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Reflections

November Writing Tips

As the year comes to a rapid close, I find I tend to scramble to finish the goals I set out to accomplish. However, sometimes I have to remind myself that new goals and experiences can pop up at any time, no matter how early or late in the year it is. Whether you’re taking part in National Novel Writing Month, the internet based project that is more commonly known as NaNoWriMo, or realizing you haven’t made much progress on (or even touched) the projects you’ve set out to do, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with setting a personal goal or…

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Music

Late Fall Vibes Playlist

For those of us living in certain time zones, daylight savings ended last night. This period seems to mark the unofficially official start of the colder season – leaves falling, colours bright, shorter days, and a chill in the air that makes you want to sip hot beverages, layer up in forty scarves, and don stylish jackets. There’s something unavoidably charming about the autumnal transition into winter, be it the earthy tones that people and nature alike sport, the cozy feeling of a warm home, or the beautiful landscapes. Personally, autumn is the time that I love discovering new songs…

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Movies

“Venom” Movie Review: Are Critics Always Right?

Warning: major spoilers below! Though perhaps somewhat of an underdog in the Marvel comics universe, Venom has longtime been a highly cherished character, who appeared predominantly in the Spider-Man comics, especially to die-hard fans. For those of us who aren’t as much into the comic books, you might remember the titular amorphous alien symbiote from the film Spider-Man 3 back in 2007, absorbing itself first into Peter Parker’s spider suit, and later into the character journalist Eddie Brock. Essentially, the concept of the alien symbiote is that it takes on hosts; giving its host immense power but simultaneously (and sinisterly)…

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Music

World Mental Health Day Playlist

Today is World Mental Health day. In light of this, we’re putting up a playlist consisting of songs that candidly centre around various artists’ mental health and mental illnesses. It is by no means easy to discuss one’s mental health, especially if dealing with mental illness, unfortunately due to the stigma surrounding it for many years. Days like today remind us that there is still a lot of work to do in the way of mental illness visibility, and providing resources for those of us who suffer. Music, particularly artists who are brave enough to express their most vulnerable thoughts…

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Reflections

The Family Complex: “This Is Us”

If you know anything about the NBC show This Is Us, you’ll know that it’s an acclaimed tearjerker. I’m slightly embarrassed that even I, who rarely cries during a movie or show, cry constantly when I watch this show. Somehow, it surpasses the level of corniness often associated with emotional dramas and actually touches something real, coming from a genuine place no matter how far-fetched the premise might be. Because ultimately, yes, it is about a specific family (hence the title) – exceedingly unique, and yet, surprisingly relatable. The fact of the matter is that all families are flawed, and…

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Music

2000s Alt + Punk Playlist

If you’re a child of the 90s like me, and grew up with your angsty preteen years landing smack dab in the midst of the early 2000s, then you’ll understand how necessary it is to periodically listen to some of those goodies. The 2000s were a time when the alternative, punky style rock (I won’t go so far to say any of these being in the actual “Punk Rock” genre; if anything, more Pop Rock). Keep in mind, this was the era of the emo/scene/MySpace crazes, and what fittingly accompanied this time was an onslaught of head bopping, punk influenced,…

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