Fashion Crisis by: Jade Dupuis

Trends to follow, defined personalities or even religion, are all affected by clothing, therefore: fashion. It's amazing how a simple piece of fabric can have such a crucial role in society today. Of course there are downsides to fashion especially today with our generation but there are also great benefits to fashion. Fashion is therefore important since it can show and define your personality, it's a method to boost your self esteem and it's even related to religion.

Firstly, fashion is important since today with all the different styles of clothing, it can be a way to express yourself and show your personality. It's a non permanent way of revealing who you are as well as your sense of creativity. Often, what you wear reflects who you are. Most likely, a person that dresses simple must be because they are a little shy or simply not as flashy as some people. Having said that, some are not scared of what others might think and wear crazy colorful outfits, naturally giving us the impression that they are outgoing and have a bubbly personality. Fashion can also be a way to show your creativity since you can pretty much do anything you want with clothing and add your personal touch to it that will define 

Secondly, fashion can be a way to boost your self esteem and make you a more confident person. You don't necessarily need top brands or super expensive clothes to dress well. When you like what you wear, often times you feel good about yourself and that is what's important. Fashion can also boost your self esteem because let's face it, who can be depressed after buying new clothes? New clothing can make you feel like a completely different and reinvented person. When you feel a little down, there's no better way to make you feel better than by buying new clothes and redefining yourself. Therefore, fashion also plays an important role on the emotional level.

Thirdly, fashion is also important since it can even relate to religion. According to people's culture, religion or beliefs, people dress accordingly. For example, Muslim women wear the Hijab which is a long veil that covers the chest and the head. This signifies modesty, privacy and morality. Certain pieces of clothing are attributed to a certain religion and is recognized world wide. Fashion is extremely important to religion and culture since it can label you and it's taking what people wear and using it for a powerful meaning.

In conclusion, fashion has it's benefits in today's society and plays a pretty important role. It can define someone's personality, it can boost one's self esteem and it is even present in religion. So will you look at your cloth differently now?  

¨The Truth Does Hurt¨ by Shawn Blackburn

Lying is viewed as a disgraceful act, but if it were used to protect people, would society view it differently? Lying is something you were taught not to do by your parents and others, but lying can be justified. The truth is white and lying is black but what others don’t see is the grey in between. Lying doesn’t only delay pain or suffering but it also protects others and avoids conflict.

 

Option:1(lie)                                                                                                       Option:2(Truth)

You’re breaking up with your girlfriend or boyfriend and you don’t want to hurt them because you know that they really care about you.  Now there are two options that you have, one: you tell him/her that you just don’t feel the same way about them (lie) or you tell them that you’re leaving him/her to make out with their best friend (truth). Let’s be honest here for once, people don’t like hurting people any more than they have to so lying is the number one solution for that.

Let’s take the boyfriend/girlfriend example again. Trisha likes Aaron, who likes Stephanie, who likes Michael who just doesn’t feel the same way about Stephanie than he does about Trisha. Love is complicated and all over the place, well when your friend Aaron asks you what Stephanie is doing this weekend, it’s better to tell him that she’s going to her grandparents’ house than making out with Michael. Lying protects people from what they don’t really want to know. Innocence is a virtue and what you don’t know can’t hurt you.

Last of all, lying is the best way to avoid conflict. Lesson number one all of you can all learn is that the truth hurts. But here’s the fun part, lies can take any kind of shape and if you know how to use that properly than you can practically control everything around you. As much as you can destroy a relationship by making people turn against each other you can make them turn towards each other. If your friend asks you to come to their rehearsal and hear all about poetry but you just prefer to spend that day to the party everyone’s talking about well one simple lie can solve it all.  

Lying is a good thing and you know it deep down because were surrounded by lies. It protects others, delays pain or suffering and avoids conflict. But here’s the ketch, for you know I might have been lying all along and theirs truly nothing worse than lying.

NHL Players for the Win by: Emma C.

2014 Champions

     Around 16 years ago, a right was finally allowed to NHL players; the right to finally participate in the winter Olympic Games. Ever since, the hockey games went from amateur to professional. Nonetheless, this right is now being questioned. Like in the previous winter Games, the NHL players' participation is a must. It has and will continue to bring many advantages to the NHL association, to the players, as well as to the fans. To withdraw the NHL players from the winter Games would be nonsense.

     To begin with, it is thought that the games put the NHL in the dark for the duration of the hockey tournament. On the contrary, it gives the NHL association publicity. The NHL is questioning their players' participation in the games because they complain about losing money. While the games are on, the NHL pauses it's season. As a result they aren't doing profit. Of course the Olympics give an estimated compensation to the NHL of 150 million dollars. You could think that this amounts enormous, but to the teams it's nothing. Meanwhile, the NHL's participation in the games could end up increasing their profit. As Rene Fasel, president of the International Ice Hockey federation stated, the Olympics could end up allowing the NHL to open new markets and to expand their brand, especially in Asia. Clearly the NHL should stop complaining and take the advantage of all this publicity, which could obviously bring more money in their pockets. The players' participation should not be seen as a threat but a chance to accomplish more. The NHL needs the Olympics to do more.

      Secondly, it is common among young kids to dream of becoming a professional hockey player. Many work hard and achieve their goal. They go from little leagues to the big leagues. As a player advances in the steps towards his dream he gets prouder and prouder. However nothing compares to the pride a player has when representing his country in the winter Olympic hockey tournament. The well known hockey player Steven Stamkos said that nothing can compare to the pride of winning for your country. Alexander Ovechkin, the Washington Capital's captain threatened to run away and participate on his own in the games if ever that right was taken away. This demonstrates how much players take pride in representing their country. Honestly, can someone blame them? It's a dream of a life time. This event happens every four years and fills the players with pride; they need it for their own good.

      Finally, nothing can hold crazy partisans to their seats on the big final game. As the tournament begins, every TV is on to the games while people cheer on like crazy, for the hope of the gold. There's also the excitement of finally seeing our favorite all-star players reunited in their country's team. The excitement of seeing all those names: Crosby, Stamkos, Toews, Price, and much more and thinking; they could win this. It's for a reason that plenty of sports bars open their doors at 8am with their flat screens flickering. Every fan wears their team in their hearts. When that final buzzer goes off, many fans are left with deception except for those who cheered for the winning team. The hockey tournament, filled with many favorite players puts peps in many people’s days. It would not be the same if the tournament was to go back to an amateur state of mind.

     In conclusion, to withdraw the NHL player' right to participate in the winter Olympics would be a mistake. Not only does it bring publicity to the NHL association and huge pride to the participants, but it also warms fans' hearts with excitation. Nearly 16 years ago a great right was given to great hockey players. It would be a shame to shut it down. It has made wonders and will continue to do so. 

                                       

The world needs Internet! By: Kellian Roberge

We as teens, can't help but be the targeted group when discussing about time wasted on the Internet. Most  adults think our response is absurd when we answer honestly that no, we could not live without Internet. Actually, we aren't the only ones. Internet has taken over the world since it's debut in the early 2000s. These days, you can oversee the world with just the tap of a screen or even by voice command. Our generation could bear to live in world without Internet because it is the easiest way to communicate ,after having a real discussion, it is constantly used for education purposes, plus it makes people more aware of the world around them.

Fist of all, using messaging programs such as Facebook and Twitter can make communication much easier. It's nice to call an old friend, but calling them may not always be the easiest way to do so. Depending on where you are calling, costly fees may apply for just catching up on some news, and the telephone isn't always unoccupied. As for writing letters, no on weakly does that anymore, and sending a message in a bottle is a bust. With almost everyone having an electronic device these days, people are sure to get the message, wherever they are! Since the human race could not live without communication, I guess the Internet does a pretty good job at that.

Now, Internet isn't only used to spare our free time, it can also be used for many education purposes. Without realizing it, teachers use Internet for many different reasons, at school. For example, checking emails concerning the students and staff, or even teaching lessons and doing searches. Schools nowadays are becoming more and more Internet-prone. Students will often need to research topics to work on projects. it takes way less time to research something up on Internet, than to look up a thousand page thesaurus. most facts we learn nowadays are mainly because of the Internet. schools all over Canada have access to free WiFi. At St pats, our school, students have access to the Internet password and can use this useful tool on a daily basis. we as Canadians have a HUGE advantage that many counties wish they had, that is why we should take responsible usage of this wonderful learning device.

Last but not least, how could we survive without knowing what's around us? Weather it be in your country, continent, the whole world or even your neighborhood, people like to see what's going on. Important weather warnings have helped save lives everywhere in the world, and so do news reports. What if you were taken the Internet away, would the newspaper be enough to satisfy your informative cravings...

Internet has become the base of the world. It is used by millions of people every single second. It may sound easy, but honestly, the world COULD NOT live without Internet because it is the fastest way to communicate, it is the key to education and research plus, it helps the world be aware. So next time you'll ask a teen if they could live without the Internet, ask yourself the same question!

Brand Names: To Buy or Not to Buy by Katherine DeMond

If you cover up the name on the front, would you still buy it? Most people wouldn't. That's the power of brand name clothing. People all over the world spend much more than what they need to on clothing. The main reason that they spend more is because they buy brand names all the time. Brand names may be popular, but a regular t-shirt compared to a brand t-shirt seems just as nice. Many non-brand products are just as good, durable, and fashionable. Brand name clothes are too expensive. The person wearing the brand name clothing is actually providing free advertising for that company. How much money do you plan to provide for these big brand companies?

When stores have the same t-shirt, but one is more expensive, you have to wonder, why? Non-brand clothes are just as nice, durable and are in fashion. Looking good is more just a brand name on the front of your t-shirt. Clothes that fit you well and suit your sense of style are more important than a name. For example, say someone goes to Walmart and someone else goes to a Pink store. The next day, they both wear something that they bought from the previous day. Both get compliments on the clothes that they wore. This just proves that neither store is better, but one one is cheaper and probably five times less money. Their materials are most likely the same too! The only difference is the price.

Which brings us to the second reason, brand clothes are too expensive! Clothes that cost $200, $500, and even more than $1000 are way too expensive for something you're not even going to wear everyday. They may be popular and "fancy" but that doesn't mean they're so much better, that they need to be so expensive. Companies pay millions of dollars to have celebrities endorse their products. To make people want to buy their products and make people believe their clothes are better because they are expensive, when really, they're not. Most clothes are made from the same material, so it really doesn't make sense about why they are so expensive. 

 
Lastly, companies make money off you twice. First you buy their product then you advertise for them, for free, by wearing their products. People want what other people have because when one person wears something, it usually starts a trend. That is how branding works. The companies basically take advantage of you to make more money for themselves. Companies know that people love and want to be popular, so they know, when one person has something, everyone has it. There is a reason why companies flash their logos across the front, to be recognized. wearing a brand name, makes the person a walking billboard. Companies make money off of you just by wearing their product in public.

 
In conclusion, brand name clothes are not worth the money. Many less expensive products are just as good, durable, and fashionable. Brand clothes are too expensive. Customers are providing free advertising for companies. So, the next time you think about buying brand name clothes, think about other options first. And, if you still can't make up your mind, try covering up the brand, and see if it suits you.

The Good Kind of Addiction by: William Comtois

  Viruses, bugs, stolen computers these words probably make you feel anxious and nervous, but that not all, what if i told you you couldn't go on the internet to find the solutions to these problems! For some people this thought is imaginable. Our society has became too dependent to computers. The first working "computer" has been functional in 1991 and was was so big it would take up an entire room. Today only 13 years later some computers are thin enough to fit inside envelopes. And soon every family has possession of at least 1 computer which says a lot about our society's dependence on computers which is not a bad thing. They help develop intelligence, computers make everything easier and finally computers lets us keep in touch with our friends and people from all over the world. 

    Firstly, having computers in such easy reach now a days will be greatly benificial in the long run. The internet is the most educational tools for any subject and for any age group, and getting that education can actually be fun, yes FUN! Many educational websites have successfully made learning fun by making games that alow people to have fun while still making thier brain work to progress through out ythese games. Not only does computers alow the allow us to play these games they also let us gain knowledge on everything known to men only a few keyboards taps away! Wikipedia is a great example of this. No one uses books anymore if we need to culture ourselves on something we just search it up yon wikipedia and it is almost certain that wiki has information on it. It makes research more fast and accurate thus making us smarter and making people gain time which is precious.

   

   Computers are making everything easier, even writing this blog! Computers make everything easier, developers have put in years of work in order to make everything in our life only "one click away" for example, while writing this blog o did not need to find a dictionary, take it out then spend 5 minutes finding one word, all i needed to do was use spell check that automatically finds the mistakes that you may have made. Also computers also let you make things easier by doing it for you, something you want to download on your computer no worries just click accept and your computer will do everything for you all you have to do is wait!

     Have a friend who lives far away? Lets say you and your best friend got sparated because his dad had a new job and had to move far away well this is one more problem our dependence on computers solve. Computers have many social medias such as facebook and twitter that let you connects with friends and let you make new friends from all around the world. If you aren't satisfied with only comunicating my messages you can also install programs like skype which will let you talk amd each other though out camera that are built in or can be attached to your computer.

     In conclusion, being dependent to computers isn't that bad its actually making life better! Computers are making life better by making people more intelligent, makimg everything simpler and finally, computers let you keep in touch with friends from all around the world! So if you had the chance to make the world a better and easier place, would you take that chance?  

Who would support more tax again? By Derek Lague

     Why should the government have a say on what people want to eat? It's there money not the governments money! This is why we should not put taxes on fatty food. This is because we have the right to eat whatever we want, people should not suffer because other people aren't able to take care of themselves, and lastly, by increasing taxes, fat people will still continue taking some while healthy people will completely stop! As you will read this blog, you will see that increasing fat food is not an option!

     In first place, we are a free country, and so we have the right to eat whatever we wish to eat in life! If you want to get fat, go for it, you will be less attractive, have more health issues and have more mental problems, for example depression. A young researcher once said, ``Everyone should be allowed to choose the way they want to eat.`` I totally approve on his fact. The government should have no say on who you want to be! People eating junk food knows what they are eating and knows it is bad for them but they choose to eat it anyways since it is good but this is what makes them happy! This is like people smoking cigarettes, they know it is bad for them, the community tries to encourage them not to smoke, but these cigarettes makes them happy!

     In second place, people should not suffer because other people aren't able to take care of themselves. As this was mentioned earlier, fat people took the responsibility of becoming fat, but why should people living a healthy life, having a nice little treat once in a while, suffer from this? A man once said, `` If they really wanted to become slimmer, they wouldn't be eating this! So why should we suffer from this?`` This is true, if people didn't want to be fat and wanted to become slim, they wouldn't be eating junk food, they eat it because they like it and don't mind becoming fat! Why should healthy people not be allowed to eat junk food once in a while? I think this is ridiculous! Do the government want healthy people become anorexic?

    Lastly, fat people will still continue eating fat food while healthy people will completely stop, creating anorexia or at most very skinny people! If the government put taxes on junk food, few fat people will stop eating some, as they are addicted to it. But they like it so they'll continue eating them even though the price has increased. Considering healthy people, they will stop completely since it is way too expensive, eat only healthy food and become too skinny or leading to anorexia. Who hear likes man or women as skinny as a q-tip. To me, this isn't very attractive.  Christian Jensen once said, ``If fat people want to bey cake, they'll buy it no matter what!`` What he is trying to tell is that fatty people will buy junk food at whatever price because it is too good! So in this case, only healthy people will be affected and
become way too skinny!

    In conclusion, the government shouldn't put taxes on junk food for the following reasons, people have the right to eat whatever they want to, people should not suffer for individuals who cannot take care of themselves, and lastly fat people will still eat fat food while healthy people will stop. So by increasing taxes, only healthy people will be affected to it, since they won't buy fatty food anymore since it is too expensive, and they'll become way too skinny! So, with all this good imformation, can you now tell me one good reason to put taxes on junk food?

The Act of Lying, Damien Chi-D

    People throughout the ages have used lying as means of hiding things or misleading people. But is it  fine? Lying can be used sometimes, as long as it doesn't hurt anyone. As lying is actually a proof of a highly working brain, there can be a lot of good reasons for lying, and even if we say it is bad people will still do it.

    Lying demonstrates a highly functioning brain. As saying a lie is actually a skill that needs to be practiced. Lying involves the thinking of how you will change the truth, of thinking of the actions you do while speaking, (your hands, your foot, if it is tapping, etc), and you also need to think of your facial expression. Since if you don't control all of these properly, you may 'leak' that you are lying, meaning you will show that you are lying. So you pretty much need a properly functioning brain to be able to tell lies fluently.

    Lies will be used for did numerous reasons, and most of them are actually not bad. Most of the time, lies will be used to keep yourself out of trouble. They could also be used to keep a reputation . Then, a really positive reason to use lies would be to avoid hurting someone's feeling. So depending on the way you use these lies, you may be actually helping people instead of harming them, like what lies are thought to only do.

     Even if we do say lies are bad, people will still use them! Its the same as if a teacher or a parents told you to not do something, the person will feel inclined to do it. It's in the human nature to want to know the truth, but also to hide it from others. Most people, even though they know lying is bad, will still say them, as they have always been used throughout history. To win wars, lies are used. And even little children just learning about life use them! Since people who will lie will not think of the consequences when doing the action of it. They will only think of the present and the intention of the lie.

     In conclusion, lying can be used. Because it shows a sign of a working brain, it can be for good uses, and people will still do it even thought they know it may be seen bad. If you were confronted to a situation where lying would save someone's life, you like anyone else would do it. Its merely common sense.

    

A World Without Fashion. By Kate G.

The Importance of Fashion - Kate G.

       "Fashion is instant language", Muicca Prada once said. Fashion is a form of communication without talking. The way one looks or dresses can reveal a lot about an individual. Not only can fashion build someone's self-confidence, but it is also used in such a way as to express one's personality. In addition, fashion takes up a vast part of today's daily life. Whoever says fashion is not important, surely is not aware of its many positive and beneficial sides.

       To begin with, fashion can build an individual's self-confidence. People tend to feel better and more comfortable about themselves, their 
image and their body when they are well dressed. This demonstrates that, simply by looking better through fashion, people's self-assurance is greatly increased. (Global Post) As Yves Saint Laurent once said, "I have always believed that fashion was not only to make woman beautiful, but also to reassure them, give them confidence." This quote shows how fashion isn't only about one's looks, but more about one's comfort, confidence and we'll being. Coco Chanel believes that fashion has two purposes: comfort and love; and that once fashion succeeds, beauty comes next. This very important icon in the history of fashion means that nowadays, many people think that the way one dresses is often for others, but this should definitely not be the case. It should rather be for themselves! Oftentimes, once a person feels pretty on the outside, they instantly become pretty on the inside. We give way too much importance to what others think of us rather than paying attention to ourselves and showing our true self.

       Fashion can also be a way to express our personality. The way we dress can hugely tell about our image, but also about who we are on the inside. In most movies, directors decide to dress and prepare their actors according to the character they will be playing. This tells the audience who that character really is without having to directly say it. This shows that the way one dresses delivers an instant first impression that expresses who a person is, inside and out. Fashion makes up a huge part of our individuality! Marc Jacobs believes that clothing is a form of self-expression and that there are hints about who we are in what we wear. The way you look on the outside is indeed a window to who you are on the inside. However, let’s not forget that the way one looks on the exterior should not entirely influence how people see you!

       To finish with, fashion is very much a part of today's world. Fashion follows you everyday and everywhere you go. Whether it is for fun, work, sports, advertisements, or to express one's culture, religion or personality, it always has and always will greatly influence our daily lives. Although today's world is constantly evolving and changing, fashion never falls behind. It is always right by your side ready to evolve with you. It has completely taken over our daily lives. Every single day, the subject of fashion pops into our heads, whether through colour, clothes, architecture and even technology. Like it or not, you are influenced by fashion and constantly thinking about it for one reason of another.  

       In conclusion, fashion is very important in today's world. Fashion surrounds us everywhere we look and everywhere we go. It is a way to make us feel more confident, to express one's personality, and it is a major part of our daily lives. Fashion is undoubtedly extremely important; it always has been and always will be.

A Spark of Glamor With a Mix of Color By: Sophianne Samson

Every person nurtures a desire of feeling accepted in society and feeling good about themselves. Every person has wished to look as glamorous as models and celebrities. Fashion has been a way to either fade or stand out from the crowd. People all around the world try to keep themselves trendy; a spark of glamor with a mix of color. Fashion is something that impacts a person’s life tremendously. It is important because it is a means of self-expression, it makes you look more professional and it is often seen as a cultural and religious value.

First of all, fashion can be used as a means of self-expression. It is a way to express your feelings, thoughts, emotions and creativeness. The trend a person decides to follow, the colors a person decides to wear and the brands a person decides to buy speaks about the person’s personality. According to a top British fashion designer, ‘’Clothes creates a wordless means of communicating that we all understand.’’ Fashion is universal. It is a language that everyone was born to understand. People should start considering looking at fashion as a priority. It is a simple form of expressing oneself through a physical style that everybody should take advantage of.

Secondly, fashion can make you look and feel more professional. From the desire to look professional, beautiful, modest and stylish, we are living in a society where opinions are formed based on our physical appearance. Therefore, being trendy during a job interview may make your personality and values shine because of our generation’s stereotypical manners. Fashion brings confidence to a human being. It makes you look clean and elegant which is an image that society respects because appearance is what people give importance to.

Lastly, fashion is an important value in some cultures and religions. Muslim women cover their heads with scarves. That could definitely be classified as a ‘’fashion statement’’ because it is taking the way that you dress and using it for a greater purpose. If people were to dress in clothes from their religion more often, it could possibly create stronger faith in religion. It is a message of modesty, religious observance and cultural beliefs.

To conclude with, like a chameleon, fashion changes and adapts to its immediate surroundings. It evolves with time. It learns the thoughts, language, religion and beliefs of the people around it and expresses them in a stylish manner. Fashion is important because it is a means of self-expression, it makes you look more professional and it is often seen as a cultural and religious value. It is a figure of speech that survives through evolution and the adaptation it makes to our constantly changing society.  “Fashion is all about statements and gives people the power to dress according to the statement they want to give out any given time. ‘’