Our Planet Earth: How Going Vegan Benefits your Environment
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Author Archives: Jamie Shiho
10 things to Binge Watch if We Go Back Into Quarantine
Needless to say we’ve all had plenty of time to ourselves over the last twenty-four months. And with that came the emergence of streaming services not just as a mainstay in our lives, but as a genuine must-have.
Now obviously no one is advocating for another lockdown, but who’s to say what’s really next to come at this point. So if we do indeed end up shutting down once again, here are ten things to binge watch during quarantine.
- FRIENDS
Alright, before I get those of you who want to tell me this is the best show around and there’s no better show for casual viewing blah blah. I know, and I even agree with you. But Friends has to be this low on the list because at this point, who hasn’t seen this show yet? For those of you who have yet to watch this show in its entirety however, do yourself a favour and go watch it right away. It really is as hilarious as people say it is. The cast of this show is one of the best of any TV show around, and they constantly make you feel like you’re watching a real group of friends -your own friends even- hanging out and living their lives.
Unfortunately the show was taken off Netflix and moved over to Crave, so for those who don’t have Crave, go start your free-trial and binge Friends before it’s over.
- The Harry Potter Saga
This entry is arguably as popular as Friends but is nowhere near as casual viewing as a tv show. Harry Potter is a little bit more of a time consuming watch than some other entries on this list but it is without question worth the commitment. There’s seven movies in the series and almost all of them are amazing. (If you want to know which are the best, head over to Evolution’s youtube page and check out the hit show Ranked wink-wink*). Honestly though, the storytelling from these movies is incredible from start to finish and they feature some of the best casting I have seen from any movie franchise. The series is not available for free on any streaming service that I’m aware of but they can be rented for cheap on Amazon Video or i’m sure your local Walmart has a box set available as well.
- Snowpeircer
The youngest entry on this list, but also one of the most exciting. At only three seasons this Netflix special doesn’t take much of a commitment making it even more worth the time. Snowpeircer offers some fresh new, young faces to the screen and is supplemented with some household names on the cast as well, but it’s the up-and-coming actors that really carry this show in its still very early days.
The plot is simple, and easy to get behind. The world has ended, and the richest man on the planet has built a thousand-car long train to house the surviving population. But, there’s a very clear, and very strongly enforced class system. And the lower class is not happy.
- The Star Wars Saga (Original 6, only)
Hey remember that hit show on Evolution’s youtube channel, there might be another episode featuring this saga. Let’s get one thing clear also, you only need to watch the original six movies. You can watch the Disney movies if you want, but don’t. They don’t exist to me. This saga is a complete story of good versus evil at its best. The casting is a little hit and miss which ranks it lower on this list, but when the story hits, it hits hard. There’s a reason Star Wars is as big as it is, and it’s all available on Disney Plus.
- Clone Wars Animated Series
Once you’ve finished watching the Star Wars movies on Disney Plus, head over and watch the Clone Wars Series. Taking place between the second and third instalments of the saga this show was supposed to be tailored to a younger age but was too popular with the hardcore Star Wars fan base. The animation is incredible and allows for complete storytelling of some of the best characters you saw in the movie series.
- The Dark Side of the Ring Documentary
Probably the least popular genre on the list, but this documentary goes behind the scenes of some of the biggest controversies from the world of professional wrestling. The production of each episode is immaculate and features raw, never before heard interview segments from the stars that lived through it all. From the Montreal screw job, to the plane ride from hell it covers all the dark sides of the ring. Each episode is available on Vice Tv and HBO and are a must watch.
(Youtube/ Vice TV)
- The Walking Dead
Now I know I have another article released that completely rips this show apart, but thats from the perspective of a hardcore fan who’s read the comics multiple times over and seen the show more times than he’d like to admit. But this show early on is one of the best shows of its time and yes it does go off the rails at one point but it still does enough to make you need to know what happens after the end of every episode. As frustrating as the show can be, it’s still the best post-apocalyptic show available. There are eleven seasons now so head over to Netflix and get started on it.
- Jim Can’t Swim Criminal Psychology
Changing it up a bit with this entry, JCS is not a show or movie series but a Youtube channel. An absolutely incredible one at that, and my favourite on Youtube. Every single video on this channel takes you behind closed doors exposing the world’s worst criminals. The footage is raw, intense and captivating, featuring interrogations, confessions, and court trials. Jim, as a criminal psychologist himself, breaks down methods used by the world’s best detectives and there isn’t one single episode that doesn’t have you on the edge of your seat.
- The Dark Knight Trilogy
There is no better film trilogy than The Dark Knight Trilogy. Yes, you read that right. Batman Begins is considered the worst of the three, but that’s only because the latter two of the trilogy are THAT good. I don’t care what anyone says either, Heath Ledger as the Joker is the greatest casting decision and performance that has ever graced the big screen. I can’t even imagine how much better the third movie could have been if Heath was able to be a part of it. Christopher Nolan has created a masterpiece with this trilogy and lucky for everyone, they are available to view on Netflix. Go now and watch.
(Youtube/ Aitor Martin)
- Breaking Bad
The top spot has to be Breaking Bad. If you ignore every other entry on this list, fine, but watch Breaking Bad. This show is a masterpiece of storytelling, casting, emotion and intensity. Bryan Crantson, Aaron Paul, Gian Carlo Esposito, Anna Gunn, the list of amazing performances doesn’t end. Every character is portrayed perfectly, and no show tells a story and ties up loose ends better than Breaking Bad. If you haven’t seen it yet, go watch it now because I’m judging you. And when you’re done watching it, watch it again because I promise you, you missed something the first time around. I have seen this show more than 5 times and something new in the plot presented itself every single time. Do yourself a favour, close this list, and go start Breaking Bad. Now.
(Youtube/ Breaking Bad & Better Call Saul)
If we do unfortunately head back into a lockdown, these are the shows or movies you need to binge watch. Except for Breaking Bad, you need to watch that regardless. Seriously, go now.
Bachelor in Paradise Review
Last month marked the finale of the seventh season of the hit reality tv show Bachelor in Paradise, and before you decide to ask any questions, yes I watched it, yes it was because of my girl, and yes I enjoyed it. Are we done with the questions now? Good. Let’s move on to the details.
And of course for those living under a rock, there’s an obvious spoiler warning ahead.
First I want to address my favourite outlook of the show. Who was the worst participant? And I don’t mean that from a Brendan, Pieper perspective, that’s obviously just a disrespect to the show in search of clout. I’m talking about the people who genuinely went on this show, were themselves on the show and thought they would come away on top.
The initial candidate in my eyes, Demi. I mean my god did this woman really think she was going to step onto the beach and walk away with love? I don’t see how anyone would actually want to be with that. Let’s forget about Kenny and her for a second, they’re pretty much the Joey and Rachel (FRIENDS) of the whole show. It just never should have happened. But the way Demi showed up, immediately assumed the role of shit disturber, and put out right away… literally. It’s kind of repulsive.
One not to forget of course though, and this one is more of a personal hatred, was “smoke bro” Chris. First off, anyone who calls themselves “smoke bro” needs to “smoke screw-off” because that’s ridiculous. Honestly though, the guy deserved exactly what came to him. If you want to come in half way through the show, break up another couple to steal the girl away, all while you have another girl who is awaiting her own debut on the show whom you ENTIRELY intend to be with already? You deserve to be left by both women and kicked off the show. Good for you bud.
(Youtube/ Bachelor Nation)
One thing as well that cannot go without mention, is who got screwed over the most. This one isn’t even a competition, it’s obviously Natasha. She got screwed not once, but twice in the same damn season. It apparently wasn’t bad enough that she got together with Brendan right off the bat who, as we know now, had a prior relationship with another woman waiting to debut on the show as well in Pieper. And this isn’t like Chris waiting for a woman who he had his eyes on. Brendan and Pieper were legitimately together, seeing each other only a few weeks prior to departing for the show.
Pieper finally made it to the beach, and Brendan immediately left Natasha to be with her. It’s clear there was a prior motive, so clear it got both of them kicked off the show, and saw Natasha being given a second chance to stay and await the next arrivals.
And if that wasn’t enough, the new round of options for Natasha that came in were awful as well. Dr. Joe, just so happened to be Brendan’s best friend, and Ed left her to save a crying Mackenna who had been there for literally six hours. Talk about a poor draw.
(Youtube/ Bachelor Nation)
So we’ve established the worst participant, and who got screwed around the most, but what was the biggest surprise of the seventh season? There were a few options to go with on this one so it’s really the dealer’s choice but to name an honourable mention, Thomas. More importantly, the fact that he actually has feelings. Kenny and Mari ending up together at the end of show was also a surprise given the run in from Demi mid-season, but they still made it work. The biggest surprise in my eyes though turned out to be Riley and Maurissa. I don’t know what it was about Riley, maybe the fact that he came in the same time as Thomas, and Thomas was a trash person for the whole show, but he just kind of rubs you the wrong way for his first couple episodes. The part that surprised me the most about him was of course the way he backed up not only Natasha with the whole Brendan situation but the way he confronted Chris about the Jessenia drama as well. He finally came off as a genuine dude you could learn to like, and not some player that’s only there to get lucky. That would probably be when Maurissa realized he was the real deal. I mean either that or when she sucked whip cream off his toe.
So does sucking whip cream off of your partner’s toe make you the strongest couple on the beach? I certainly hope not. The only real answer to who the strongest couple on the show was, has to be Joe and Serena. Let’s all forget that Serena went on a date with Thomas, and only remember the part where she told him to kick rocks. Serena and Joe were easily the strongest couple, that being cemented when Kendall came onto the beach, and immediately went after Joe who shut her down without question in favour of Serena. Then doubling down again on the finale trying her last shot only to be shut down again, and then watching Joe propose to Serena mere minutes later.
So Joe and Serena were the strongest, but who deserved it the most? It’s easy to stick with them as the answer to that as well but there are a few candidates outside of the strongest couple. Natasha of course comes to mind, she went there with nothing but the best intentions and was screwed around. Jessenia, who was also screwed around, but although I have not seen it myself, displayed some less than admirable behaviour on a previous season of the bachelor. So maybe you could chalk that down to karma?
( Youtube/ Bachelor Nation)
I think it’s easy to say all couples that got engaged at the end deserved exactly what they found. Kenny and Mari are still happily engaged, as are Joe and Serena, and Maurissa and Riley. There’s no telling which individual deserved it most, but one thing can be certain.
It wasn’t Demi.
Who is the best team in the NFL right now?
Link
Who is the best team in the NFL right now? The answer to that question might not be as oblivious as you might think. The NFL is a game of inches, and the cliche “anything could happen on any given Sunday” is a real thing. It’s easy to look at a team’s record and say the one with a zero in the loss column is the best team, especially as the year goes on. But that logic doesn’t hold up in the National Football League for long.
Look at the Denver Broncos. They started the year 3-0, with the best defence in the league. In the three weeks since, they’re 0-3 with arguably the worst defence during that time. The Carolina Panthers are on that same list. Right when it seemed this team was proving the offensive attack was revitalized under Sam Darnold, Christian McCaffery gets hurt (again) and bam, back down the rankings they go.
To determine the best teams in the league multiple things should be taken into account, roster, injuries, strength of schedule. These types of things. In my eyes, there are five teams in the NFL right now, that are playoff locks, and Superbowl contenders. Spoiler alert, the Chiefs are not on this list.
(Youtube/ The Pat McAfee Show)
The Buffalo Bills in my opinion are the best team in the NFL. they take the top spot without question. Yes, I know they just lost to a good-not-great Titans team but let’s be honest, if Josh Allen doesn’t slip on the final play of that game, do the Titans win? No. Tennessee didn’t win, the Bills beat themselves, and in the best way possible. Being aggressive, and not taking a tie and a chance at overtime. They want to win. Being aggressive is something they’re going to need in January, and the AFC should be on full notice.
Arizona is one of those teams that could win on any given Sunday. Everyone has been looking to see how Kyler Murray was going to improve and grow to lead this team in his third season. And he’s done just that, and the organization is giving him all the pieces he needs to win. Getting Zach Ertz from Philly was a steal, and filled the biggest hole on this offence without question. But the surprise of this team has been the defence. This unit is for real and is putting up elite performances every single week. Even without Chandler Jones. Everyone considered this team to be the worst team in the NFC West, and they are proving just how wrong everyone was.
(Youtube/ The Rich Eisen Show)
Los Angeles is proving the Matthew Stafford trade was by far worth it. Sure two first-round picks is a lot to ask for a thirty-two year old quarterback, but Jared Goff simply was not it. The Rams have been in “win now” mode for several seasons now, and they finally pulled the trigger to get back to the superbowl. Sean McVay is still one of the best head coaches in the league and now has a competent signal caller to get the ball to his many weapons. And this defence is still elite, despite losing a number of pieces in the secondary, and Brandon Staley. Arizona might be the obvious favourite in this division, but watch out for Los Angeles right behind them.
(Youtube/ The Herd with Colin Cowherd)
When you look at a team like Baltimore, they don’t stand out as a team that has the whole package. How many positions are legitimately elite on this roster? Lamar Jackson, obviously. Ronnie Stanley of course, but he’s been dealing with injuries his year. Mark Andrews is arguably the best tight end in the league outside of Travis Kelce. But that’s about it? Marlon Humphrey, Patrick Queen, Marquise Brown, and Calais Campbell are all really good, but don’t quite hit that elite status. So how do the Ravens continue to win games, and dominate opponents? Well let’s say aside from the fact that Lamar Jackson is beyond elite at quarterback, the Ravens have arguably the best coaching staff in the entire league. Many thought John Harbaugh was nearing his end with Baltimore, but he has completely revitalized his career. Due in large to Lamar of course, but he made the necessary moves to support his star quarterback. He hired Greg Roman as offensive coordinator, a mastermind when working with a mobile quarterback. Put an immense focus on the offensive line to protect him. He then went out to get not one star running-back, but a committee of really good backs that can each play the role as well as the other. The only clear whole in this offence is an elite receiver, but Marquise Brown is slowly filling that role. This Ravens team will easily be around in January.
Lastly, the defending superbowl champions themselves, The Tampa Bay Buccaneers. You would think this team would be higher on the list right? They won the big one last year, and returned all members of the coaching staff, and all twenty-two starters on both sides of the ball. How could they not be? Well it’s simple, while they are still a really good football team, with talent literally everywhere, they aren’t doing anything different than last year. All their schemes are still the same. It’s become easy to prepare for them. They still have the talent to win games but teams are slowly starting to figure them out, and it’s only getting easier moving forward. The Cowboys should have beat them on opening night, and if they had the ball last they would have. And this team should be better than a field goal win over the Patriots, and that’s not even a question. The Bucs will win their division, and make the playoffs but January will tell us whether they are actually good enough to be there, or if they only got there because the NFC South offers NO competition.
It’s almost a guaranteed lock that we will see all five of these teams in the postseason this winter. And If I had to guess, 2 of these teams would be playing for the Lombardi Trophy in February. The favourites at this point to meet in that matchup, Arizona and Buffalo. Could we see a first time ever Superbowl Champion this season? I’d bet on it.
Weighing the Pros and Cons of Online Education
Over the past two years educational institutions have seen their fair share of challenges to say the least. We have seen a multitude of different ways to cope and adjust to the ever changing rules and protocols. Most notably however, the change from in person, to virtual classrooms.
While this change was of course made for the safety of all staff and students, can you make the argument that it’s actually a better format overall? Are online classes more beneficial to students in the long run? Are they a detriment to teachers? Let’s weigh the pros and cons of online learning
Let’s start with the pros shall we. Now in the spirit of transparency, most of the pros come from the perspective of students. Not many good things come from virtual schooling from a teacher’s perspective.
The fact that students physically aren’t in class comes with a fair amount of positives actually. For one, there’s no travel commute. While that could be a positive for teachers as well, many have taken to holding class from their offices on campus now there’s lesser restrictions. But for students it makes things that much easier. Not only do students living a great distance from campus not have to worry about the commute, sitting in traffic, being late to class getting up at an ungodly hour of the morning to get to class, but it proves to be a financial benefit in its own right. For many students, car insurance is only a necessity to get to and from school. If we eliminate the need to pay for the car to go to school, many opt to not have a car in use in the first place. On top of that there’s the cost of gas, and paying for parking at school is not cheap, as well all know. For students who don’t have or use a car, they aren’t worried about transit fairs which are increasingly rising every single year.
Outside of this, being from remote locations obviously protects everyone and has everyone’s safety in mind but it provides students with the benefit of time as well. Without the travel commutes too and from class, students are able to go right to their school work once class ends. I for one find that tackling my assignments directly out of a zoom class gives me the opportunity to pound out the assignment while the content is still fresh in my mind. A mindset I’m sure I share with many of my peers. In addition, the handing in of said assignments becomes much easier. A simple submission onto the online learning hub makes keeping track of assignments that much easier. Not that physical copies of papers or worksheets are that common anymore, but this prevents the ones that are out there from getting lost in any way.
Unfortunately, from this man’s perspective at least, that marks the end of the pro list for online learning. Convenience is great, but that’s not why us students are here. We are here -and paying thousands of dollars to be here I might add- to learn. And not being in person, physically there to be able to connect with the instructor and have a hands-on learning experience hinders your ability to get the best education possible.
( Source: CTVnews.ca)
I imagine teachers would agree with me on that as well. Not being able to be there and connect with your class, would make it that much harder to deliver the best possible lecture you could. There’s no way a teacher can ensure every student gets it either? And let’s not underestimate the difficulty in teaching a class of 40-plus students to use, for example, a video editing software over a Zoom call, and then make sure everyone is following along no problem? Doesn’t sound all that easy to me.
It’s not as simple as a student raising their hand in a classroom when everyone is communicating virtually. And handing in all these assignments virtually might be easy for a student to make sure they get it in on time, but I can’t imagine that makes it any easier for a teacher to actually mark the assignment itself.
One of the more serious difficulties with online learning is the inability to monitor and ensure academic integrity from students. With students not being able to get as much individual attention, or hands on learning from the teachers -no matter the subject mind you- teachers can’t always be sure their students are entirely prepared for the exams. Not that it’s their responsibility to do so, students still need to be accountable.
But the worst part, and I’m sure almost everyone would agree with me, is the simple lack of socialization with our peers. Outside of gaining an education and studying the field in which you want to make a career in, school is about socialization, and not just in a way of making friends. Going to school, in a program that is full of people wanting to break through the exact same field you are in, can be a great thing. School is about making those connections with the people you may one day call a co-worker, or that person you need to interview for a breakthrough story if you’re in a journalism program for example. Maybe you meet the person you co-found a business with. Or maybe for god sakes you simply make a new friend. One that makes the courses easier on you, one to study with, or maybe you meet your next best friend. Regardless, being online and not in class physically complete takes away that possibility.
(Youtube/ Tedx Talks)
It seems online classes and virtual education are inevitable for the future with no real sight in returning to full time in person any time soon. And unfortunately, it’s becoming increasingly hard to say that that is a good thing. From either the perspective of a student or a teacher, there really are not many positive things to say about online learning other than “i get to sleep in more before my class”. As this way of learning seems to be a mainstay for now, I wish I could say I’m happy and or excited about it, but after weighing the pros and the cons, I simply can’t do that.
What happened to the Walking Dead?
AMC’s (once) hit t.v series The Walking Dead has just had the mid-season finale of its eleventh and final season, and despite what AMC might tell you, it’s no longer the hit that it once was. With that being said, it might not be too late to revive that status. Season eleven is proving to do all the right things to get the show back to the prominence that put its name on the map in the first place but what happened to begin with?
The show took television sets by storm when it debuted in 2010, following the best selling comic series by writer and creator Robert Kirkman. As one of the first successful post-apocalyptic shows around, The Walking Dead became a mainstay on Sunday evenings and continued to gain momentum and popularity, until it stopped.
The show started off hot with its inaugural season, before dipping down to a much slower, methodical pace for its second season. Nonetheless, great storytelling, clear motives and an incredible cast kept fans glued to their seats waiting for the next episode. This trend continued with the third, and fourth seasons, following a clear story arc. Making it perfectly clear who the main characters were, who we should invest in, and why we should care about what they’re doing.
The fifth and sixth season tried to continue this trend, but not as successfully. By this time, the writers began losing control of what they had, making decisions that they couldn’t come back from. Fans that read the comics and were watching the show to see the events from the pages come to life on their screens became frustrated with the blatant disregard for the source material that got the show to the screens to begin with.
It all started with the killing off of Andrea. The love interest of main character Rick, who proved to be so much more. On the black and white pages Andrea becomes a fan favourite, becoming more than a main character, but the rock of the main character. The best friend of Rick, and eventually his wife, and step-mother to his son Carl.
Andrea survives almost until the very end of the story in the comics, and is only killed off in an absolutely perfect way. Sacrificing herself for her family, her loved ones, Rick, Carl, and the entire community. Her death provided an alternative look to Rick’s character, changing him, making him a new person no longer dead set on being the head man, protecting everyone himself, but appreciating the time he has left, and the role he plays as the unquestioned leader of the group.
All of this was tarnished on your screen at home, as Andrea was made the love interest of not just another man, but the arch nemesis of Rick. Going so far as to desert the group and join the enemy’s community. It was in the final battle of the two communities that saw the nemesis, the Governor, turn on Andrea, hold her hostage, and have her killed. The final shot of season three being Andrea taking her own life, using Rick’s signature weapon in the process a further insult to hardcore fans.
Behaviour from the writers like this became more common as the show progressed. Killing off main characters for seemingly no reason, and assigning their roles to lesser valued characters, and less talented actors. They seemed to officially lose their “hardcore” fanbase when Carl himself, the son of Rick, and the character the end of the comic book centers around was told two weeks after signing a new two-year contract that he was to be killed off. Leaving the show with no genuine potential ending. Fans became uninvested with the writers and the storylines. Leading the show-runners to overcompensate. From the end of season six onwards the theme became “we don’t want to anger the fans with death, so we won’t kill anyone off”.
(Youtube/ The Walking Dead)
Decisions like this led to the main cast of the show becoming disinterested, even seeing Andrew Lincoln, and Danai Gurrira, the two literal main characters, leaving the show prematurely to pursue other roles. With Lincoln, who played Rick leaving the show in the most insulting way possible from a fanbase perspective. Through no fault of his own. The show advertised “the last appearance of Rick Grimes” in the Walking Dead. That episode saw Rick go through a trial of life threatening injuries that would kill any normal man, just to reveal a cliffhanger that he was rescued and had his life saved. His leaving the show was impossible to recover from.
(Youtube/ The Walking Dead)
A lack of a main character meant there was a huge void to fill for the rest of the cast, and the biggest problem with that was, the writers didn’t designate that time to a new “main” character. Rather splitting that time amongst the entire rest of the cast, that is already FAR too big.
Now because of this, none of the story arcs, and none of the character developments are believable anymore.
There’s no point in investing in a character that isn’t getting enough screen time, nor has any believable direction for their character. It seems the entire cast is living off borrowed time. (no pun intended).
It also doesn’t help that two of the most prominent characters on the show have already been confirmed for a spin-off after the show itself ends. Good luck investing in anything they do.
( Youtube/ The Walking Dead)
The Eleventh and final season has proven to be a high point for the show and leaves fans believing the show might actually end on a strong note. But unfortunately it’s a little too late. The Walking dead has had the opportunity to turn itself around for over 4 seasons now and has dropped the ball at every turn. With two active spin-offs already active, one more yet to come, and a movie trilogy already announced as well, the Walking Dead universe is not going to die anytime soon. Hardcore fans can only hope moving forward the writing teams learn from their mistakes with the show that put the universe on the map to begin with.