Recognizing signs of an abusive relationship By Barbara (Unbreakable♥) When most people think of abusive relationships, they think of physical abuse: the kind that is portrayed in movies or books or even the news. What they don’t realize is that there are different types of abusive relationships, some of which can be a lot less obvious. This happens more often than you would think, especially with teenagers (1 in 4 teenage girls deal with repeated verbal abuse). They may think,...

Kicking comparison to the curb By Maggie (Missmaggie55) The grass is always greener on the other side and unfortunately, many people go through life without ever acknowledging that the very grass on which they stand is the very grass someone else is so deeply infatuated by. It is disturbing to think that more and more children are becoming adults with negative body images. These children were never able to see their true reflection and instead turned to dangerous diet pills, plastic...

Planning your pet's vacation By Robin (PSY) Many of us are going on vacation during the summer and winter breaks! Before you pack the suitcases and print off the boarding passes, though, have you considered where your pets will be while you’re gone? Fortunately, making arrangements for your furry, feathered, or scaly friends won’t be too difficult or time-consuming, now that you have this article to help guide you through the process! First, determine each pet’s needs. Dogs will...

Protecting yourself from abusive individuals By Robin (PSY) Most of us have been confronted by another person, either physically or verbally. As scary as those moments can be, the events following the confrontation can be even more frightening. What do you do when someone continuously harasses or threatens you? Is there anything you can do to stop your abuser, even if they haven't physically harmed you? The simple answer is yes! There are several steps you can take to make someone ...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 4, Issue 2 (August 2010). Cartilage Piercings By Mandy (Life.Is.What.It.Is) Cartilage piercings, piercings on the top part of the ear, are some of the most sought out piercings in today's society. Unfortunately, because of the type of skin and location of the piercing, they can also get easily infected if they're not taken care of. Most medical professionals suggest getting this type of piercing done by a professional rather than attempting to do...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 4, Issue 2 (August 2010). World Cup Fever! By Brittany (.Brittany.) The 19th FIFA World Cup took place from June 11th to July 11th. Even though it was hosted in South Africa, you probably heard many screaming fans cheering their teams on as well as the heart break and devastation when their favourite team lost. There were many heated moments, especially as the clock was running out of time, or when there was a penalty kick; whether or not they missed...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 4, Issue 2 (August 2010). Maintaining Professionalism By Katrina (AppleTini) As we hit our later teenage years, many of us begin to hold job positions at local movie theatres, aquatics centers, restaurants, or stores. Whether you are currently working at your first place of employment for the summer, or have started working full time at your forth or fifth place of employment, it's important to maintain an air of professionalism regarding work at all...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 4, Issue 2 (August 2010). Loved Ones of those Who Harm By Casey (Casey.) Self harm is a very difficult thing to understand. It is scary to find out that your best friend or sibling is harming themselves. It is even scarier to learn that your child is cutting or otherwise hurting themselves as a way to cope. Most people don't understand exactly what self harm is; those who do may not know how to help. Self harm is just what it sounds like. ...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 4, Issue 2 (August 2010). Finding Psychiatric Services By Robin (PSY) Have you ever wanted to get help for your mental disorder or substance abuse, but have been discouraged by the incredibly high prices of medications and rehabilitation programs? How about wanting to talk to someone regarding your depression or self-harm, when you’ve been told that private sessions with a psychologist are out of your price range? This issue is not...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 4, Issue 2 (August 2010). Some Sobering Thoughts By Holly Marie (Rie) and Amy (ShimmeringFaerie) Sex, drugs, and alcohol. They sound like fun, right? But do you know the dangers? While I'm not going to tell you not to have sex, drink alcohol, or take drugs, I won't encourage you either. What I'm going to say is that if you choose to do so, be sure to keep yourself and those around you safe. When you go to a party you never expect bad things to...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 4, Issue 2 (August 2010). Dizzy Feet Foundation By Katrina (AppleTini) Less than a year ago, So You Think You Can Dance producer Nigel Lythgoe shocked viewers around the world with an exciting piece of news: an organization co-founded by Lythgoe, producer Adam Shankman, judge of Dancing With the Stars, Carrie Ann Inaba, and actress Katie Holmes. This organization, of course, was not just randomly announced on So You Think You Can Dance for no reason....

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 4, Issue 2 (August 2010). U.S. Bill of Rights By Casey (Casey.) In the United States, we have the Constitution, and in the body of the Constitution is the U.S. Bill of Rights, which is comprised of the first ten amendments. Many democratic countries have a Bill of Rights, which are the rights that the people of that nation are entitled to. There are ten amendments that make up the Bill of Rights. The first is the most commonly known amendment, but...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 4, Issue 1 (July 2010). Eye Injury Prevention Month & UV Safety Month by Stephanie (Konstantine) Our vision is vital. From seeing your loved ones and your environment, to watching your favourite films, eyesight is something that we use everyday and something that we may take for granted. July is Eye Injury Prevention Month and UV Safety Month, which aim to spread awareness of how to protect your eyesight. A massive ninety percent of eye injuries...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 4, Issue 1 (July 2010). Vitamin Angels By Katrina How many times have you heard Mom or Dad say, "Alright, be sure to take your vitamins!" More than you can count? Yeah, me too. They don't say it for no reason, though. Specific vitamins are vital for immune systems; without them, we wouldn't be able to fight off infections and would always be sick. Vitamin Angels understands the importance of vitamins to children and infants: "Our mission is to...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 4, Issue 1 (July 2010). News that Affects You: June 2010 in Review By Brittany (.Brittany.) and Jes (Asylum) While enjoying summer it can become increasingly difficult to commit time to keeping up with the current affairs of the world. In case you missed the headlines, here’s a glimpse of what people were talking about (or should have been!) in June 2010. Mental Health