Ad Meliora

 In a world where any piece of information is so readily accessible, at your fingertips, violent imagery is practically inescapable. Whether it's on the news or even the cartoons the children watch nowadays, it's safe to say that violence is everywhere.  However, there's something different about the violence we are exposed to through media. Even if the crime is real, coverage of the subject is often very censored as to not disturb the sensitive (it may be triggering, or it may not be appropriate for younger audiences). We hear stories of people being mutilated, but how often do you see those images on the TV? Do you see their bodies? Probably not. Regardless, the internet is a vast pit. Even if censorship is common, there are still instances when it does not occur. Last summer, for summer reading, we had to compile a list of things that were on the news. As I was searching for things to put on said list, I accidentally came across an article of a double homicide of a lesbi...

Re-wilding has become all the hype in recent years, and for good reason too. The pros certainly do outweigh the cons; making for a better environment both for wildlife, but also for people living there. Recently, I visited Toronto. In case you haven't been, you should know that the city, while much smaller, is also significantly less dense than other urban cities like Detroit or Chicago. There are lots of places with open space and parks (one of the reasons for this is that Toronto is a college town) and overall is a very clean and well kept city. Another thing that's a little less easy to notice is the emergence of urban re-wilding, or more specifically hybrid versions. Trees adorn the roofs of tall apartment buildings and are planted to provide shade on sidewalks. Roundabouts are well maintained and are decorated with brightly colored flowers, and boulevards feature lush greenery as well. It's not even just for the aesthetic too, I noticed the improved air quality almost ...

Most of us all know the dangers of substance abuse. I, for one, remember having to sit through Drug Abuse Resistance Education (better known as D.A.R.E. ) presentations and having to do that "I will say no to drugs" pledge by the end of them. It would suffice to say that most, if not all, of us are aware of just how bad partaking in these behaviors is very wrong. But the truth of the matter is that drug abuse rates are higher than ever. The other day, my friend told me about how he was offered a vape in the media center once when he went to go print something out. Knowing him, obviously he said no even after the person offering kept trying to pressure him. But what about the people who aren't as stubborn as my friend? They might give in, knowing that it's wrong, or maybe they want to seem cool so they try it. They know that once you start, its very difficult to stop, leading themselves down a path they could have refused. For people with crippling addictions, self-des...