Women in Film – Notable Films Made by Women and About Women

(imdb.com) (imdb.com) (imdb.com) (imdb.com) March 8th was International Women’s Day, where we celebrate women’s achievements and aim to create a gender-equal world without bias. I celebrated by watching a few films that were made by women or feature women’s stories heavily. I realized that before this, I never went out of my way to watch movies made by women and their stories. It’s something, as an avid film fan and supporter of gender equality, that I wish I did more. Now it is my goal this year to watch more films made by women and their stories. So if you’re like

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Easy At-home Exercises

In the times that we’re in, it can be difficult to find things to do to keep ourselves healthy (mentally and physically), but working out can be a really good pastime.  Not only will it give you something to do but you’ll be treating your body well. Working out had benefits beyond the physical ones!  Finding some time during your day to workout will help in increasing your energy levels, making you feel happier, memory, the overall health of your brain, clearing acne, and it can help us sleep more soundly.  It’s a really good way to treat your body

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The Best Online Yoga Classes

This is for all of those people who are currently feeling a little “cramped” during this time. We’re a couple of weeks into self-isolation right now and I’m sure we’re all experiencing some irritation, fatigue, anxiety, uncertainty, lack of motivation, the list goes on. Being stuck inside for the majority of the day certainly takes a toll on the mind and body. Although we may be inclined to move from our beds to the couch and back again everyday, it’s important to make an effort to take care of your physical and mental health. And what better way to do

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An Hour With Canada’s Boyfriend: George Stroumboulopoulos

Well, folks, my final blog post is here, and I saved the absolute best for last. Back in December, during Ryerson’s winter break, I had the honour of interviewing George Stroumboulopoulos. That’s right, I sat down with Canada’s beloved long-time boyfriend.  I grew up watching George on CBC, late at night, when he was the host of The Hour. A late-night talk show that had no boundaries. I remember staying as quiet as possible until my parents fell asleep, only then would I turn on the TV to George’s intro for the night that would always end with him saying

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The Healing Powers of Animal Crossing: New Horizons

(Image Credit: Gamespot) As the world has rapidly changed due to the COVID-19 crisis, human connection has become increasingly more difficult to come by, and when it does in small doses online, it can’t compare to the intimacy of real-life interactions and touch. However, with the release of Animal Crossing: New Horizons (ACNH), Nintendo is slowly but surely stitching parts of the world back together with therapeutic gameplay and the ability to visit friends in an adorable utopia.   In the world of ACNH, players are whisked off on a getaway vacation package and placed on a deserted island (with Tom

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Hip-Hop: The Greatest, The Best, And My Picks

Hip-hop is inherently competitive. Throughout its history competition has played a major role in the development of the genre, so it comes with the territory that fans will pick who they think is the GOAT. But through listening to this age-old argument from friends and people on the internet, I’ve found there is a discrepancy between the definition of the greatest rapper of all time and who is the “best”. Being “the greatest” takes into account more than just rap skill. There’s no rule saying that you can’t be the best if you’re the greatest, but it doesn’t often happen

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How to Bullet Journal

Wondering what to do in your free time? Start bullet journaling! My friend Issabella got me this amazing cute journal from Indigo, and that’s how I started bullet journaling and scrapbooking. I used to think that it’s super easy and you can just do it on-the-go, but it’s actually quite fun when you invest some of your free time at home into this! Here’s what you need to start bullet journaling A journal A nice pen (preferably black ink, fine tip) Optional* cute stickers, washi tape or photos Your journal can be lined, dotted, or just a blank journal. You

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Hamilton In Review

Alright, I’ll admit it: I’m a Hamilton rookie. I’d heard of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s masterwork – knew of the hype, the logo, and had seen a low-res YouTube clip of My Shot (I don’t live under a rock). But that was it. I hadn’t listened religiously to the soundtrack since it came out, as one of my friends in attendance did. I hadn’t watched bootleg tapings of the show like some (the shame! Support artists!). I went into it with few preconceived notions of what to expect.  I get it now, guys. It was that good. I was lucky enough to

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Asian Restaurants You Need to Visit

With everything going on regarding COVID-19, the food and hospitality industry in Toronto along with many other industries has taken a big hit. Many Asian businesses in particular have suffered greatly the last few months because of various societal opinions regarding the virus. It’s hard enough for small restaurants to survive in big cities like Toronto that boast hundreds of chain restaurants, but to lose valuable business due to race just isn’t right. Obviously, right now going out isn’t recommended, but when we won’t have to social isolate again, I’ll probably be visiting one of these Asian restaurants first and

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5 Feel-Good Movies To Escape Into During Quarantine

5 Feel-Good Movies To Escape Into During Quarantine The time we live in is a wild and confusing one. There is so much worry in the world, and rightfully so. It’s not easy for us to be thrown into an entirely new schedule and trapped in the same place for days at a time when trying to combat the pandemic around us. So in an effort to find something normal in all of this chaos, I’ve compiled a list of movies that I always have on hand to escape into, and I hope it does the same for all of

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The Future of Cinemas Post-COVID-19

As North American movie theatres have continued to close indefinitely over the past three weeks as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the film industry has been forced to adapt their strategies to better suit the self-isolating population. Traditionally, the Spring season is a period of blockbuster releases, and this year was supposed to be no different. Mulan, Marvel’s Black Widow, and the new James Bond film, No Time to Die are just a few of the flicks that have been postponed because of the current situation. As well, current movie and TV productions have been forced to shut down,

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Best Parks in Toronto for Pick-Up Basketball

Waterfront Neighborhood Centre  Located at Queens Quay and Bathurst, this is without a doubt the best spot in the city for basketball. The courts are well kept, and there’s overhead lights after dark. The competition here is always fierce, so I wouldn’t recommend getting on the main court without some skills. That being said, there’s plenty of adjacent hoops if you’re just looking to shoot around or take it easy. If not in the basketball mood, you’re right on the waterfront, with bike paths, walkways, and park lands to fulfill any outdoors fix. Christie Pits Park  Christie pits park lies

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Best Board Games to Play During the Quarantine

With the city on lockdown, there’s no better way to battle cabin fever and stave off the boredom than by connecting with your family or roommates over some quality board games. If you’re wondering what you should play, here’s a list of some of my favourites. Catan Number of players: 3-4   This game of trading resources and building settlements is a true classic. There’s a reason why it’s so well known; it’s an excellent game, relying on equal parts strategy and chance. There’s a bit of a learning curve, but you learn new things every time you play, and once

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Music Menu For 2020: Jake’s Favourites

It’s been a rough start to 2020, and everyone knows it. It’s easy to feel hopeless right now, you know, with that nasty germ that’s going around and everything. But there are things to look forward to. There is some fantastic music on the menu for this year. Here’s a short list of the releases that I’m most excited about. Some are confirmed (although no dates yet) and some are speculative, but all are a reason to get excited. Spillage Village It’s been confirmed, Spill Vill’s 4th album is coming in 2020. Spillage Village is a music collective made up

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Toronto’s Bike Scene

When in doubt, pedal it out! Biking season is just around the corner. Spring has sprung and what better way to enjoy it than to get outside on a bicycle. Toronto has an impressive bike scene with several diverse trails spread all around the city. Throughout the downtown core there are a number of great roads with wide, safe bike lanes for your daily commute.  Biking is a great way to add some more activity into your lifestyle. Who needs to go to the gym when you can bike to where you need to go! Not to mention that it

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