an assortment of necklines. There were the good, the shocking, the bad, and the ugly. With laughs and tears throughout the Oscars, as well as throughout the years of the film industry, we always witness spectacular fashion by the world’s most eminent designers.

Wednesday, 18 February 2015

Black History Month Celebrity Profile

By: Julio Balda

Throughout this century, black men and women have been dominating both politically and musically. Constantly in the news, black people now have a voice through means of others. A few of these many successful people are mentioned in the following article.

Barack Obama, the first ever black president, is one of the most liked politicians and influential people in the world. He continues to support strong causes such as gay marriage, and equality.

An amazing philanthropist, producer, and talk show host, Oprah Winfrey is a well-known household name! Most known for her talk-show The Oprah Winfrey Show, (one of the highest-rated programs in history), she has also written six books, and is one of the richest black people in North America.

Constantly talked about in media, Beyoncé is not a stranger to anyone. She has had five number one hit albums, is a successful actress starring in The Pink Panther as well as Obsessed, and made jaws drop in 2014 when she suddenly released an album without knowledge or promotion for it, which caused a huge wave in the media.

The talented Kevin Hart never ceases to amuse people and make them die of laughter. One of the biggest names in comedy at the moment, he’s hosted many award shows, such as the MTV VMAs, BET Awards, and many others. Hart has also won many awards himself, including Best Actor in a Comedy Series for the NAACP Image Awards, as well as Best Actor for the BET Awards in 2012, and other amazing awards.

Both the newest face for Lancome and named Woman of the Year by Glamour Magazine, Lupita Nyong’o has rapidly become one of the most loved actresses in the world. She starred in the award winning movie, 12 Years a Slave, and received an Oscar for her amazing and captivating performance. Nyong’o is the first black spokeswoman for Lancome, which is monumental. She was featured as the cover girl for the UK’s Dazed & Confused Magazine, as well as on Vogue. She is set to star in Queen of Katwe, a biopic portraying the rise of a young African chess prodigy.
 

Over the last couple of years black men and women have taken the entertainment world by storm, whether it’s through politics, music, or other forms of media. Black men and women have always been and always will be great leaders and influential people, despite being in a white oriented world.

Thursday, 12 February 2015

Thursdays at the Theatre: Vol. 1

By: Joshua Volkers

Hello, Titans! Today marks the first day for a bi-monthly article on movies, the ones that have recently come out, are coming out, and then we’ll be taking a quick look at a film from the past as a bit of a ‘Throwback Thursday’ element. After all, you’ll have the entire four-day weekend to have the opportunity to check out some of the films that I’m going to list here.


Valentine's Day Movie Night

By: Carolyn Martinko & Kristyn Farrell

Valentine’s Day is coming up quickly, and whether you plan to spend time with friends, family, your significant other, or on your own, make sure to check out some of these great romantic comedies.


Wednesday, 11 February 2015

Valentine's Day Date Ideas

By: Sarah Asselin & Katarina Brkic

With Valentine's Day swiftly approaching, it’s definitely time to start making plans for that special day! However, we know how hard it is to come up with that perfect Valentine’s date. With our fun ideas, you will be able to create the kind of Valentine's Day memories that will last a lifetime. 

Tuesday, 10 February 2015

2015 Grammy Awards Recap

By: Ben Kwashigah
 

On Sunday February 8th, the Grammy Awards took place, recognizing outstanding achievement in the music industry in the past year. With performances from artists like Sam Smith and Mary J. Blige to Paul McCartney and Rihanna, this year’s Grammy Awards truly kept us entertained. Here are the winners for the big categories:

Thursday, 25 December 2014

Merry Christmas from The Titan Times!

The day has come that we've all been preparing for. The day of celebration with family and friends. The day that brings us together in the spirit of giving.

The special attention December 25th gets comes from a miraculous event some two thousand years ago. Although we can't be sure when He was actually born, today we celebrate the birth of Christ, the child who's birth made way for the ultimate sacrifice that would save the world from sin. It is in this spirit that we give generously during the holiday season.

The greatest gifts we can give are our time, affection, and company. When we are with family and friends, the presents that we wrap and exchange come second to the joy we bring one another. Giving ourselves really is the most gracious gift we can give at Christmas. So this year, challenge your self to be a gift of joy for those around you and those who need it most.

From us to you, we wish you all a happy, holy and safe Christmas and New Year. Spend time with the people around you who matter and make this year one to remember. Keep Christ in Christmas!