Marriage and civil unions By Casey (Casey.) and Marie (Rie) To many people, marriage is not only a sacred word, but a sacred joining of two people for eternity. To others, marriage is merely a government institution that grants people access to certain, sometimes special, rights. These rights include joint property, custody of the children, visitation rights, and even accepting joint responsibility for debt. A civil union is a legally recognised partnership between two persons, similar...

Cause of the Month: Pencils of Promise By Katrina (AppleTini) As we gear up for the new school year, Pencils of Promise is hitting its prime season for helping children across the globe. "Pencils of Promise partners with local communities to build schools and increase educational opportunities in the developing world. We focus on early education, high potential females and empowering a new generation of passionate young leaders to create profound good." Less than two years ago, founder Adam...

Fall fashion and myths By Brittany (.Brittany.) and Katrina (AppleTini) Hi fashionistas! Now that it's September, and many of you are going back to school for another year, you'll certainly want to be up to date with the latest fall trends, right? On that note, you may also want to be aware of the top ten fashion myths this season. According to several popular teen magazines, the back to school trends for fall 2010 look a little something like this: Prints Animals. Whether it is lion...

Starting a new school by Cheyenne (Desert) Starting a new school can be one of life's hardest and most awkward experiences. You moved for whatever reason — parents started a new job or they just felt like a change of scenery. Now, you’ve unjustly been expected to leave all your friends and start over completely. It sounds utterly impossible, doesn’t it? The good news is that it doesn’t have to be! Pretty much everything depends on your outlook. If you go into this new school thinking...

Debunking myths about HIV By Traci (Coffee.) Most people have heard of HIV, or the human immunodeficiency virus. Unfortunately, along with the facts about HIV, many people also hear rumors and misconceptions, causing stigma and shame to HIV-positive individuals and their loved ones. It is estimated that over 34 million people worldwide have the virus; without the proper information, it's difficult to prevent or treat HIV, and these numbers only continue to rise. From the root of HIV, to its...

The life and death of Margaret Thatcher By Adam (Rachael98) On the 8th of April 2013, Margaret Thatcher died from a stroke in her suite at the Ritz. Baroness Thatcher was the Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from May 1979 until November 1990. During her long period in power, she made many controversial changes, many of which still incite powerful feelings today. She worked her way through the ranks to get the very top of the political ladder throughout her life. Whatever...

Spending time with the elderly By MedusoidMycelium (Lydia) Oftentimes, we can become consumed by our busy lives and forget some of the most vulnerable people in our communities, towns and cities - the elderly. You might have the opportunity to spend time with elderly relatives around the holidays, but you can make an even greater impact by attempting to spend time with them and other elderly adults on a regular basis, not just during special occasions. Elderly adults have a lot to offer,...

The Lost Boy by Dave Pelzer By Robin (PSY) Dave Pelzer, the author of this book, is lucky to be alive today. For years, he experienced physical and emotional abuse at the hands of his mother. His father and brothers failed to intervene, and even turned on Dave at various points in order to avoid his mother’s wrath. Child abuse was treated much differently in the 1960s and 1970s, and as a result, the authorities were not informed of the horrendous abuse until Dave was twelve years old. ...

Barrier contraceptives: going beyond the external condom By Traci (Coffee.) A barrier contraceptive method, or shortened simply as a “barrier,” is a method of preventing pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections (STIs) by physically preventing the sharing of fluids and/or skin contact. Because it prevents physical contact, it is thought of to be one of the safest ways to protect oneself from STIs and pregnancy. The most common type of barrier is the external condom, also known as the...

Spread the Word to End the Word By Britt (Aspire.) What is an Intellectual Disability? An intellectual disability develops before the age of eighteen, and is defined as limitations in both intellectual functioning and adapting to everyday life. Typically someone with an intellectual disability has an intelligence quotient (IQ) of 70 or below, which is tested by using intelligence tests such as the Stanford-Binet and Wechsler Scales. Along with a low IQ, an individual will typically have...

The resignation of Pope Benedict XVI By Jack (Coenred) and Adam (Rachael98) The Origins of the Papacy The first Pope was Saint Peter, one of the original twelve disciples of Jesus. Jesus told Saint Peter that he was to be the ‘rock’ on which Jesus would build his church (Matthew 16:18). The title of ‘Pope’ however, didn't come into use until 366 A.D. under Pope Damascus I. From the beginning, the Pope has been considered to be the leader of the Catholic Church. Amongst other denominations...

A review of Buffy the Vampire Slayer By Chess (Syzygy.) On May 20, 2003, the final episode of the television show 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' was aired. The episode, ‘Chosen’, signalled the end of its seventh season, and it remains a critically acclaimed program that remains popular with fan groups around the world. The franchise was developed in 1992 with a film of the same name, which has been described by the series creator as ‘a start, but it’s not quite the girl’. The intention with the...

Men with eating disorders By Jenna (.:BreakingBeautifully:.) It is common knowledge that women are more likely to struggle with eating disorders than men. It is estimated that on any given day, ten million American women struggle with an eating disorder. According to the most recent statistics provided by the National Institute of Mental Health, 4.9% of all American women struggle with an eating disorder at some point in their lives (0.9% with anorexia, 1.5% with bulimia, and 3.5% with...

Got Plants? Reasons for a plant-based diet By Traci (Coffee.) Most people have at least one vegetarian or vegan friend, and it’s easy to wonder why they would pick a lifestyle that seems so difficult to manage without being able to eat meat, and for vegans, cheese and eggs! These are staple foods in most western lifestyles, and for most it would seem crazy to give them up. There are actually many reasons why people transition to vegetarianism, some that the average person isn’t aware of....

Complementary therapies By Jessie (Felorena.) Complementary therapies are a combination of conventional medicine therapies and philosophies (such as believing that illnesses develop when the person's body is out of balance and that a person's body, in the right conditions, can heal itself). While some people find going into counselling helps them with their mental health, other people find complementary therapies to be more beneficial. Complementary therapies are not just used by people who...