toadlane - October 2007

toadlane Fall 2007 Issue 1

From the Editor

Editorial Staff

Welcome to WCRI and thank you for reading the first issue of toadlane for the fall term.

There will be three more fun- filled issues coming out this term, which are packed with entertainment and extremely diverse topics of interest.

Editor in Chief Tiffany Chen

My name is Tiffany Chen and I will be the editor in chief for toadlane this term. As an editor, my responsibilities include meeting the expectations from whe n it was first introduced; that is to inform members of WCRI about current issues and events that are of interest and importance to them. I would like to thank all the members of toadlane and their endless contributions and feedback to evolve toadlane to capture the interest of the readers.

Layout Sonia Tran

Cover Tiffany Chen

toadlane is unique because it is written by the members of the co-op and the content is an assortment of perceptions, experiences, opinions and cultures. Therefore, I definitely encourage all members of WCRI to come forward with comments and feedback on the content. Furthermore, if you would like to share an article with the rest of the members of WCRI, do not hesitate to contact us at toadlane@wcri.coop.

Staff Contributors Haroon Ahamd Mohaddesseh Azimlu Kathleen Chan Harpreet Gill Sukhsagar Jolly Nikita Kapadia Maria Koh Atif Parvaiz Rupesh Patel Johnathan Tran Will Xiang Bernard Yu

Thank you, Tiffany Chen Editor in Chief

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Editor Policy toadlane aims to be a medium through which members of the WCRI community can communicate information, express ideas, and share interests. We (toadlane ) will not print material that is obscene, libelous, offensive, nor will we print material that is so poorly written as to be incomprehensible. Articles should be tasteful and respectful of others.

Articles that are directed at a specific person, either by name or position, will be presented in entirety or synopsis to the person concerned for response in the same issue within a reasonable time frame. Submissions will be edited for grammar, spelling, and length as appropriate. Any article submitted must be marked with the author’s full name and room number, and inc lude a means of contacting him or her. The author of an article may choose to remain anonymous by stating this request in a note attached to the article.

Those who wish anonymity may write under “Name withheld by request.” In this case, the identity of the author will be known only to the editor(s). We reserve the right to edit and refuse copy from any contributors. In the event that an article is refused for a reason that the author feels is unfair, the avenues of appeal are, in order: the staff of toadlane, the General Manager, and finally through a General Meeting. If these policies are unclear, the editor(s) would welcome the opportunity to explain the reason for their existence and clarify the method of implementation. This editorial policy is also subject to the toadlane policy, as found in the WCRI policy manual. toadlane is a publication of Waterloo Co-operative Residence Incorporated, 268 Phillip Street, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 6G9. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of WCRI or the toadlane staff.

Submissions for toadlane are welcome from any member of the WCRI community.

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INTRODUCING… the Fall 2007 DMs Hi everyone! My name is Miriam Smith and I am the DM for BDivision this fall. It is my first time being a Division Manager at WCRI, and it is my first time living in B-Division (I have lived previously in South). Thus, it will definitely be a learning experience for me.

“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars.”

Hey All! I’d like to welcome you all to the South Division! I’m Heidi Chiu and I will be your DM for South for Fall 2007. I’m really excited for this term, and I hope that you all have a great time at WCRI. This term will be what you make it. I’m a 3rd year Business/Math Double Degree student, which means I attend both Waterloo and Laurier. This is my first time as a DM and hopefully you will let me know how well I’m doing. If you have any suggestions on how to improve WCRI, please let me know!

I am a third year Honours Arts & Business undergrad student, and as I am writing this, my birthday is a day away: October 3rd. I will be 20 years old. Just twenty years ago, I was born in England, later moved to Montreal, then Ajax, and I now I spend 1/3 of my year living in Ohio.

My interests vary from cars to kickboxing to interior decorating to cooking. I like to do it all, and I am always open to new things.

That being said, please feel free to ask me questions via email at bdivdm@wcri.coop, or in person at my apartment, B4-09.

I’m a friendly person, and pretty outgoing, so please feel free to stop me and chat. I love meeting new people, so come up and introduce yourself. My favourite shows are Heroes, House, and One Tree Hill. Hopefully by the end of the term, I will know each and every one of you.

B-division and namely WCRI is a great way to meet new people, get involved and have fun. Thus, I encourage everyone to come out to our social events and contribute to WCRI in a positive and productive manner.

I appreciate everyone’s cooperative work from completing cow duties to those part of the management team.

If you ever want to stop by and chat, you can find me at A2-232, or email me at southdm@wcri.coop.

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Hey Everyone! My name is Rita Agyekum-Danquah and I am the Division Manager for Clayfield this Fall term. This is my third term here at WCRI. I lived in South the first two terms and I’m now living in Clayfield for the first time. Speaking of “first times”, it is also my first time being Divi sion Manager. I am still trying to get used to all of my responsibilities as this is all new to me. I am a second year student at the University of Waterloo for Honours Health Studies. I enjoy music (mainly old school), television (ANTM and Desperate Housewives), friends and family (I love to chill and hang out). I look forward to this term and getting to know my division members better and I know I will gain a lot from this experience. If anybody living in Clayfield has any problems or ideas and suggestions, do not hesitate to let me know!

Hi Everyone! Welcome to the North Division of WCRI. I hope you all have enjoyed your summer and have settled down in WCRI by now. My name is Peter Ng and I will be your DM for Fall 2007. I am a 4th year Kinesiology Major and a Gerontology Minor candidate at UW. I have lived at WCRI for the last 6 terms, but this is my first time being a DM, so please have patience with me as this is a learning process for me.

I’m an easy going and fair person, so please come to me if you experience any problems in the coop. I highly encourage members to come out and take part in the various administrative and social events that occur throughout the term.

It’s an excellent way to meet new people and to get a better view of how WCRI is run.

My interests include basketball, volleyball, watching movies, and just about anything you can name. I’m always up for a game of foosball/jitz or table tennis in our basement common rooms, so if you need an extra player, call me out.

Hi, my name is Bernard Ho, and welcome to Hammar. I am in 4th year Math and Business (Finance Option). This is my second term living in WCRI, and I have enjoyed it so far. It is such a great experience to be co-DM with Sara. Hopefully, we will have a nice term.

I also hope that all of the members can work together and enjoy their stay in WCRI. If you have any questions, feel free to visit me at C-19 or send us an email at hammardm@wcri.coop.

If you have any questions/concerns/suggestions then either email me at northdm@wcri.coop or come visit me at A4-332.

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Hello Hammar!

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to email me or pop by my apartment.

Email: kershawdm@wcri.coop or K13.

I would like to give a warm welcome to all the new and returning members to WCRI. My name is Sara Luck and I am a Co-Division Manager for Hammar. I am a grad student in Vision Science at the University of Waterloo. I have lived in WCRI for the past two years and finally decided to become Division Manager. Living in WCRI has been a great experience and I hope that all of you enjoy your time here. University years go by fast so I encourage everyone to make the most of this opportunity and get involved with the coop.

If you have any questions or concerns feel free to contact me.

Hope everyone has an Awesome Fall term J

Hello Everyone!

Welcome to Carver, the place where you will call home for the coming term, or even the next few terms. I hope you are enjoying the Fall so far, in spite of the distractions caused by the trivialities like quizzes, assignments and midterms at school.

For those fortunate ones who have not yet met me at the meetings, for lock-out issues or at COW shifts, my name is Sourav Sen Gupta and I am your Division Manager for this term. I have been around for the past three terms, and have served as COW Supervisor and Supplies Manager before getting into this DM groove. Whenever I have free time, I also try to pursue my Graduate studies in Pure Mathematics at the University of Waterloo.

-Sara Luck Hello and welcome to all the new and returning members of WCRI. I am Victoria Lo, Division Manager of Kershaw, and I’m excited to meet and get to know all of you. I’m currently in my second year of Arts and Business Coop, majoring in Legal Studies at the University of Waterloo. I hope to make Kershaw a comfortable and satisfying place to live and somewhere you can all call home. Please make every effort to come out to all the social events at WCRI and get to know your neighbors and division a little more.

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If you have any issues, questions or concerns regarding your stay at Carver, I am the person you want to see. I think all my apartment mates, including myself, are pretty approachable, and you are most welcome to drop by my apartment Ca-45 regarding your concerns or just to say ‘Hi!’ You can also reach me at carverdm@wcri.coop.

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My interests include sketching, reading books, sports, music, magic, partying almost everything under the sun. I would encourage you to take part in the different social events to be held out here. Who knows, you might bump into me in some of these as well.

I hope staying at WCRI will be an enjoyable experience for you by exploring a completely new way of living together and sharing the fun.

Co-Operatively, Sourav

Getting along with your WCRI Roomies Christina Choy

I am sure many of you have heard horror stories about terrible roommates – Loud ones, dirty ones or roommates who are just plain rude. I have been lucky enough not to have problems with my roommates during my time in Waterloo but have heard numerous stories from my sister as well as from others. Even if you are planning to move in with a friend you have known for a while, living with them is a different situation which can make things even more complicated. Here are some tips on how to make the best of your living situation and how to get along with your new roommates.

1. Set up some house rules: Plan this early, because when it gets too late into the term, it might be more difficult to bring up.

Cleaning: WCRI gives you a cleaning contract with a nice convenient cleaning schedule, so make sure to fill this out! It not only will help you avoid living in a dirty apartment but also helps you avoid being fined for an unclean room at the end of the term.

Noise: Discuss with your roommates

“Even if you are planning to move in with a friend you have known for a while, living with them is a different situation…”

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what an acceptable level of music or noise will be as well as setting up quiet hours.

Guests: It can be pretty annoying if one

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of your roommates constantly has their friends or girl/boy-friend over all the time. Let your roommates know in advance if your friends will be over or staying overnight, and make sure if they agree with those plans.

This is one of the first steps in trying to get along with someone.

Communicate! If something is bothering you, say it. No one can read minds, so keeping resentment bottled up will only make the living situation more difficult.

Also, try to talk to your roommates about things other than house topics. Try to find common interest and talk to them about it. It might even be a favourite television show you both enjoy – Which can lead to spending more time together and getting to know each other when you’re watching the show together.

Negotiate if a problem comes up. Setting up a quick meeting every couple of weeks isn’t a bad idea. That way, everyone gets a chance to bring up any problems.

Bathroom time: This may sound silly but if you all have classes at the same time in the morning, getting bathroom time to get ready for school can be a hassle! Let each other know what kind of schedule you have at school and what time you usually get up. If you find that one roommate is occupying more time, set some time limits to how long each person gets.

2. Bills: I find it is pretty convenient to have one person designated to deal with the bills for internet, phone and cable television. Get together to talk about what you plan on signing up for, how much it will cost as well as payment options.

“Try to look on the bright side of things” In the end, try to make the best of the situation! Try to make it fun for everyone and the time will go by quickly. Having a roommate shouldn’t be a problem, but it should be an opportunity to learn about yourself and possibly making a new friend! I hope everyone has a great fall term at WCRI!!!

3. Try to get along with your roommates: Try to look on the bright side of things – Your new roommate may start to annoy you but try to look for things that are admirable about the m.

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Materials in Our Lives Will Xiang

One of the most precedent and fundamental questions asked by each young generation has been “What is important in life?” Of course, many have tried to answer this question by identifying elements of life that an average person wo uld find absolutely essential. This can be seen in the Hippy movement in North America in the 1970s, where university-aged youths defined life’s purpose as love, peace, and, some would argue, flowers. But the question now is what does the young generation of today value? And more importantly, what effect will our attitudes have on the future?

symbols of prestige. Of course such motivations existed in history, but never to this scale – where whole industries can be driven by this single need to build one’s own image, for it seems that all of a sudden, purchasing any music player other than an I- Pod, or any basketball shoes other than Nike Lebrons would be an affront to one’s social position in society.

Yet, shouldn’t university students be past the age of trying to “find myself”?

Should it still matter what others think?

Judging by the sales by brand name stores such as Starbucks or MercedesBenz, the need to establish prestige does not end by adulthood; it simply magnifies along with one’s earning power.

In the current age of I-Pods, BMWs, and Louis Vuitton hand bags, the desire to consume has never been as high.

Under savvy advertisement campaigns, retailers have used decades to build brand images that have helped define a generation’s childhood experience. Now, as our generation enters into our young adult lives and increases our purchasing power, many youths today no longer simply look to fulfill a need. Rather, every product one buys becomes a way for an individual to obtain a symbol of prestige, and brand itself is at the center of this mentality.

From a financial point of view, it seems rather ridiculous to pay large premiums for products simply because of the image these products portray. In no financial model, whether it be Net Present Value, Internal Rate of Return, or Economic profit, is social image a variable to consider. Of course, those models were largely made for corporation trying to gain a high return for its shareholders.

But does that make them irrelevant for individuals?

Or, is it because firms who sell these products understand that if anyone stopped to think logically, the large price premiums would seem very, very ridiculous?

Therefore, it is fair to say that life, through mainstream media influence, has slowly become a battle to obtain

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I argue first that it doesn’t seem wrong for individuals to consider purchasing

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decisions using decision models used by many corporations. Of course, a direct conversion would never do, but having a similar frame of mind would undoubtedly be beneficial.

girlfriend I could hold more in garbage bags) because spending is ultimately based on choice. However, I suggest that it would be very important to recognize that part of the $500 price tag is directly attributed to nothing more than the brand itself. If you as a consumer are knowledgeable of that reality and are willing to accept it, after examining all other opportunity costs, the purchase is by all means, justified.

For example, in deciding whether or not to purchase a Nintendo Wii, one of the first steps would be to examine what other opportunities have been foregone because of the Wii purchase. In other words, is there something else you could purchase that would give you greater satisfaction in the long run? Alternatives could include investments, which may provide you with an actual financial return, or a weekend trip, which may provide you with a very different, and possibly more satisfying life experience.

Secondly, it is important for us to realize the effect advertisements have on our spending habits. Here, I would like to draw on women’s hand bags (being fully aware many will disagree religiously).

Dominant players in the women’s hand bag industry such as Gucci, LV, Coach, Prada, and Burberry, just to name a few, have enjoyed very loyal customers not only because of their high quality products, but also because the image they have been able to attribute to their hand bags. Their advertisements are very subtle but, somehow, hundreds of consumers have colluded in deciding that $500 is a reasonable price for a simple bag.

So what are the effects in the long run? I suggest that it is very important for each of us to find a sustainable financial spending habit. What is important is to set concrete financial goals and then tailor your spending habits to these goals early on in your career. Even now, as the majority of us rely on summer or coop earnings to scrap by, it is important to realize what your personal financial goals are so you can be ready for future opportunities as they arise.

With these ideas in mind, I am sure many of us will be able to reach financial freedom early in our lives.

Hopefully in 10 years, when we’re sitting on a yatch somewhere in the Mediterranean, we can just smile and joke about our old, humble dwelling, WCRI.

There is of course nothing wrong in purchasing brand name items of these sorts (although I’ve often told my

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A new morning comet Moha Azimlu

A new comet is shining in the sky every morning, just before sunrise. You can look for it over the Eastern horizon. It is not bright enough to be seen with the naked eye, but by mid-November, you might be able to observe it without the need of any telescopes or binoculars.

warmer. The surface of the comet gets enough heat to melt and even vaporize.

The comet can not keep the mass on its surface anymore and releases gas and dust. This material remains in the path while the comet follows its orbit, making a nice tail for the comet. Still, this tail is not hot enough to shine by itself, but it reflects sunlight and produces a nice view in the sky.

A comet spends a few days to a few months close to the sun before leaving it and starting a long journey back to the edges of the solar system. This journey may take tens of years to thousands of years, depending on the origin and energy of the comet.

What is a comet?

Comets are far members of our solar system. They originate from the debris of the solar system forming process.

They are made of frozen gas, dust, and small rocks, like a dirty snowball. They are very cold and dark when far from the sun, but they also come to visit our sunlike gusts. They may have long elliptical orbits where the sun is close to one of its ends. Some of them also have open orbits; they come close to the sun only once and will never come back again.

Last year, around January to February, a giant comet came to visit us.

Unfortunately, comet McNaught could not be seen for very long on the Northern hemisphere, but it made a fabulous scene in the Southern regions.

There is a story among folks that if you are lucky, you will only get to see two giant comets in your life. Oh, I already have seen three! Does it mean I am living over time?

When a comet comes closer and closer to the sun, it becomes warmer and

Figure 1: Comet McNaught in February 2006 http://www.spaceweather.com/comets/gallery_mcnaught_page22.php

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Figure 2: Comet Loneos orbit in November and December http://www.aerith.net/comet/catalog/2007F1/2007F1.html

The Importance of Vitamin A in the Diet Vitamin A, which may also be referred to as retinol or carotenoid, plays an important role in the immune system, bone growth, the maintenance of healthy teeth, cell differentiation, cell division, and night vision.

The vitamin A:

chemical

structure

of

It can be obtained from a variety of sources including plants and animals.

Animal sources provide vitamin A in the

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form of retinol and some good sources include animal liver, whole milk, fortified foods, egg yolk, butter, cream, and fish liver oil. On the other hand, plants provide vitamin A in the form of carotenoid which is also known as provitamin A. Carotenoids are abundant in yellow and orange fruits and vegetables as well as green, leafy vegetables only; in the green vegetables, the pigment of chlorophyll tends to mask the yellow/orange pigment of the carotenoids. Some excellent plant

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sources of vitamin A include carrots, squash, pumpkins, mangoes, papaya, peach, apricot, cantaloupes, spinach, and broccoli. It should be noted that vitamin A from animals is absorbed more easily and more efficiently than that from plant sources. The table below lists the approximate amount of vitamin A that can be obtained from some of the sources ment ioned above in micrograms (mcg): Source

Serving

Fish liver oil Egg 2% milk with vitamin A added Raw carrots Cooked spinach Mango

1 teaspoon 1 large 1 cup

Amount (mcg) 1350 91 134

½ cup ½ cup 1

538 472 79

This picture depicts the eye of a patient with Bitot’s spots which are marked by the arrows.

The recommended daily intake of vitamin A is listed in the table below.

These values however, do not pertain to pregnant or lactating women. Women who fall into these categories require higher doses of vitamin A than those recommended and should speak to their doctor.

Stage

Although vitamin A is a necessary part of one’s everyday diet, it is important to remember that too much vitamin A can be toxic and result in adverse side effects. The most severe consequences of increased vitamin A consumption include birth defects, bone fractures, liver damage, and hemorrhaging. Some less severe symptoms of hypervitaminosis A include yellowing skin, blurred vision, nausea, headaches, loss of appetite, dizziness, and dry skin.

Infants

0-6 months 7-12 months Children 1-3 years 4-8 years 9-13 years Adolescents Males and Adults 14 years and older Females 14 years and older

On the other hand, decreased vitamin A intake, also known as hypovitaminosis A, can lead to vision problems and low immunity to infectious diseases. In fact, the leading cause of blindness in children of developing nations is vitamin A deficiency. The first symptom is usually night blindness and the eye problems can progress towards Bitot’s spots, a dry cornea, corneal ulcers, scarring, and eventually, blindness.

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Age

12

Recommended Daily Intake (mcg) 400 500 300 400 600 900

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Are Fitness Magazines Harmful?

Rupesh Patel

A magazine can sometimes provide the reader with a wealth of information that in some cases can be useful. Fitness magazines are no exception as they provide readers with pictorial spreads, recipes and stellar workouts. As a student of UW’s Kinesiology program that practices health and fitness, and searches for high-quality science, these magazines are products of a billion dollar industry.

In the mirage of magazines available for the general public, it is of this author’s opinion that the reader should be extra cautious as to what he or she implements into their lifestyle from a magazine.

placements, and training athletes on campus has shown that both men and women enjoy sifting through fitness magazines during their workout or utilizing information from magazines in their workout. The latter part of the previous statement is troubling, and that will be addressed shortly.

Sifting through the pages of a fitness magazine is not disturbing, but worshiping the pictures or the content is.

Both female and male models in magazines are almost unreal and in some cases unhealthy objects to idolize over.

There is plenty of background information about the model that the pictures do not describe, but still a claim is made on how they became what they look like. Male bodybuilders in photos look the way they do because they are dehydrated and have trained for years, and rather not the success of a magic pill or powder; this also applies to female fitness models.

Fitness magazine s are never dull and have gorgeous models on their covers, and even more stunning bodies that overshadow their text inside. It appears that all of these models are endorsing a claim that is either whack or unreasonable to say the least. The intent of this article is not to place criticism on fitness magazines or the fitness industry itself, but to provide the reader with another piece of mind that questions whether the claims made are actually feasible.

Both female and male models in magazines are almost unreal and in some cases unhealthy objects to idolize over.

Major components of a fitness magazine are the workouts that target various issues. Magazines offer many workouts for different body parts and fitness goals.

As a reader, if you have a problem with your butt, there is a workout that can

Working at fitness facilities for co-op

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bring desired results. However, many fitness magazine workouts are designed to target a large audience that does not isolate age, health or training experience.

The key to any fitness success is to have a well designed program that targets specificity (i.e. a program made for you), and have perfect technique through all the exercises.

Mimicking pictures of exercises often leads to poor technique that could result in injuries via poor control of the muscles and joints and this slows progress in performance.

Therefore, it is not necessary to abandon what has shed some light to you in the fitness world, but be very critical as you read. Any workout that is of your interest can be scanned over by a credible Personal Trainer or Fitness Professional for their approval.

This topic is of great importance, because as we approach the holiday seasons, obtaining quick results tends to be a primary objective for many.

Reading for the fastest ways to achieving goals, at the same time disregarding safe procedures, is common. The fitness industry thrives off such readers, so therefore be careful and think smart.

Magazines can be harmful if, as a reader, you choose to absorb all that it offers.

Rupesh Patel is a 4 th Year Kinesiology Undergrad at UW. He is presently the Strength and Conditioning Coach of the UW Men’s Basketball Team. Feel free to contact him regarding any health and fitness issues, or on an article topic for the next issue at r24patel@uwaterloo.ca.

Fitness magazines do provide a source of information that without, many beginners and enthusiasts would be lost.

Rants and Raves Jonathan Tran

WCRI is a nice place to live, most of the time. Other times, however, the level of cleanliness drops to the point where it becomes unbearable. Every floor has them; a couple of residents that don’t feel the need to complete their share of the floor cleans. The trash will pile up and the floor will remain unclean until the next clean shift when someone else will do what they were supposed to do two days ago.

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It’s people like these who give WCRI the bad reputation it has around campus.

Every person I mention WCRI to, responds by saying “Oh that place is kind of dirty”. Well yeah it’s going to be “kind of dirty” if people refuse to do their cleaning. Everyone knows how WCRI works; you were informed of it before you signed the lease. It’s a co-op, key word co-operation, which means everyone has to work together.

Honestly, if you’re one of those people

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who aren’t willing to clean up after yourself, then please go live somewhere else.

because we all have to cook and use the common areas; so please be courteous; it really does go a long way.

I am sick of seeing dirty pots and pans on the counter filled with leftover chow mien covered with a sticky film. Or even worse, pee stains on the toilet seat, and beard trimmings all over the sink. No one likes to sit on pee, so please do us all a favour and clean up after yourselves.

It’s not fair to the other residents

If you have a non-cleaner on your floor, I say go talk to them; get them to clean their mess because if they do get fined, they’re still not going to clean up. And personally, I’d rather hang out in a clean common room then to have anyone pay a $25 fine.

Feel Your Breast Maria Koh

October is breast cancer awareness month. Breast cancer is the number one diagnosed cancer in Canadian women. It can also occur in males, although it’s less than 1% of the total diagnosed cases (Public Health Agency of Canada).

population at risk for developing breast cancer) rises dramatically with age.

So, although there are nonmodifiable risk factors, such as your genes and age, there are many ways to improve your chances by making changes to the risk factors mentioned above. As well as remembering to feel for lumps on your breasts, go to get clinical breast examinations done after the age of 40, and mammograms (where they x-ray your breasts) at least once every two years after the age of 50.

The known risk factors include obesity, physical inactivity, family history, early menstruation (before the age of 12), having your first baby after the age of 30, and excessive alcohol intake limit to one drink per day (one drink = 12 ounces (340mL) of beer) (Health Canada, 2004). In addition, age is also a huge factor. The incidence rate (number of new cases occurring in a

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Show your support and raise awareness by wearing the pink ribbon!

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To Eat, Meet, Greet, and Trick or Treat Bernard Yu

It is that time of the year again. The night of evil, spooks, and spirits draw near as the sounds of laughter and haunted music sweep across the streets.

It is the greatest time for kids to get together and share the great enjoyment of Halloween. Additionally, it allows families to write the evening off and take

western parts of the world such as Canada, United States, Ireland, and certain places in Western Europe.

However, have you ever wondered how Halloween actually originated?

Surprisingly, it arose as a Pagan festival among the people in Europe that used the Celtic languages, specifically in Great Britain and Ireland. It was later carried across to North America by Irish and Scottish immigrants and has slightly shifted into its own unique versions of this festival. Furthermore, it was said that October 31st is the last day of the bright half of the year, which marks for the beginning of the winter months. The symbolic meaning that the Celts associated with Halloween, was death because endless amounts of livestock would be needed to be slaughtered to provide for the long, dark upcoming times of winter. That is why this day clearly represents the blurry transition from the living to the dead. Therefore, as the end of the October month draws closer and exams start to flush in, it

their children out to hunt for their favorite treats. Furthermore, not only do friends and families of the residential communities get to gather together to share these moments of chills and wickedness, the business industry also highly benefits from this festival.

Although ‘trick-or-treating’ may end early in the evening due to time constraints, the night life continues to thrive in the urban areas where young adults are still able to attend bars, restaurants, clubs that host costume events to prolong their time of enjoyment and fun before the celebration is over. As one may already know, Halloween takes place on October 31st , and is accompanied largely by costume events, haunted parties, scary movies and simply any theme that will bring upon the utmost fear. It is a worldwide celebration, but more predominant in the

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would be a fantastic idea to take a break from all the stress and to participate in any upcoming Halloween activities and events.

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Touching is Good Kathleen Chan

Are you bored and looking for a new way to entertain yourself? Do you want to meet new people or play with your friends? Are you always pressing peoples’ buttons, and need an alternative form of button pushing? Do you like shiny things? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then the Nintendo DS is for you. The Nintendo DS is the newest addition to the Nintendo handheld gaming system. Here is a list of reasons why the DS is so good:

5.

The DS itself comes with a rechargeable battery that can last up to 8 hours! You wo n’t be bored during Fed bus rides home anymore!

6.

The DS has a built- in microphone. This allows you to give your pet dog commands in “Nintendo dogs”, or blow out candles or play an instrument in “Wario Touched”. You’ll never get to blow on other handhelds.

7.

The DS comes with a Wi-Fi connection that allows you to play with people all over the world. Now you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on airplane tickets to beat someone on the other side of the world.

8.

The connection also allows 16 people to connect to one game at a time.

9.

A program called ‘Pictochat’ comes with the DS. The program can create chat rooms for you and your friends to talk and scribble pictures to each other, especially when you’re in class.

1.

The DS (dual-screen) has TWO screens!!! That’s better tha n you TV! 2.

The screens have adjustable lighting to save battery power or to use your DS as a flashlight.

10.

The DS allows you to connect to wireless internet networks. There is a game where you can actually connect to the internet to surf the web using your Nintendo DS!

3.

The bottom screen is a TOUCH screen, you can draw, write, poke, cut, chop, stretch and do all kinds of crazy stuff with it.

11.

The DS has stereo speakers, so you can clearly hear the beautiful game music from Final Fantasy III.

4.

It comes in four sexy colours: onyx, polar white, coral pink and now red with black. If you go to Pacific Mall or Hong Kong, you can even get your hands on navy blue, silver, light pink or baby blue.

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12.

The DS is backward compatible, so you don’t have to sell all those GameBoy Advance games you have.

Some games actually need the old GameBoy Advance game to get into

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secret levels or get extra Pokémons. *wink*

available for you to try once you purchase the Nintendo DS. If you want a pet cat, dog, hamster, or horse there is a game for that. If you like to cook, design, give haircuts, play the guitar, there is a game for that too. The new touch screen allows you to be creative and gives a gaming experience that you have never felt before. Did I mention that it’s shiny?

The DS is awesome, but the games that can be played on the DS is what really makes it so good.

There is already a huge line-up of games

In This World – A Film Review Haroon Ahmad

“In This World” follows the tragic journey of Afghan cousins Jamal (Jamal Udin Torabi) and Enayat (Enayatullah) as they journey from Pakistan through Iran, Turkey, Italy, France, and the United Kingdom to seek a new life in London. The story reveals the grim realities and risks faced by refugees who long for asylum in western society.

Unfortunately, the path to freedom is littered with greedy people, smugglers who put Jamal and Enayat through lifethreatening situations from cargo containers to inspections by border patrols. Nevertheless, the powerful friendship between Jamal and Enayatportrayed humbly by director Michael Winterbottom transcends their predicament and keeps them trudging together against horrific circumstances.

fiction, it follows the true accounts and actual route refugees take from Peshawar, Pakistan to London. To keep the realism, Michael Winterbottom, as director, made the brilliant choice of casting people native to the Afghan Shamshatoo refugee camp in Peshawar.

Their real names were kept and their true families were used in the film. With no prior acting experience and much improvisation, Jamal, a 16- year-old, and Enayatullah, a little older, are kids who make the audience feel the plight of all the refugees. While they were given little direction, their acting was genuine to the values and beliefs intrinsic to the Afghani people.

The friendship between Jamal and Enayat is reminiscent of the tailors Ishvar and Omprakash Darji from the novel A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry. The tailors are subjected to hardships as well when they venture off into the city in search of work to make

The film’s uniqueness stems from the director’s decision to use a digital video camera to create a documentary-like atmosphere. Although the story is

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money for their village. They face hardship and persecution as they are poor in the city and from a lower caste, similar to Jamal and Enayat, who are unwelcome foreigners in the countries they travelled through, unable to speak the languages. However, the camaraderie and dependence on each other for hope, depicted in the novel and film, keeps them moving forward. Sadly, the bureaucratic nightmares of government keep both groups from realizing their goals for long. The corrupt Indian government take drastic measures in population control to vasectomize Ishvar and Omprakash. Consequently, Ishvar loses his legs to infection. Similarly, the government of the U.K. deny Jamal asylum status, a common plight of political refugees. He has no choice but to return to Pakistan on his eighteenth birthday.

dormant deserts of Peshawar, Pakistan, to the bustling, busy cities of Istanbul, Turkey. The array of colour adds richness to the film and creates the illusion of feeling the hot, simmering sun on one’s face, or induces the fear and claustrophobia of being trapped in a pitch black cargo container. The original music by Dario Marianelli is captivating as it emphasizes the epic nature of the cousins’ journey, reminding the audience that they have put everything at stake. As a whole, the movie is a much needed breath of fresh air for western societies to absorb. It is easy to forget just how fortunate we are living in Canada, when just next door, fellow humans have to risk their lives to catch a glimpse of the civil liberties we all take for granted. As chicken soup for the soul, this movie is a must watch.

4/4 stars

Cinematographer Marcel Zyskind takes breathtaking shots of the terrain from the

Nikita Kapadia

INGREDIENTS: § 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil § 1 clove garlic, finely chopped § 1 15.5-ounce canned black beans, rinsed § 1/3 cup pickled jalapeño chillies, chopped § 1/2 cup Corona or any Mexican beer § 1 15.25-ounce canned corn kernels, rinsed

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§ §

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1 14.5-ounce canned tomatoes, rinsed Juice from 1/2 lime

diced

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§

§

4 large flour tortillas

1 1/2 cup shredded monterey jack chees

DIRECTIONS: 4. Lay the tortillas on a large skillet over medium heat. Cook until slightly brown.

Sprinkle the cheese in the centre. Once the cheese melts, place tortilla on work surface.

1. In a small saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium- high heat. Add the garlic and cook until golden, about 1 minute.

Stir in the jalapeños and black beans.

Cook and lightly mash the mixture for 2 minutes.

5. Spoon approximately 1/4 cup bean mixture on top. Fold the tortilla.

2. Stir the beer into the black bean mixture and bring to a boil. Cook mixture until it thickens, about 10 minutes.

*Note: Black beans can be replaced with chicken breast. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and cook until tender.

3. Stir in the corn and tomatoes and cook, stirring, until heated through, about 5 minutes. Stir in the lime juice; set aside.

YO QUIERO TACOS MEXICANOS

How to bake a pumpkin pie Jonathan Tran

It’s that time of the year again! Pumpkin patches are overgrown and there’s nothing better to do with a bunch of pumpkins than to bake a pumpkin pie. It would probably be a lot easier to just go out to the grocery store and buy a pumpkin pie; you’d save yourself a lot of trouble and it would taste a lot better, but then that would defeat the purpose of this article and I would have to find another topic. Now, I realize this is a bit

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late as Thanksgiving has come and gone, but I believe pumpkin pie can be enjoyed all the time, and not just during one weekend of the year.

So if you’re interested in baking your own pumpkin pie, this is what you will need: • •

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1/3 c. firmly packed brown sugar 1/2 c. sugar

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• • • • • • • • •

1 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp ground ginger 1/4 tsp. ground cloves 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg 2 or 3 eggs 1 1/2 c. evaporated milk 2 c. pumpkin puree Pumpkin pie crust

Step Five Pour the pumpkin filling into the warmed pie crust and bake for about 35 to 40 minutes, or until filling is set but still a bit quivery, like gelatin, when lightly nudged. Remove from the oven.

Step Six Cool pie on a rack and refrigerate. Serve either cold, at room temperature, or slightly warmed.

DIRECTIONS: Step One Put an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F. Step Two Put eggs into a food processor or large mixing bowl and whisk well.

Step Three Add pumpkin puree, evaporated milk, sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves and salt, and mix. Set aside.

Step Four Warm the pie crust in the oven until it is hot to touch.

Sudoku Fun

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