We Day

By: Laura R.

'We Day' in Calgary

One crucial quality that some believe is lacking in many of today's youth is a certain motivational drive. This consists of the drive to do the dishes when their moms repeatedly ask them, the drive to finish their homework when their teachers emphasise the importance of deadlines, and lastly, the drive to make a tangible difference in our society. This is mostly because they have this perception that youth are incapable of making an impact in society. After all, how much change can one kid make? Well, the good news is, this lack of inspiration is fixable; We Day, an organization aiming to inspire and motivate youth to get involved locally and globally, has proven to change this self-doubt into confidence, by gathering more than 18, 000 youth into one stadium. With star-studded dance, light, and music performances (do Justin Bieber or Hedley ring a bell?), two upbeat hosts, and famous motivational speakers that in the past have included Jane Goodall, the honourable 14th Dalai Lama, and Larry King, young people are engaged and excited throughout the whole five hours. The short five hours are only a pittance of time to educate, motivate, and finally create a lasting legacy of charitable values in youth. You may even be muttering to yourself in disbelief, that "Nobody could change that drastically in a couple hours!" but testimonials speak for themselves.

A member of Western's Interact club, Chloe A. described We Day as "inspiring”. “I definitely feel motivated to go out in my community and help out,” she said, “It doesn't matter what I am doing, I just want to know that I am making a difference." All the attendees of We Day feel changes in their mindsets; they leave the stadium (in Calgary it was held at the Saddledome) with a new attribute: the motivational drive.

A notable speaker was the extraordinarily driven Liz Murray. She grew up in the Bronx, and at age fifteen was left orphaned and homeless by her parents who were addicted to drugs and infected with HIV. Even with all odds against her, she not only got through high school, but also earned a full scholarship to Harvard. She is currently a New York Times bestselling author and the founder/director of Manifest Living, a company based around helping those who want to achieve success and complete their life goals. Even Oprah has recognized her achievements, awarding her a Chutzpah award in 2004, meaning that Liz was publicly admired for being audacious and confident. The fact that someone who had to struggle through her early life can even get recognition by one such as Oprah is proof that no matter where you start, it is possible to make a markable difference in your community.

As helpful, exciting, kind-hearted and beneficial as We Day is, one does not have to attend in order to perform something selfless. I encourage you, to take a walk around our hallways and simply choose to do a little something remarkable. Maybe it's picking up a piece of neglected trash or holding the door for someone, or even giving somebody the right of way on those ridiculously overcrowded stairwells - or perhaps, you have your sights set on something bigger, such as charity work. But whatever the deed, big or small, we need more generous, driven people like you in order to prepare for the future. Youth are the next generation and yes, you have the ability to make a difference.

Sugar Cookies with a Holiday Touch!

By Myra K.

Winter holidays are just around the corner and whether that means going on a tropical Caribbean getaway or simply staying home and enjoying a couple of good reads, seasonal cookies are always a must for this special time of year. Let’s face it: cookies are always a great idea, but Winter Break gives us an extra excuse to indulge! The recipe I am about to share with you is a long-celebrated tradition in my family, and brings with it fond memories of laughter and of happiness. This simple, yet delicious recipe will unite family members with tons of kitchen fun! It will truly completely this most wonderful time of the year. I guarantee that you will savour every bite. But please eat with caution: overdose WILL lead to tummy ache.

Recipe for Sugar Cookies:

Ingredients:

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/4 cups butter or margarine
• 2 cups white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter or margarine and 2 cups sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then the vanilla. Gradually stir in the dry ingredients until just blended. Roll the dough into walnut sized balls and roll the balls in the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar. Place cookies 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets and flatten slightly.
3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, until lightly browned at the edges. Allow cookies to cool on a baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

For Reindeer Decoration 

Ingredients:

• Whipped Cream or Vanilla Frosting
• Red M&Ms
• Brown Frosting

Directions:

1. Once the sugar cookies have cooled, cover them with whipped cream or vanilla frosting.
2. Add the antlers and eyes using the brown frosting.
3. Finally, use a red M&M to make the nose of each reindeer. Enjoy!

Apocalypse Week, Episode 1: What is the Apocalypse?

By Jillian K.

We’ve been hearing about the Apocalypse all year, and the day is almost upon us! So just what is supposed to happen, and why?

Some people believe that on December 21st, the earth will collide with Planet X (also known as Nibiru), destroying Earth’s delicate ecological balance and all life, save the cockroaches. However, Planet X has never been sighted, and at this stage in the game, if it did, in fact, exist, it would likely be visible to scientists. Others claim that Earth will undergo geomagnetic reversal (the magnetic field would flip 180 degrees). However, scientists say that even if that did occur, it would not prove fatal. Others say that Nostradamus predicted the end of the world, but this is becoming less and less plausible as his vague prophecies continue to lose credibility, and regardless, no such prophecies concerning the upcoming day have been specifically identified as of yet.

Another theory suggests that abnormally large solar flares will engulf, and subsequently incinerate the planet. But solar flares have been happening for years, and result in nothing more than an interruption in satellite communications. Scientists agree that this point in the 11-year solar cycle is typically one of heightened activity, but any flares that happen to be directed at Earth are deflected by our magnetosphere (resulting in the beautiful aurora borealis and aurora australis). So if invisible planets or centuries-old horoscopes fail to give proof, what’s all the hype about?

Many believe that the Mayan calendar has predicted the end of the world. The Mayans followed two calendars. There was the Tzolkin, a short, 260-day calendar that regulated religious ceremonies and divinations throughout the year. The second calendar, called the Haab, was 365 days long - 18 months of twenty days each plus 5 “unlucky” days. This calendar was used to regulate agricultural events, such as plantings and harvests. The Mayans used these two calendars to create varying series of longer counts. One of these long cycles is going to end on the 21st.

Considering its accuracy in predicting various astronomical events down to the day, the Mayan calendar theory is arguably the strongest. However, there are also other signs that seem to point to the end of the world. For instance, the fact that the 21st is the winter solstice is valuable to some people. From an astronomical angle, the 21st is a rare day where Earth and the Sun will line up with the centre of the Milky Way galaxy. While many see 12/21/2012 as the end of the world, others view it as a day that will usher in the beginning of a new era for mankind.

The sum of these theories has been said to add up to something like this: aliens made the Mayan calendar to warn us Earthlings of the lineup of several cosmological bodies, which apparently would result in a powerful beam radiating from the “Galactic Centre”, which would affect our minds in some great and terrible way (grant us omniscience, lobotomize us, etc.) and possibly cause devastating physical changes on the planet. Chaos will ensue.

Are YOU ready?

Shopping Scents

By Amber P.

Every December, people shell out a fair portion of their income for gifts, gifts and more gifts. For retailers, this means profit, profit and more profit. With the vast competition in today’s market, companies are scrambling for anything and everything that will give them even a slight edge. Every company wants to know exactly what it is that will get them out on top. Believe it or not, these tactics include not only advertising and the hugely popular discounts we saw with Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but also the scents in stores.

What is it that motivates consumers to buy? This has been largely explored from an audio-visual perspective, with music and colour on television, with the popular establishment of the internet and clever merchandising in stores. Just fifty or sixty years ago, marketing was done very differently, with advertising that would simply discuss cost and performance of a given product. Nowadays, however, corporations have learned through neuroscience and consumer studies that decisions are not made rationally, but are instead influenced by various complex factors of emotion and association that do not occur on the rational level. Largely, the human subconscious is influenced by the senses, but one that hasn’t seemed to get enough attention on the marketing front is the human sense of smell.

Washington State University recently published a study with three sets of four hundred subjects who, when shopping, were exposed to a variety of tests. The first group was exposed to a simple orange scent, the second group to a more complex orange, basil and green tea scent, and finally, the last group, was subjected to no scent at all. The researchers found that those who were exposed to the simple orange scent, as opposed to the two other sets of test subjects spent 20% more. In today’s measures, that’s a pretty significant difference. The reason believed for the results is that the scent is unconsciously calming and pleasant. "Most people are processing it at an unconscious level,” says Spangenberg, one of the scientists, “but it is impacting them.” However, as they found with the complex scent, a scent being pleasing doesn’t mean it’s effective in terms of stimulating people to spend money. The theory behind the results with the complex orange-basil-tea scent is that it is distracting. With so many different undertones, consumers spend more time trying to identify the scents than focusing on shopping; while the simple orange scent contributed to a certain “processing fluency,” the complex scent was taking up the customers’ cognitive “bandwidth.”

Whether you are buying or selling, it is important to understand how people are manipulated into making certain decisions. Even those factors that seem the most banal can make a significant difference when it comes to business. As the business of persuasion becomes more and more complex, there are more and more factors to understand, but when you do, you are no longer a victim of those factors and can become more in control of your decisions.

Reference:

Washington State University website. http://news.wsu.edu/pages/publications.asp?Action=Detail&PublicationID=34039&TypeID=1. Retrieved on Sunday, December 9, 2012.

Boys of the Fall

By: Drake C.

Redmen Football. That name doesn’t seem to carry much weight in Calgary High School football, compared to the teams from Notre Dame or Saint Francis. Well, at least on the scoreboards, anyway. Despite the numbers, there is more to our team than meets the eye. The Redmen underwent a rough season in a tough division, which our small team could hardly manage. A disappointing season of no wins and seven losses, which included two forfeits due to lack of players, left the team devastated. The Redmen were bent but not broken.

Through all the turmoil, what held this team together? Perhaps it was the bond created by the core players who were at practice every day, no matter how cold or how sore they were. Many of us knew that this year would be our last season of football, so we couldn’t turn our backs on the game. Furthermore, the leadership shown by key players such as Misha Drury and Nolan O’Reilly gave others an emotional boost when it was needed the most, after a tough loss or even after a rough practice. We grew to count on these guys to be there for us the next day and for the next week.

Now, don’t get me wrong, our team boasts some fairly skilled players, such as running back Jared Pitzel, defensive end Henry Suh, and cornerback Perry Yung, as well as the previously stated linebacker, Misha Drury and safety/receiver Nolan O’Reilly. Our only downfall was that with capable players like David Choi playing on both sides of the ball, we simply didn’t have the number of players needed to field a team properly, and that was shown by our two forfeits.

Despite our many losses, this past season was a great one. Ask any player and he can easily tell you a story about the season, be it achieving personal success on the field, breaking tackles or making them. Or perhaps it’s the memories of the coaches, who, on a side note, volunteered for their positions and stuck them out with us the whole season. Football is about more than winning. It is about being part of the team, having dozens of brothers by your side, for the coveted three-month season throughout the whole year. Football is about learning discipline, and overcoming obstacles. Thinking of Redmen football in that light, our team was a grand success.

This season has left room for opportunity. Take our grade eleven’s for example, not to be too cliché, but there is nowhere to go but up. Players like Eric Britton and Sage Sharma, our two grade eleven captains, will do all they can to secure a larger team next year. We all pray for our remaining players to have a better season next year, and in saying so I vouch for all grade twelve’s sadly leaving the Redmen Football program. Hopefully they can pass on the lessons we have learned to our prospective grade ten’s joining the senior team next year and have just as many stories and memories as we do.

A Retro Look at Time and Space

4 out of 5 stars

 

By Diane H.

The Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy was written in the 1980s by a creative man named Douglas Adams. It is a trilogy in five parts containing The Hitch-hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy; The Restaurant at the End of the Universe; Life, the Universe and Everything; Mostly Harmless and So Long and Thanks for all the Fish.

The Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy opens with a brief history of the Guide, before moving to the story of a man named Arthur Dent. He is simply sitting at home just before he realizes that his house is about to be demolished. He gets into an altercation with the demolisher, who, coincidentally, is a descendant of Genghis Khan, and both men reach an impasse with Arthur sitting in the mud, and the demolition man trying to tear down his house.

Meanwhile, a friend of Arthur’s has received news on his Sub-Etha Sens-O-Matic not only that a spaceship is in the area, but also that planet Earth is approximately twelve minutes from destruction. Ford Prefect drags Arthur Dent to the bar for a drink and waits for the world to end. And it does: Earth is demolished in order to make way for a new hyperspace bypass.

On the other side of the Galaxy, Zaphod Beeblebrox, the President of the Imperial Galactic Government, is holding a ceremony for the christening of the newest ship, The Heart of Gold. It uses an Infinite Improbability Drive to determine where it goes. This means that it operates by calculating the improbability of a given thing, feeds that figure into the machine, and just lets it work its magic. Meanwhile, back on Earth, or where Earth used to be, Arthur Dent has hitched a ride on the spaceship that blew up his planet. Now, he is about to start the adventure of his life.

What makes this series so good is the way everything connects. Not a single detail mentioned is insignificant, every tidbit has a way of connecting to the over-arching story. This grand story reveals that those things we wouldn’t ever expect to happen, do happen, and nothing is ever what it seems. There is always so much more to know. But we must learn to accept the way things are, and luckily even the unhappiest of situations have a solution. This book teaches the readers acceptance, makes us laugh and helps us to relax for a bit. This is a book I would definitely recommend. Douglas Adams creates a universe where anything can happen!

An Evening with Brian Mulroney

By Kira D.

St. Francis Xavier University is a small university located in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Every year it hosts a national dinner in a different Canadian city to celebrate everything that St. FX represents to the Canadian identity. This year, on October 23rd, the national dinner was held at the Telus Convention Centre in Calgary and it gave six high school students from Calgary, of which I was one, the opportunity of a lifetime: to interview former Prime Minister of Canada, the Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney, who graduated from St. Francis Xavier University in 1959. Mr. Mulroney was the leader of the Conservative Party from 1983 to 1993. He was elected into office in 1984, and served as our Prime Minister from 1984 to 1993. Some of his most notable contributions to our country are the Canada-U.S Free Trade Agreement and the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Mr. Mulroney, when he walked into the room, commanded the attention of everyone present. He smiled at the high school reporters and made everyone feel comfortable as we moved into a close circle and introduced ourselves. We had twenty minutes to ask him anything we wanted. The first question posed was asking Mr. Mulroney for his advice for young citizens who are interested in politics. He didn’t need any time to think and immediately stated that the most important thing is for students to focus on is their studies. Politics is something that can be done later on, whereas education is needed to open any doors into future careers. For any political standing you need high grades, and to graduate with honours, which cultivates the respect that you will need to make it in this highly competitive field. When asked about what extra-curricular programs are helpful for future hopeful politicians, Mr. Mulroney once again knew exactly what to say. He declared that Debate and Drama programs are the most important. When asked why, he stated that politicians are all actors, and both drama and debate include improvisation, theatrics and a thorough understanding of what you are doing.

The conversation turned more political when the former Prime Minister was questioned on how the Progressive Conservative Party has evolved since he was in office. Mr. Mulroney shook his head and laughed and said that the party has become more right of centre and that split was brought around by the Reform Party. However, the Progressive Conservative Party is still ideologically consistent with his Conservative Party, since both have the same thoughts on major issues and use the same political techniques and reasoning. The conversation was brought into the present and the near future when Justin Trudeau was brought up. Mr. Mulroney kept the smile on his face, however, his demeanour turned slightly to the aggressive side, and he became the politician that I was expecting at the start of the interview. Mr. Mulroney stated that Trudeau is a nice, young man, who has no opposition in the Liberal Party. The former Prime Minister has gone on public record before this interview and said that anyone who underestimates Mr. Trudeau will do so at his own peril.

The last question posed to Mr. Mulroney was about the problems of high school students all over the country; more specifically, those of students who are not yet of legal age to vote, but who wish to make a contribution to political change. Mr. Mulroney said that there is a voting age for a reason; however, there is a high school senate for students under the voting age to deal with issues that come to their attention. One of the current issues brought to the table was bullying, and Mr. Mulroney declared that bullies should be dealt with severely, not just with a slap on the wrist. He also noted that young people are part of the bullying problem as well as part of the solution, and for any change to come about, it needs to come from our generation.

With those words of wisdom, our interview with the former Prime Minister ended; however, we were all still invited to attend the dinner seminar, with Mr. Mulroney as the keynote speaker. Along with the former Prime Minister, Naheed Nenshi, the mayor of Calgary; Katie Lang, an economist on CNN; and Frank McKenna, former premier of New Brunswick and ambassador to the United States, spoke in favour of Western Canada, of Calgary and what we in Alberta have done for the rest of Calgary.

This entire experience was amazing, and one I will never forget. It was incredible to attend an event with so many innovators and history-makers and to hear them speak. I am so thankful to St. Francis Xavier University, to Mr. Brian Mulroney and to Western Canada High School, who allowed me to represent them as a high school reporter.

Do Girls Really Like Jerks?

By Eric C.

I think we all know that saying: “Girls like jerks”. Well, in writing for the school newspaper, I think I’d bring up a topic we’d really find interesting. Whether you’re a desperate guy who’s considering pitiful corruption, or a gal who’s just reading for kicks, this is one of those simple questions in modern-day teenage society that nobody ever bothers to answer. So do girls really like jerks? This is the big question, and thus I shall begin my investigation with a brief explanation of female and male psychology.

We can say that all human beings have a need to express themselves. In other words, we need someone to talk to, to spill the events of our day to: the anger, the joy, the sadness, the fear, the surprise. We need, as human beings, the opportunity to convey our concerns to our peers. But when it comes to girls, they seem to have an internal need for verbal communication that goes way beyond that of their boyish counterparts. Why else do girls congregate to engage in lengthly, non-stop conversations? Why else do girls tell their secrets so much more easily than guys do? Why else do girls plant hugs and kisses on each other when, for guys, a little praise and a nod of approval seems to suffice? It is because girls need to have a stronger sense of trust, and, ironically, it is in jerks that they find it.

I’d like you to first consider any “jerk” friends you may have. You know, the ones who are a lot more capable of being mercilessly insulting than random samplings from the average population. If you’re a little sensitive, then you might find this hard to follow, but for those who can take an insult and have the willpower to retaliate, you might realize that jerks, in general, are easier to approach and encounter than average human beings. Before you challenge my claims, let me tell you why they are so approachable. Jerks, because of their harsh attitude and expressive personalities, disarm the desire to use the manners and the carefulness that you would usually use with someone you respect. Why use manners when, to this person, they seem to be a foreign concept? Why be nice when their offensive behaviour shows that they, in turn, shouldn’t be offended by anything you say? Would you spend time thinking up something nice when something horrible is on the tip of your tongue? No, because in this case, there is absolutely no need. You too show no mercy around jerks, and with them, you can be that jerk you’ve always wanted to be. Therefore, clearly, jerks are easier to approach, easier to get to know, and because they’re less awkward to be around, they’re more interesting, whether you’re a girl or a guy. I think it is now that you begin to see the connection.

Now, let us not forget that girls themselves still need trust. And even when time and time again they find themselves attracted to a jerk and his methods, you very commonly see them break up, with the girl ultimately complaining about how she just can’t seem to find a nice guy. This is the turning point of my article. In truth, even if you can approach a jerk much more easily, he is still a jerk. A jerk, you’ll have to remember, will always be insulting, and even when the girl has had a bad day, the jerk won’t care and he’ll continue to be his horrible little self. I think what I’m getting at here, is that girls, by logic, really yearn for a nice guy who are there for them and keeps them happy while knowing that it is the nice guys they can trust. What I’m really trying to get at, is that even though a jerk may be more attractive, he won’t be there for his girlfriend when she needs him. Ultimately, my “thesis” here is that it is best for a guy have a few characteristics from both the good and bad sides. The most successful tip a guy could ever receive is to make sure his conversations stay natural and funny. If you’re a nice guy but you want to be a jerk just for fun, don’t cross the line; just treat a girl like you’d treat a close friend. Be obnoxious at times, but be yourself, and never, never, never be awkward. Of course, I’m not saying that being a nice guy won’t work, but if you start out as somebody with an edge, and then show her your true colours as someone who is truly dependable and caring, then you’ll have succeeded. In sum, be mysterious at the beginning, but be nice later on.

Eh-hem, so in conclusion, I suppose if you are a nice guy, don’t lose hope, because contrary to popular belief, you are really what a girl wants in life. If you just learn to tune it the right way and use a little practice, then you will go far; that, I guarantee.

A New Twist on an Old Fall Classic - Beets

By: Laurie L.

Beets happen to be one of the few vegetables that Canadians manage to grow successfully, or, in other words, in great excess. Other vegetables in the beet family include Swiss chard, which is a stronger tasting beet green, and potatoes. This limited variety provides for a not particularly inspiring assortment. Beets are also one of the few vegetables that manage to last into September and beyond, once out of the ground and inside the fridge.

I had rarely come into contact with beets until four years ago when my parents discovered that they grew several times more successfully than carrots. I felt very unfortunate then, as suddenly, I found myself eating boiled beets every day. I concede that, yes, sometimes it was golden beets, red beets, or the occasional serving of striped beet, but the repetition eventually led me to desperately try and find other methods of consumption; the following recipes are among those that resulted.

Both of the recipes attached use a combination of beets and chocolate, the most popular pairing that I have heard of. It makes sense as well, since chocolate is assertive enough in its own right to stand up to beets. Recipes, other than the ones I have included, can contain beets solely on their own. I have also tried a mille crêpe that introduces beets alongside some more delicate flavors.

I don’t mind the taste of beets now - although candied beets are still a bit beyond me. To be honest, the current issue at hand is the Swiss chard influx (which is the new vegetable that graces the table every evening). Nonetheless, I’m still left with the same lingering sentiments of finding yet another way to eat the infamous beet.

Chocolate Beet Cake

This was the first beet-related endeavor I made, a couple years ago. Neither beet cakes nor chocolate and beets are particularly new ideas. This recipe is loosely adapted from “Golden Layer Cake” recipe from How to Cook Everything by Mark Bittman.

• ¼ cup butter
• 1/3 cup + 2 tbsp sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 cup red beet puree (from approx. 4 beets)
• 1.5 oz dark chocolate, melted
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1 cup flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp baking soda
• a generous pinch of salt
• ½ cup milk
• 1 egg white

1. Beat egg white until it reaches firm peaks (but not stiff), and set aside.
2. Cream butter and sugar, beat in egg, and then melted chocolate.
3. Ensure beet puree is at room temperature before adding to butter mixture.
4. Sift together cocoa powder, flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt.
5. Alternate adding flour mixture and milk in a few additions.
6. Fold in egg white.
7. Bake at 350°F. Batter fills around 10 cupcakes for around 20 minutes, or one buttered and floured loaf pan or 8” cake pan for around 40 minutes. Check the cake with a skewer; it is done when there are only a few crumbs clinging.

 

Beet Mille-Crêpe

I made this particular favourite of mine last month. Have I ever mentioned I adore my crêpe pan – self-seasoned and all? It is my pride and joy.

This crêpe recipe is slightly adapted from How to Cook Everything by Mark Bittman, and the pastry cream recipe is generously adapted from Laura Calder (http://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipes/
recipe.html?dishid=9013). In retrospect, to ensure the lavender can be tasted, I would sprinkle extra, dried, crumbled, lavender flowers over the occasional layer.


Crêpes (approx. 24)

• 2 cups flour
• a pinch of salt
• 3 tbsp sugar
• 1 ½ cups milk
• ½ cup water
• 4 eggs
• 4 tbsp neutral oil

1. Sift together flour, salt and sugar. Add milk, water and eggs, beat until mostly lump free, however also trying to avoid beating in air. Let rest, refrigerated, for at least an hour.
2. Skim off foam that rises to the top; this can be used to make the first crêpe to test the temperature of the pan. Mix in oil.
3. Heat a 9” pan, either well seasoned or non-stick over medium heat. Brush with a thin layer of oil.
4. Ladle in enough batter to swirl and cover the bottom of the pan (if there is excess, pour out). Let cook until set and edges are slightly dry. Loosen edges with a spatula, and flip with fingertips. Allow batter to cook until both sides are fully set, remove to a plate.
5. Repeat until all the batter has been used up. If batter browns too quickly, lower the heat, and if the batter takes too long to set, raise the heat.

Pastry Cream

• 3 tbsp cream
• 4 oz white chocolate, finely chopped
• A few sprigs of lavender
• 1 ¼ cups milk
• 5 egg yolks
• 1 tbsp sugar
• Scant 3 tbsp cornstarch
• 1/2 cup beet puree
• ½ cup heavy cream, whipped

1. In a small bowl, heat 3 tbsp cream until boiling, and pour over white chocolate, stir until melted.
2. Remove lavender flowers from stem and add to milk in a small saucepan. Heat milk until steaming, and gradually add to chocolate, whisking until smooth.
3. Whisk together eggs, sugar, and cornstarch until smooth.
4. Reheat milk until steaming, gradually pour into eggs in order to temper and prevent curdling.
5. Return to pan, and cook over med-low heat, whisking constantly, until pastry cream is thickened. Transfer to bowl, beat in beet puree, cover, and let cool.
6. Fold in whipped cream. Chill until ready to assemble.

Assembly

1. Spread each crêpe with a thin layer of pastry cream, and stack another on top. Repeat until all crêpes have been used.
2. Chill for at least a couple hours before serving to allow everything to set.

Need Advice?

The Western World Advice Column:

Adolescence is a life stage whose defining characteristic is, unfortunately, confusion. Teenagers find themselves asking many questions: Why do girls expect guys to be telepathic? Why can’t guys ever pick up on incredibly obvious hints? Why is trigonometry so difficult? These questions plague us daily with their unanswerability, mocking us with the profundities from which we remain forever inaccessible.

But fear not! Write to the Western World Advice Column, which will have a name that slaps you across the face with its ingenuity, but at present cringes with embarrassment at having been given a moniker that could never be accused of anything remotely resembling originality. This section of the Western World is dedicated to answering your questions and showing you how to do those things that are worth knowing how to do. Queries will be answered and ignorance will be vanquished!

If you have a question that you’d like us to answer, or a topic you’d like us to explore, send us a message at advice.westernworld@gmail.com. All submissions will be kept anonymous, but if you would prefer not to have your question published, let us know in your message. We’d like to think of ourselves as honest and open-minded, so even if your questions is: “Help me find my baby sister before my parents find out that I’ve lost her,” we will not judge you but instead suggest that you hire a babysitter in the future, because honestly, what kind of DECENT human being loses a SMALL CHILD? (In all seriousness, though, we have put ourselves through more self-inflicted humiliation than you may have thought humanly possible, so, no need to be embarrassed.) We’ll be answering some of your questions soon, but in the meantime, we will post a few of our own just to prove that we are, in fact, capable of answering questions. Soon, we will see the confusion of being a teenager will become less and less as your deepest questions get our own deeply considered answers.

Planning For Your Future

By: Chloe A. and Thea H.

University application time is quickly coming upon us. It is a stressful, but exciting time of year. Grade twelve students are nervous about which major to choose, where to apply, and whether or not their marks are up to par. As you may know, our school recently had a post-secondary fair that featured many Canadian universities. Hopefully, students now have all the information they need, but if not, there are always student counsellors who can help to fill in the gaps. It is sometimes hard to decide whether to go away to university, to stay in Calgary and go to school, or to make a big jump and go abroad for post-secondary education. However, the application process is quite similar for any university. Here is a short summary of all you need to know about planning for post-secondary education.

The first step is to choose a school. Since it costs money to apply, it is best to choose only universities that really appeal to you, which will require research; this could include campus tours, university information booklets, and, of course, word of mouth.

One perk of staying in Calgary is having the comfort of knowing your surroundings and living at home. A lot of students stay for their first year of university or for their first degree and transfer for the rest of their education. This can save both a lot of money and a lot of stress compared to moving to a new city right away and living on your own. Nonetheless, some people want a change after high school. Moving to a new part of the country can give you a new experience that you would never get living at home; it forces you to be independent and to make a new life for yourself. While it is true, that it is more expensive than staying home, going away to another province to school can offer a lot of benefits to you as an individual. Additionally, going abroad to another country is an option. This can be stressful due to the new environment, and can also require extra testing like the SATs in the US, but that is a small price to pay for the unique and enlightening experience you can have. It is up to you to weigh the pros and cons and decide whether the comfortable life back home or the exciting world of a new country is the right place for you.

Once you have picked the few universities in which you are really interested, it is time to start applying. This can be done either online or via mail. Online application is much more efficient and allows you to keep up with the latest updates. You can also track the status of your application online, and some universities will even give price discounts if you do it this way. You will usually hear back by November, at the earliest, and at the latest, in May, depending on when you apply. Once you have been accepted, it will be time to make the final decision on where you want to go.

These and other factors will play a huge role in your post-secondary planning, but no matter what, remember that you are doing this for yourself. We’re talking about your future, and these are some very important steps in the journey of the rest of your life, so don’t be afraid to pick that which is best for you. Remember to have lots of fun and surely, it will be a great experience!

Student Speak: Making New Friends

By: Hailey S.

The Student Speak section allows you to gain a sense of what your peers at Western Canada High School feel about particular issues or activities that interest them in our school or around the community. Particularly, this article explores how four students felt when transitioning from junior high to high school!

Question: 
Has it been easy this year to make new friends at Western? Have you kept up previous friendships from other schools? How have you been introduced to new people? In your opinion, has everything gone the way you thought it would?

Alison D.
Grade 10 Student – Yes, for me it’s been easy because I came from a junior high that a lot of people here didn’t come from, so pretty much all the friends I have at Western are new friends. And yes, as well because we share the same likes and dislikes. I’ve been introduced to them mostly through Band and IB classes.  Pretty much; everything has gone the way I thought it would here.

Matt A.
Grade 10 Student- Yeah, [it has been] pretty easy. Everybody here is more accepting then a lot of other places, so even if you come from a school where not a lot of kids came to Western, it would still stay pretty easy, especially if you get involved in many of the activities you can. That helps a lot. I’ve still maintained the old friendships I already had, because only two of the kids at my old school, not including myself, go here. The new friends I’ve made, I’ve met through sports and being introduced to other people from those new people. Everything has gone better then I thought it would, since high school hasn’t been as hard as I thought it would be.

Graham G.
Grade 10 Student– Definitively, it’s been easy! I think that because it’s such a big school, everyone can get to know each other better, enjoy new people and make new friends. It’s really cool; I’ve met some really neat new people through option classes, walking around school, through trips and just talking to everyone. It’s great to meet new people! So far it’s been better then I thought it would be! Better – because I came here as a “newbie” from a school with only five new junior high kids that came, so [the experience here] has been great!

Danielle L.
Grade 11 Student- It’s been very easy for me to make new friends here. Everyone is so accepting and there are a lot of different groups so it’s easy to find new friends! I still have really strong friendships as well, from my other school, but I’ve met new friends mostly through other classes and through a lot of clubs throughout Western. There are a lot of clubs; it’s a great way of meeting people! I would say that so far, it has been a great experience for me at Western because everything has gone the way I thought it would!

From the voices of these four students, it seems that they all share the same positive attitude towards their experience at Western when it comes to forming new friendships so far. It definitely requires risk-taking skills to encounter new people; however, we all have the ability to break these barriers over which we evidently have in control. Once you venture out and take advantage of this new opportunity, it’s much easier than your mind may perceive. Make your Western Canada High School experience worth it, because seconds pass instantaneously and soon you’ll be graduating!

Procrastination: It’s Always a Bad Idea

By: Emma W.

Admit it, we all do it: procrastinate. Hey, I even procrastinated writing this article over the last five months. For most people, it’s something we’d like to change, but the problem is that some of us don’t even realize that it’s a problem. It all starts when you’re bestowed with a complicated and undesirable task: your English teacher assigns you a 2000-word essay on existentialism in Grendel, and it’s due in two months. You forget about it until the weekend before it’s due. Sound familiar?

Of course, you didn’t mean to leave it for this long. You even fantasized planning it out and finishing it a month early. However, you wanted to make it really good this time, maybe even pass the paper, but you never really had the time to spare with your busy schedule and all. How did this happen? AGAIN? Well, I have the answer. It’s really quite simple. You ready for it? Here goes...

Just write the freaking paper. It’s really not nearly as dreadful as you think; in fact, the less you think about how stressful it is, the less stress you’re inflicting upon yourself. Stop over-thinking and sit down, take out a sheet of paper, along with a pencil and your copy of Grendel, and start doing it. If you need to plan your time, schedule a realistic timeline for completing everything. Check your agenda to see when you can actually work on it. After this incredibly difficult task, start your essay. Plan an outline if you need to. Since everybody works differently, figure out what kind of a student you are. If you like listening to music, then put on some music. For big projects, like the 2000-word essay on existentialism, it may be slow and since there’s little motivation for your progress, it’s easy to give up and keep refreshing Facebook for notifications. Hang in there. Just turn off what distracts you (log off of Facebook). When you finish, (and you can, believe me) you will be surprised that it was that simple. “Holy cow, that took me only thirty minutes?” Hooray! Now you can review it twelve times (just kidding). It may take you a while to realize this, but there really isn’t much to assignments. Don’t think about how much work you have. Why stress out over something that reasonable teachers assign you and fully expect you to be able to finish in the time they give you? I know students in full IB who are involved in eight hundred school clubs and extracurricular activities, on top of FULL IB and they’re getting by (just scraping by their 99s). They’re superheroes, I admit, but the main aspect that sets them apart from underachievers is their inhuman mastery of time management. You’ll understand by the time you learn to manage time that that’s all there is to it: you will get stuff done and have virtually no stress, and let’s not forget the comforting knowledge that you can do it.

All inspired and pumped up now? Good. Go and get ‘em! Your glimmering future awaits! Now if you’ll excuse me, I should take my own advice and go and start that extended essay...

Say Cheese!

By Clare T. 

Want to find out what goes on at Western’s Photography Club? Here’s an exclusive interview with two club members, Marc L. and Alex V.

CT: First question! Why did you decide to join the Photography Club?

ML: Well, I didn’t know anyone when I came to Western, and was told that the best way to meet people was to join a club. As well, photography has always been my passion.

AV: I joined photography club because I wanted to meet other people who were interested in photography, and learn new skills.

CT: So, what happens in a typical Photography Club meeting?

ML: It’s always chaos at the beginning! We’re never really organized! Usually we start by talking about upcoming events at school where photographers are needed, and pass around sign-up sheets so that members can volunteer to take photos.

AV: Every meeting, Mackenzie, our club leader, teaches us a new lesson about photography, on topics like framing and aperture. Then we go through the school taking pictures and applying the concept that we’ve learned.

CT: Why are you passionate about photography?

ML: Wow, that’s a hard question! I love how you can put so much thought into a simple medium. With photography, there is always more than one perspective, one way to look at something.

AV: It’s a form of self-expression through images, and gives you the ability to capture a moment forever.

ML: The feeling you get when a photo comes together is priceless. That moment when you know that you’ve taken a good picture, is just about the best moment ever.

CT: In your opinion, what is the best part of being in the Photography Club?

ML: I love being part of this club because I love teaching and being able to share my passion. I learn through teaching too. It’s also an opportunity to help others develop an appreciation for the art. Most people don’t understand everything that’s behind a great photo.

AV: For me it’s having the opportunity to do what I love and to meet new people.

CT: What’s the best picture you’ve ever taken? Did you set it up or was it spontaneous?

AV: The best picture I’ve ever taken is one of my friend skiing. It’s a really great shot of him with snow in his face. I guess you could say it was planned.

ML: The best picture I’ve ever taken was for a project I did for a photography class. The assignment was to shoot something with a new perspective. I glued martini glasses to a board with a background, and filled the glasses with different colored liquids. Then I tilted the board and set up my tripod on the same angle so that it appeared the glasses were standing straight, but the liquid inside them was angled. I love this photo because it teaches that what you see is not reality.

CT: Who or what got you interested in photography?

ML: I’ve asked myself this question so many times! When I was a kid, I had a really old and [terrible] point and shoot. Then I got an old camera from a dental office that used it for insurance photography and was selling it after getting an upgrade. One day, while skateboarding, I fell and smashed the camera to bits. I was really sad when it broke, and it was then that I realized that photography was something I had really begun to enjoy, and decided it would be worth it to buy myself a new camera. I’ve been taking pictures ever since.

AV: My dad got me interested in photography. It was always one of his passions, and he passed it down to me.

Cookie Column #1

By Amber Peters
I always love trying new recipes, but I’ve found the crème de la crème of cookies lies not in the newest and latest, but in a cookie I’ve known since before I can remember: my grandmother’s recipe for chocolate chip cookies. This is the recipe that brings back those childhood memories of cooking with my sister, Tasha on a Sunday afternoon, eating half the dough before the cookies even get in the oven. Being impatient, I’d always try to eat one before they had cooled, and would burn my fingers and tongue on the hot dough. The melty chocolate left traces on our skin, yet even with our faces covered in chocolate, we’d have just one more. Tasha would always say, “You split, I choose” and pick the bigger half, but she’d still end up begging me for just one more piece of mine. That classic mix of sugar, butter and flour, mixed with oatmeal and chocolate chips, comes together to make the most delightful chocolate chip cookie I’ve had both the chance to eat and the honour to make. And the dough is not too bad either…

Recipe for Nana’s Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter 
• ¾ cup white sugar
• ¾ brown sugar 
• 1 tsp. vanilla 
• 1 ½ cups flour
• 2 cups oatmeal
• 2 tsp. hot water
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• ¾ cup chocolate chips (approx.)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown and white sugar, and vanilla. Nowadays my Nana just melts the butter and stirs it in, but I personally like to work the butter and sugar together with a pastry cutter. Use whichever method best suits you.
3. Stir in egg and hot water.
4. Mix in dry ingredients and chocolate chips.
5. Roll dough into balls, place on a buttered cookie sheet and press down with a fork.
6. Bake for 10-12 minutes.

Source:
Brunner, Rose. Simply Delicious. 1988.

A Common Day’s Lunch

By: Amber P.
For some, it’s whatever they can throw into a paper bag before they run out the door in the morning. For others, it’s a few dollars’ worth of food from the cafeteria. But, for me, it’s a little bit of a ritual. No, it’s not grand or noteworthy, but the truth is that we all have to eat, and if we have to do it, we might as well do it well.

I remember that cold December afternoon when I rushed into the house, searching for the bento box that my parents had bought me for Christmas. It wasn’t exactly a surprise, since I had found the site and the model, and had even typed the order in myself, simply passing the computer over to my mom for her to type in her credit card number. Still, the excitement was not any less. Out of care for the precious contents, I slit through the tape, carefully opened the box, took out the crumpled Japanese newspaper, and opened the box within the box to find, well, another box – namely, a bento box. It was even more beautiful than it had seemed in the pictures. It was sleek and black, with an optimistic four-leaf clover on the lid and an even more optimistic message inscribed in gold letters on the cover: “you can do anything if you try”. Naturally, I had no idea how to read the Japanese calligraphy, but I had read the translation on the website and that was good enough for me.

Of course, it’s not only the box that’s important, but also what goes in it. For me, everything is important, because, honestly, I am a little bit of a perfectionist. And generally the things I do in life are quite far from perfect, but with my lunch each night, if I follow a few basic rules, I can find something so nicely put together and compartmentalized that it’s just perfect enough. For me, lunch presents a beautiful concept. Every night, partly by compulsion and partly by necessity, I make sure to fill up my bento box in its entirety, with something on each of the separate levels. Though, honestly, I don’t always abide by these rules, I generally try to fulfil my hybridized food guidelines. In my much-loved vegetarian Japanese cookbook, Kansha, Elizabeth Andoh describes that in each meal there should be five colours: white, green, red, black and yellow. This serves as a rule of thumb that in conjunction with the Canada Food Guide’s food groups of vegetables, grains, fruits and proteins (I don’t consider dairy to be much of a food group) ensures an acceptable level of healthiness in every lunch. The specific foods I include vary in an almost haphazard way based on the food in the fridge, but this adds to the moral, or lesson, for lunch, where food is not wasted but instead married into a whole as a complete meal. Most commonly, however, I will have a simple lettuce salad on the bottom level with either mustard or pomegranate dressing, and always with an eighth of a napkin carefully folded on top so I never have to finish my lunch with an unclean face or hands. And so, as I chew the last bits of my lunch and wipe my hands clean, before an afternoon exam, I can close the lid and remember the encouraging message: I can do anything if I try.

Mustard Dressing (fast-and-easy style)

• 5 tsps oil (I prefer olive) 
• 4 tsps vinegar (I prefer sherry) 
• 3 tsps mustard 
• 2 tsps honey 
• ½ tsp dried thyme 
• ½ teaspoon herbes de provence (herbs can be changed based on preference and availability)
• salt and pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients in a water-resistant container and close with a lid. Shake until combined.

Reference
Andoh, Elizabeth, and Leigh Beisch. Kansha: Celebrating Japan's Vegan & Vegetarian Traditions. Berkeley: Ten Speed, 2010. Print.

How to Write Good Notes

Hello to all of you who have looked back on their piles of loose leaf notes the morning before their finals and asked themselves, “What the heck does this say?” Or maybe you fumbled with these same notes for fifteen minutes just trying to get the sheets in order. Either way, disorganized notes are a nightmare to study from. So why not learn a few simple steps to writing awesome notes that you won’t be able to stop staring at?

1. Do not use abbreviations, and remember to write in your own voice. Abbreviated notes are the bane of a panicked reviewer. How is one supposed to tell whether “FR cause: famine” means that “famine” was a cause of the French Revolution (which also took precious minutes to decode) or whether the Revolution caused the famine? It is pretty important to determine causality for writing that exam worth a large percentage of your final mark.
2. Write in a consistent font/calligraphy/style. This means do not get lazy and let your writing become sloppy on that day you are too tired to even pay attention in class. Two benefits arise from maintaining a neat set of notes. The first is that your notes look terrific afterwards. It will be like you typed them in John Smith Font 1. This fact holds even if you are not the best printer, as consistency is all that matters. (But if you do write neatly, your notes get a typewritten look – exciting!) The second benefit is that, if you’re forcing yourself to focus on notes, you’ll also force yourself to awaken from that zombie state and to pay attention in class. Sure, it is hard, but both your knowledge and your notes will benefit from this exercise. 
3. Pre-write your notes if possible. Although this sounds like some advice from the keeners at the front of the class with their know-it-all brains, all ready and prepped before the teacher even starts the lesson, it’s still good advice. By writing notes beforehand (from the textbook, D2L, Wikipedia, etc.), what you are doing is familiarizing yourself with all the areas you are confused about. By the time you take the class, you will know exactly what questions you want the teacher to clarify. If you feel you already understand everything, does that not make the class seem less unnerving? Finally, when you do learn new things in class, it is much easier to add supplemental information to a set of pre-written notes than it is to try and scrawl everything down. Just make sure the supplement is also written in the same style!
4. Get a nice writing utensil. Who wants to write with a dull yellow HB pencil that leaves a trail of graphite that makes your “o”s look like doughnuts and feels like a twig you pulled off the nearest tree? A nice writing utensil like a BIC Reaction or a Papermate FlexGrip Elite not only feels better to write with, but also makes getting out the supplies for note-taking that much more exciting. (If you are not appreciative of nice stationary, stop reading now.) Furthermore, if you have the money and have really good writing, nothing beats using a liquid ink pen…
5. Keep your notes in order and separate from worksheets and the like – preferably in a notebook, but a separate section in a binder will suffice. After all the effort you put into producing the notes that you would hug if you could without wrinkling the paper, the last thing you want to see are random sheets sporadically disrupting the flow of your notes. Keeping your notes distinct from the rabble of other feuilles not only helps you keep them in order and thus avoid the confusion of seeing “enantiomers are/the half-life of a second order reaction can be calculated by…”, but also saves you the trouble of having to go through several double-sided pages and playing Go-Fish to match up the pairs of pages that go together. 
6. Write in the margins. Do not doodle on notes (diagrams are okay). Do not highlight stuff. Either always colour-code, or never colour-code (never doing it requires less work). Write on the lines (none of that cramming two lines of text per line of paper). Learn how to write with kerning.

Happy note taking!

My Top 10 Favourite Childhood Books

By Sarena D.
*Article first appears on www.youthareawesome.com
 So, I was feeling a touch of nostalgia and decided to compile a list of my favourite novels from my elementary school years. Many of these I would go back to and read again today, and I encourage you all to have a read too. Have a childhood favourite? Comment below. In no particular order, here it goes:

1. Anne of Green Gables Series by L.M. Montgomery
   Prince Edward Island’s famous redhead has been an inspiration in my life for many years. I enjoyed every one of the eight books wholeheartedly, and even read the prequel, Before Green Gables by Budge Wilson.
2. Famous Five Series by Enid Blyton
   A group of best friends/cousins, check. An adorable dog, check. A mystery to solve, check. My aunt in England had me hooked on this series by a famous British author.
3. Mallory Towers by Enid Blyton
   This is a series about girls at a boarding school in Cornwall, England. This series follows the protagonist through all three terms at her school. The best parts of the book for me were the times when the girls played tricks on their teachers, which had me in tears of laughter. This is an inspiration for all April Fools days to come.
4. Little Giant Book of…
   These tiny books pack a huge punch. The collection includes books on every topic imaginable. My favourites included: The Little Giant Book of Optical Illusions, Ghost Stories, Jokes and Dinosaurs.
5. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
   The main character, Milo, has the time of his life when he ends up in the Land of Expectations. The book is a big play on words, and includes two warring princes (one of mathematics and the other of English), the kidnapped princesses, Rhyme and Reason, and the mathematical creature, The Dodecahedron, as well as other strange creatures. I loved journeying with Milo to the Island of Conclusions (you have to jump to get there), and to the enemies’ kingdoms of Dictionopolis and Digitopolis, as well as to other fantastic places.
6. Our Canadian Girls Series
   This is a truly inspirational series about girls in Canada surviving the toughest of challenges, including The Halifax Explosion, The Great War of Europe, and the racial tensions in Nova Scotia.
7. Nancy Drew Series by Carolyn Keene
   This is another set of mystery series which has fascinated me for years. It’s little wonder that, presently, all I watch on television are crime shows.
8. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
   This is one of my favourite sci-fi fantasies. The series centres on a young girl whose father (a government scientist) disappears after working on a project called the tesseract.
9. The Bobbsey Twins Series by Laura Lee Hope
   Again, this is another set of mystery series, where two sets of twins in a family go on a variety of adventures. Seeing a trend?
10. Harry Potter Series by J. K. Rowling
    I think this is a given. I have grown up with Harry Potter (I started reading the series in Kindergarten). So far, I have read the books over thirty-five times. 

Student Speak

By: Grace. F
What clubs are you in right now? What for?  What do you think about Western’s club selection? Should we have more or less clubs?  If you can choose any club to be included in Western Canada, what would it be and why?

Jade Z. and Helena M. - I’m in Yearbook right now, and I really enjoy it so far. Yearbook gives me the chance to learn about design which is something that I’m really interested in. We get to try new things, and it’s a really great experience overall!

We should definitely have more clubs. I’d like to see some book clubs being added because I personally enjoy reading, and I think it’s always great to have a group of people reading the same book and have a lively discussion! There should be clubs that are similar to P.E because IB students don’t get the chance to take P.E in grade 11 or 12. There should also be clubs that allows students go to other student for help on homework.
I would personally want Design because it’s something that I’m interested in and I’d like to work with people who have the same interests as me. I want the club to be really broad so that it could include computer design or fashion design, and then there would be a lot more people who I will be able to meet and work with. I believe that students at Western should be able to recommend or put in their ideas for clubs so that the administration can see what the students want.

Laurie L.G. - I’m in the Franco-Western club. One of the best things about this club is that there are bonus marks awarded for people in the FSL classes, and that’s one of the reasons why I decided to join the club. The club only lasts for one semester, but I think it should be offered throughout the year because it gives students a chance to practice their French with other students. This is the other reason why I joined the club. It’s really helpful when you can talk to other students who are also learning French.

There should be more clubs! Western has an extremely diverse population, and we all have many different interests. Clubs should be there to give the opportunity for students to show their talent. As well, it can also show students that there are other people out there who might share the same interests as them!

I don’t have a particular one that I think should be added, but clubs that other people are interested in should be included.

Howdy Partner!

By: Clare T.

Pull out your cowboy hats and dust off those leather boots...it’s time for a week of wild fun!

Western Week has been a tradition at Western Canada High School for the past twenty years. Like many school functions involving the difficult task of bringing together our diverse student body, this four day event is organized by our very own Student’s Union, who put in a great deal of time and effort into making sure it goes off without a hitch!

The purpose of the event is to offer students a break during a long and tiring semester with a bit of lighthearted fun celebrating the culture that has made Calgary famous. Every day at lunch hour from March 12th to 15th, the Main Gym is transformed into an arena reminiscent of the Wild West. This is where a variety of rodeo-themed events are held. The events vary from year to year, but usually involve a relay, a test of coordination, a test of dancing skill, and a challenge that focuses on team work. To compete in the western-themed events, students create teams of ten, called Ranches. Ranches compete against one another for prizes in each event. All the challenges that take place in the arena are intended to be entertaining for the cowboys and cowgirls competing, as well as for the spectators.

What’s the best way to describe Western Week? According to student Graeme McConnell, the word is “rowdy”. “Announcements are louder and all you hear in the hallway on your way to class are students cheering. The noise level is incredible! Everybody breaks social norms and just go crazy.” Graeme has participated in the event since coming to Western three years ago. To him, Western Week is about going back to the school’s roots and celebrating what Calgary is all about. “My favorite memory of Western Week is of my first year being part of a Ranch,” says Graeme. “One of the challenges I had to do involved eating refried beans without using your hands. During the middle of the task my nose started bleeding right into the beans. I didn’t notice it at the time,so I just kept going and finished the entire plate of food. It wasn’t until after I was done that I realized what had happened. I didn’t win the challenge, but I did receive an honorable mention!” Bad luck in one of his first challenges hasn’t stopped Graeme from taking part in the event year after year! What he’s most looking forward to about this year’s Western Week is just being part of the experience. “I can’t wait to see everyone break out their cowboy hats and their big belt buckles. Some students really go all out! The competition is good fun all around.”

So what should we be expecting from this year’s four day Wild West competition? In the words of a true cowboy, “Get ready for a foot-stompin’, yee-hawin’ good time!”

Newest Twilight Installment Strictly for Fans

By: Sam D.
2 out of 5 stars
The fourth installment of the Twilight Saga is Breaking Dawn Part 1. This film was directed by Bill Condon, who also directed the previous installments, and was produced by Summit Entertainment. The final book adaptation is being split into two parts similar to the marketing strategy of the Harry Potter series. Breaking Dawn was released in winter 2011 and stars the well-known actors Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, and Taylor Lautner.

 The film begins with the much-anticipated marriage between Bella (Stewart) and her vampire lover, Edward (Pattinson). Afterwards, to the dismay of Bella's best friend, Jacob, (Lautner), they embark on the honeymoon of ages on a private island. Unfortunately for the happy couple, things prove to be too good to be true as Bella soon finds out that she is pregnant with Edward's child. What ensues is a muddle of melodramatic events that require a bit too much suspension of disbelief, ending in a gory improvised Caesarean section and a hodgepodge of movie clichés.

With every new movie contributing to the series, the Twilight actors become less and less convincing in their supernatural roles. It’s hard to blame them, as the poor writing really gives them little to work with. The bleak expressions and unsalvageable dialogue (the most memorable line being the dramatically-delivered single word, “possibly”) quickly sends the film spiraling down the hole of fandom that it has dug for itself. On the other hand, the parental figures in the film prove to be as believable as they could be in such a role, namely the two fathers of the married couple played by Billy Burke and Peter Facinelli. Unfortunately, this small triumph in writing takes no attention away from the disappointing portrayal of Bella as played by Kristen Stewart. Even in the most emotional and physically demanding of scenes (such as the childbirth part) Stewart comes across as sheltered and indifferent.

All in all, the only people who will enjoy this film are the Twi-hards that spawned its creation. Although many flocked to the theatres to see the film on the big screen, it is no less dissatisfying on a laptop with a bowl of microwave popcorn to distract you from this B movie quality film.

Student Loans for Albertans

By: Robert L.
Many grade twelve students across Alberta are about to breathe a sigh of relief. Two weeks ago, Minister of Advanced Education Greg Weadick announced a complete overhaul of the process to get student loans in Alberta. The new process involves a simpler system designed to improve the user-friendliness of the applications. Overall, the goal of the province, according to Weadnick, is that “We want to make sure finances are never a barrier to students’ education”.

The current student loan application considers many factors in making decisions regarding student loans. Information about a student’s earnings, savings, and RRSPs all affect a student’s eligibility. For some students, this adds unnecessary hassle and complexity, something that Weadick wishes to change. To solve this problem, a Flat Rate Student Contribution policy will be introduced. Rather than going through a lengthy assessment, the Flat Rate Student Contribution allows students to put up a constant sum of $1,500 when applying for the loan. Forced parental contributions will also be rendered obsolete. As well, restrictions for international students will be removed.

In addition to simplifying the system, the new program will also provide financial benefits to students. When students complete their university education, they are given a six-month grace period during which they are not required to pay off the loan, however interest is still accumulated over this time. The new loan arrangement will abolish this interest, allowing students to enjoy their grace period with no strings attached. Loan remissions will also change. Instead of the Government of Alberta paying off a certain amount of students' loans, a completion grants program will be established. Upon completion of a certificate, diploma, applied bachelor or bachelor degree program, students will receive anywhere between $1,000 and $2,000 in grants. Retention grants will also be given to graduates who choose to work in Alberta for three years or longer in occupations that the province deems “essential”.

All of these changes will be implemented in order to make the loan process more predictable and transparent. The hope is that more students will be interested in staying in Alberta for their studies. For those high school seniors who want to stay close to home, this announcement is sure to relieve some of the stress involved with university.

Sources:

1. Donelly, Greg. "Alberta government simplifies student loan application process." Global News Edmonton. 13 Feb. 2012. 
2. "Major changes coming to Alberta’s student aid plan." MacEwan News. 13 Feb. 2012.