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Archives for February 2022

Today’s Special …

February 25, 2022 by Sandra Matsuba Leave a Comment

by Glenice Lilje

Clean Eating:  The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Making daily decisions pertaining to our eating habits can get a little over bearing at times.  I have seen and started arguments over what to have for dinner. Advice on what to eat, how much to eat, and when to eat are interjected into our social media feeds as ads or commercials on TV. Unfortunately, many claims aren’t always backed up by good-quality evidence and marketing isn’t always honest.  Just because something is labelled as “natural” doesn’t always mean it is necessarily healthier or better for you.

With all the information available to us, it is difficult to distinguish between accurate nutritional guidance and what wellness warriors declare to be true. We all have different metabolic responses so most guidelines and recommendations will not work for all of us.  Unfortunately, the science behind food nutrition is still fairly new, with it only becoming serious in most countries in the 1970’s. In any case, we should seek the advice of our medical professionals and it probably wouldn’t hurt to unlearn some of the myths that have misled us for far too long.

Below are a few examples of videos and documentaries available to view from our eResources collection.  Simply follow the links, or visit Kanopy for other informative videos on a multitude of topics.  Off campus access does require your BCIT email address and password to log in.

Kiss The Ground Film Platform 2020.

Also on Netflix!

“A revolutionary group of activists, scientists, farmers, and politicians band together in a global movement of “Regenerative Agriculture” that could balance our climate, replenish our vast water supplies, and feed the world.”  (AVON)

 

The Truth About Boosting Your Immune System BBC Worldwide, 2021

“Discover the human body’s most extraordinary structure: the immune system. Using groundbreaking science, this show reveals myths and key questions about our very own secret weapon A complex fighting system powered by blood and lymph keeps us all alive. But how does it actually work? And can we improve it? It’s time to find out. In this perfectly-timed special, experts in the field reveal not only the basics of the immune system but fascinating new science – from why a massage can help your immune system to the previously misunderstood role of the gut.” (AVON)

Clean Eating: The Dirty Truth BBC Worldwide, 2017.

“Imagine if the food you choose to eat could ‘clean’ your body and make you feel healthier. This film separates fact from pseudo-scientific fiction to unravel the diet conspiracy gripping the west: clean eating. Meet the biggest names behind this phenomena – people whose philosophies about food have influenced a generation, redefining what we think about the food we eat. In the world of clean eating, not everything is as it seems. Rather than improving physical and psychological well-being, is it actually doing the opposite?” (AVON)

Food, Nutrition and Good Health Ronald C. Meyer, 2018.

“Nutrition has become the most challenging and exciting of all the sciences in the 21st century. It holds out the promise of transforming the world of food into one of good health and vigor for people throughout the lifetime. Food, Nutrition and Good Health traces the dramatic shift in people’s relationship to food and good health. The program begins with the early discovery of the macronutrients needed by everybody on a daily basis including, carbohydrates, fats and protein. It moves on to the creation and basic tenants of the food pyramid, followed by the now “personalized nutrition” era which allows people to tailor a healthy diet based on genetics, age, activity level, ethnic group, social and economic conditions.” (AVON)

Filed Under: online resources, streaming video, Today's Special

Today’s Special …

February 18, 2022 by Sandra Matsuba Leave a Comment

by Glenice Lilje

Books You Can Cry To

 Sure, I like a good cry every now and then.  I once read somewhere that one of the benefits of crying is a feeling of letting go.  The letting go of tension and anxieties, but also a literal release of oxytocin and endorphins: the feel-good chemicals! Society has brought me up to believe that crying is a sign of weakness, but I believe the contrary and that not all tears are created equal.  I don’t think I have ever ugly cried while reading a story but My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult changed all that.  The last pages were so tear-stained that I was too embarrassed to return the book back to its owner.

Although I have avoided reading other books from that author, I still remember the feeling that stayed with me.  I know I can never revisit that story again, but I always enjoy thought-provoking stories that leave me emotionally invested.

Here are some titles that will tug at your heartstrings and have you thinking about the characters long after the book has finished…….maybe have some tissues ready.

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, 2020

The Midnight Library tells the story of Nora, a thirty-something woman who has many regrets about her life and is left feeling unneeded.  At the lowest point of her life, she comes across The Midnight Library whose collection represents portals into different variations of her life.  The Library exists between life and death, allowing Nora to experience these alternate realities for as long as she desires.  A story of regret, acceptance, redemption and the choices that go into a life well lived.

 

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah, 2021

Picture this: a 25-year old unmarried woman, raising two children on her own and working on a Texas farm during the Great Depression.  She had dreamt of going to college, instead she struggles to make a living while watching their land and crops dry out around them. Do they stay and hope to keep the land they worked hard for, or do they go West and start over with hopes of a better life?  The Four Winds is a book about resilience, determination, survival and the American Dream.

 

Malibu Rising: A Novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid, 2021.

Every year in Malibu, four famous siblings throw an epic bash that attracts a lot of famous people.  One year, the party gets out of control ending with a fire that ultimately ends up burning their house down.  Broken down into four parts, Malibu Rising shares each sibling’s perspective as they navigate through familial struggles, heartbreak and a party for the ages.

 

 

Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro, 2021.

Brought to you by the author of Never Let Me go, Klara and the Sun is a beautiful story of an Artificial Friend that carefully watches the behaviors of shoppers and passerby’s from the store where she hopes that someday a customer will bring her home. Follow Klara’s journey as she observes and learns about the societal pressures humans are subjected to and the artificial way people divide themselves.  This novel from Kazuo Ishiguro also allows the reader to reflect on our rapidly changing modern world and the meaning of love.

Filed Under: Books, Today's Special

Pink Shirt Day – February 23, 2022

February 15, 2022 by Sandra Matsuba Leave a Comment

Pink Shirt Day

Pink Shirt Day

Now a movement celebrated across the globe, Pink Shirt Day has humble beginnings. Inspired by an act of kindness in small-town Nova Scotia, CKNW Kids’ Fund, working with partners Boys & Girls Clubs and 980 CKNW, was inspired to raise funds to support anti-bullying programs.

Pink Shirt Day falls on the last Wednesday of February every year. Join us on February 23rd, 2022 in our mission to create a more kind, inclusive world by raising awareness and funds for anti-bullying initiatives.

Feb 21-25 | Post a message of kindness to our Kindness Wall | main floor

Feb 23 | 11:30am – 1:30pm | Make or grab a Pink Shirt Day Button | main floor

 

 

 

 

Feb 23 | 12:30pm – 1:30pm | Pink Shirt Day Trivia Contest | via Zoom

Join us for some fun in celebration of Pink Shirt Day! No preparation required!
Test your knowledge on bullying and harassment at work, school, and in society for a chance to win a prize!
Registration required. Zoom link will be emailed 3 hours prior to event.
Register here: https://bcit.libcal.com/event/3663333

 

 

ATC and BMC campuses will also be hosting a Kindness Wall as well as giving out “Lift Each Other Up” buttons for you to wear in support of Pink Shirt Day.

Filed Under: Contests, events, online event

Today’s Special …

February 11, 2022 by Sandra Matsuba Leave a Comment

by Glenice Lilje

A Series of Unfortunate Events

From the first sparks of fire to the billionaire space race of today, there is no denying that we humans have come a long way. I am always in awe when I think about all the conveniences and advances that I have experienced during my time on this planet.  I can still recall getting our first family computer, playing games on an 8-inch floppy disk and learning to type with Mavis Beacon. Today, I can order groceries on my smartphone and have them delivered to my doorstep by the end of the day.  Amazing!

With all of our advancements, there have been many, many failures along the way (Think: The Titanic).  Here a few books from our collection that highlight some of the hits and misses throughout the years.

Dopesick:  Dealers, Doctors and the Drug Company that Addicted America by Beth Macy, 2018.

Beth Macy walks us through the last two decades of America’s struggle with opioid addiction and its heartbreaking trajectory.  The author investigates the dominant forces that led the medical industry to embrace overtreatment with painkillers and the powerful hold OxyContin has had since its debut in 1996.  Macy takes experiences from families, communities and first responders that have been affected by this national crisis and interlaces their stories with the dark histories of corporate greed and regulatory indifference.

 

The Great Pretender: The Undercover Mission That Changed our Understanding of Madness by Susannah Calahan, 2019.

Mental illness has always been tricky to define, diagnose and treat. In the 1970’s, a Stanford psychologist and seven sane, well-adjusted people went undercover into asylums around America to test the legitimacy of psychiatric diagnoses and treatment.  Forced to remain inside until they can prove that they are “sane”, each member emerged with shocking diagnoses and disturbing stories of their treatment resulting in the shutting down of some institutions and changing mental health diagnosis moving forward.  Susannah Calahan provides a well-crafted real-life detective story that proves that very little is what it seems and makes us wonder what else may be going on behind closed doors?

Humans: a Brief History of How We F*cked it All Up by Tom Phillilps, 2018.

Since the dawn of man, humans have certainly come a long way.  Advancements in art, technology, culture, science.  On paper, we are at the top of the food chain. But if you take a look at the fine print, it wasn’t always the smoothest ride to get to where we were today.  Let’s just say that with every trailblazer, there is a long list of “f*ck ups” along the way.  From Chairman Mao’s Four Pests Campaign, to the American Dustbowl and the Austrian army attacking itself one drunken evening.  As a species, humans has not appeared to have grown wiser with age.  Next time you are feeling down for screwing something up, pick up this book as a reminder that things could be A LOT worse.

Filed Under: Books, Today's Special

Today’s Special …

February 4, 2022 by Sandra Matsuba Leave a Comment

by Glenice Lilje

Women’s Empowerment

 Women’s empowerment can mean something different to various people and cultures.  It can mean the promotion of self-worth or allowing women to determine their own choices.  It can also mean the right to influence change for themselves and for others. In Western countries, we think of the suffragettes, sexual revolution and feminism.  In other parts of the world, women’s empowerment can mean breaking down challenges and having more representation in power and decision- making roles.

Why is empowering girls and women so important? Studies show that when women and girls live a safe, fulfilling and productive life, they can reach their full potential.  By educating women and girls, and giving them the ability to contribute their skills to the workforce, they have the ability to affect economic growth and are key to political stability and social transformation.

Empowerment is a process where the individual becomes a representative of change. Below are some change-makers and their stories of how they view a male-dominated world and what we can do to raise female voices and stature.

The Double X Economy: the Epic Potential of Women’s Empowerment by Linda Scott, 2020.

Linda Scott has played a central role in the rise of women’s economic empowerment movement. A scholar and activist, Scott describes “Double X Economy” as the systematic exclusion of women from economic participation.  Throughout history and the world, there has been a “distinct pattern of economic inequality”, such as male control of capital and family assets, the disproportionate share of the world’s unpaid care work and the prevalence of sexual assault in the workplace and home, to name a few. In The Double X Economy…the author uses radical original research and case studies to lay out the ground work to bring women to the forefront as equal participants in the economy.

 

Smart Wife:  Why Siri, Alexa and Other Smart Home Devices Need a Feminist Reboot

by Yolande Strengers and Jenny Kennedy, 2020.

In Smart Wife: Why Siri, Alexa and Other Smart Home Devices Need a Feminist Reboot, readers will examine the arrival of the digital assistants that are designed to carry out “wife work” or domestic responsibilities that traditionally fell onto human wives. Smart devices and digital assistants have helped to uncomplicated our lives by vacuuming the floor, order groceries, create shopping lists and family calendars, make coffee and control lighting and temperatures. Strengers and Kennedy invites us to take a closer look into these virtual helpers that are designed in male-dominated industries and make us think that it is time to give the “Smart Wife” a reboot that would promote a revaluing of femininity in society.

Available in eBook format.

Uncanny Valley: A Memoir by Anna Weiner, 2020.

Uncanny Valley shares Anna Weiner’s personal experiences working in the start-up culture in Silicon Valley during her early 20’s, often being the only female in a room.  She recounts her decision to quit her job as a freelance copy editor and literary agency assistant and working variable jobs before becoming a customer service representative for an open-source coding company.  Weiner’s memoir gives her personal insight as she tries to find her place in the industry while turning a blind eye to the oddities of the tech bro culture as it shifts from being a self-appointed world savior to democracy-endangering liability.

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Books, online resources, Today's Special

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