Issue 14

The

Muse

Volume 59 Number 14 January 22, 2009

Gaza hits home See news, p. 3

CEP doesn’t respond to panic button See news, p. 2 Signage slip-ups are hilarious: Prof See feature, p. 10 Sea-Hawks battle St. FX See sports, p. 19 Photo by Courtney Barbour



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NEWS

Jan. 22, 2009

www.themuse.ca

Bookstore thieves escape Campus Patrol fails to respond to distress call By Ian MacDonald

O

n Jan. 6, the day before classes star ted, t wo men walked into the campus bookstore and successfully stole merchandise. Employees first noticed they were acting strange when the pair entered the store with an old University Bookstore bag. After an employee noticed that one of the men had taken a pair of sunglasses off of the rack, they kept a watch out. Once they left, cashier Courtney Barbour, a MUN Students’ Union board rep and volunteer at the Muse, sent a call out to Campus Enforcement and Patrol (CEP). “We knew that they had taken [the sunglasses], so I kicked the panic bar underneath the cash because CEP is supposed to come over right away,” she said. “They didn’t actually show up.” Barbour is working as a parttimer during the back to school rush and had been trained a few days prior to the incident. She says that the bookstore’s core staff was in a meeting, so the new employees waited for them to return, and then explained what happened. “We didn’t know if the panic bar was faulty or they just didn’t respond to it, but then after that, the next day, they had a CEP officer on the door.” In an e-mail to the Muse, CEP manager John Browne clarified

Campus Enforcement and Patrol’s John Browne says human error is to blame for CEP’s lack of response to a bookstore distress call.

what happened on the patrol’s end. “We did receive an alarm from the Bookstore. There was a theft. Due to human error the alarm was not properly detected. A

systems check was done and the system was working properly. CEP has taken measures to prevent a re-occurrence.” Bookstore manager LuAnne Kelly says that while she can’t

comment on what the problem was, CEP has been quick to respond in the past and has helped in a number of incidences. Barbour’s only fear was that it could have been something

Heather King

worse. “It’s kind of scary to think about…I mean if it were a more serious incident like someone trying to take the money from the till and being violent.”

TM

Alison Pittman. Ionic Woman. Let’s get it straight. No, Alison Pittman can’t outrun a car, hear whispers a mile away, and she doesn’t have an arm made of steel – we think! She’s not bionic. She’s ionic, which is way cooler. Whether she’s playing with atoms in the lab, coaching kids to win gold in the Special Olympics or singing on stage in her free time, this biochem honours student knows how to bond in-class and out. She hopes one day to become a doctor. Who knows, she could even become an expert in bionics.

Amazing Students, a program offered by Student Affairs and Services, recognizes Memorial’s student superheroes. They are outstanding role models and involved contributors. They are leaders in academics, student societies, and the community.

www.mun.ca/student/amazing

Jan. 22, 2009

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NEWS



Protesters rally for a free, safe Gaza

Student and community groups plead for a continued ceasefire By Ian MacDonald

O

ver 100 demonstrators gathered outside the Colonial building in St. John’s to take a stand against Israel’s attacks on Gaza and to call for action from the Canadian government. On Jan. 18, demonstrators crowded the steps of the Colonial building waving Palestinian flags and signs demanding freedom for Gaza and an end to all violence between Hamas and the Israeli government. The day before the scheduled protest, Israeli officials put forward a unilateral ceasefire. Hamas, the ruling party of the Gaza-based Palestinian National Authority, responded the day of the protest and agreed to a one week armistice. The MUN Muslim Students’ Association president Kassem Abouchehade was the first speaker to address the crowd. He says that the ongoing ceasefire is a step toward acceptance for both sides of the conflict, and he questioned the Canadian government’s inaction during the crisis. “Violence never gives peace or

justice,” he said. “As Canadians we expect our government to reflect our values.” If the ceasefire is followed, and medicine and vital items are allowed to flow freely to Gaza, Abouchehade believes that a longlasting peace agreement between the two sides could be a reality in the future. Rana Abdulla, a Palestinian living in St. John’s, asked the crowd to be critical of their government. “It’s not anti-Canadian to criticize the Canadian government. Is this the best our government can offer?” She says a cycle of violence starts in conflicts like these as children who have seen brutality will be likely to re-enact it. The Jewish Students Association was not represented at the rally, but President Susanne Gulliver issued a statement to the Muse agreeing with the sentiments of the demonstrators. “We also want to join with all peoples in praying for the current ceasefire to lead to a long-lasting peace where all peoples in the region can live together and prosper.”

Protesters gathered at the Colonial building on Sunday to raise awareness about the violence in Gaza. Obadah Shadid

Gaza for dummies: A short history of the conflict

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he 1947 United Nations Partition Plan dissolved the British Mandate of Palestine and hoped to break the region into distinct Arab and Jewish states, leaving the highly contested city of Jerusalem under UN mandate. The planned Arab state would encompass 43.53 per cent of Palestine, while the Jewish state would hold 56.47 per cent. A year later, Arab leaders refused to officially accept the UN plan while Jewish leaders had publicly accepted it. Led by David Ben Gurion, Israel declared itself a fully independent state.

Soon after, the outbreak of the first Arab-Israeli war occurred. An armistice agreement was signed between Israel and the Arab countries. A piece of land between Egypt and Israel, known as the Gaza Strip, was taken under Egyptian rule as a result of the war and was heralded as a refuge for Palestinian Arabs. 1956 saw the outbreak of the Suez Crisis as Egypt was invaded by Israel, Britain, and France. Control of the Gaza Strip shifted to Israel after the war, until the country pulled out in 1957 facing international political pressure.

June of 1967 marked the beginning of the Six Day war, the second Arab-Israeli war. Egypt’s call for Arab action against Israel enticed an Israeli pre-emptive air strike. Israel recaptured the Gaza strip in the process. Following the attacks, the UN Security Council passed resolution 242 requiring Israel to withdraw from areas occupied as a result of the Six Day war. The Israel government then began to build settlements in Gaza, the first of which was Kfar Darom in 1970. Clashes and violence increased in Gaza as the Palestinian population

refused to give itself up to Israel rule. The intefadeh (uprising) began in 1987 bringing open revolt across Gaza and the West Bank as Palestinians threw rocks at Israeli soldiers. Hamas was formed during this time. Israeli settlements continued to grow in Gaza despite the violence. In 1993, the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), headed by Yasser Arafat, and the Israeli government signed the Oslo Accords in Washington, DC. The accord sought to peacefully resolve the conflict between the armed PLO and Israeli government.

It also placed The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) as the governing body of the Gaza Strip. By 1994, the violence in Gaza had quelled and the Israeli military had mostly pulled out. But, in 1995, the Hamas along with Islamist Jihad authorized suicide bombings against Israelis living in the strip. Israel and the PNA signed another peace treaty to try to resolve the conflict. In 2000, President Clinton brought Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak to peace talks in the U.S. The discussions failed and the second intefadeh began. A new Israeli prime minister in 2005 meant a change in policy towards Gaza. Ariel Sharon pulled the troops from Gaza and planned to build a wall around the Strip to keep potential suicide bombers out of Israel. During this time the Hamas and the PNA came into conflict over control of Gaza. Hamas won a victory in the 2006 parliamentary elections, taking control of the PNA. As a result of Hamas killing two Israeli soldiers and kidnapping a Corporal, Israel closed the border to Gaza, denying them of goods. Israel then carried out a campaign of assassinations against Hamas while Hamas fired rockets in response. In June of 2008, the two parties agreed to another ceasefire to keep the rocket fire at bay. The ceasefire ended in December when Hamas accused Israel of keeping their border closed and Israel claimed that Hamas continued rocket attacks. Israel then began an assault on Gaza. After 19 days of attack, Reuters reported on Jan. 14 that the Hamas claimed that over 1,000 Palestinians had been killed in Gaza.



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NEWS

Jan. 22, 2009

www.themuse.ca

Adolescent behaviour shapes adult conduct: Study

Children who show even a slight sign of trouble may grow up to be complete asshats.

By Chris Huygen, The Gateway

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DMONTON (CUP) – After poring through more than 40 years of research, Ian Colman, an assistant professor with the University of Alberta School of Public Health, has identified adolescent misbehaviour as being indicative of difficulties later on in adult life. By studying a group of over 5,000 British citizens whose lives have been tracked since their birth in 1946, Colman reported on 3,652 survey members to determine that individuals who showed severe or even mild conduct disorder as teenagers were much more likely to face troubles ranging from mental illness to financial uncertainty later on in life. “I think that the prevailing belief is that children are going to grow out of the problems they’re having, and that this is just teenage angst, and that they’re going to mature into fine upstanding adults,” Colman said. “Many do, and we showed that in this study a good proportion of those kids turn out fine. But the reality is, when they’re compared to kids who are well behaved, they’re twice as likely to have a lot of problems in adulthood.” His data was collected through a series of questionnaires administered by teachers when the subjects were between 13 to 15 years of age, and indications of conduct problems were identified by looking for seven signs of misbehaviour–among them disobedience, lying, skipping class, and restlessness. A score was compiled using those seven items, with the highest seven per cent of subjects labelled as having severe misbehaviour, which subsequently reflected the percentage of the adolescent population facing conduct disorders. The lowest 75 per cent were considered well behaved, leaving everyone in between considered as having mild behavioural problems. Colman was surprised to find that the outcomes of the middle group were so poor. “Those are kids who probably wouldn’t receive a diagnosis of conduct disorder by modern criteria, but they still have some behavioural issues,” Colman said. “The really key thing is that this is a huge group – this was 1,000 kids out of 3,500 – and when they’re having all these problems in adulthood, that’s a huge burden on the public system.” Observations are ongoing within this group of individuals, who are now in their 60s and fully aware that their lives have been scrutinized by researchers. While similar behavioural studies have been published, including an enterprise conceived by Statistics Canada in 1994, the vast amount of data collected by the British government in this instance is without comparison. Colman has been involved in the research since 2003, and stresses the importance of this work. “Investing in our children is one of the best investments we can make, and this study adds to the evidence that shows that what happens to them early in life has a long lasting effect throughout their lives,” he said. “People joke that you need a license to drive but you don’t need a license to have a kid. I think we could do more in teaching parents how to be good parents. And that will have a huge payoff on how the kids turn out.” This research has landed Colman on the Jan. 10 cover of the prestigious British Medical Journal.

Pete Yee/CUP

Jan. 22, 2009

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NEWS



Tent fever hasn’t kicked in yet, say students Ian MacDonald spends an hour in the Live-in for Literacy tent T

wo Memorial students have fled their comfy homes to camp out in the QEII Library’s main lobby. They hope to raise $6,000 for the Room to Read’s Live-in for Literacy campaign Campers Megan Earle, a presocial work student, and Maggie Peyton, a second-year political science student, are members of the campus volunteer group Students for Literacy. I caught up with them on their second day in the library, with 10 more to go.

Their setup isn’t too shabby. A tent big enough for the two of them, a few bean bag chairs, a mini fridge, some zucchini cake, and Season Three of the Dinosaurs made it seem pretty homey. “I’m not bored so far,” said Peyton. “We’ve been hanging out, chatting and watching movies, catching up on reading.” The seven Canadian universities involved in the campaign aim to raise a combined $40,000 to build nine libraries in India through Room To Read, a not-

Students are invited to enter by January 30, 2009

for-profit literacy advocacy organization. A report by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific puts the illiteracy rate in India above 30 per cent. Donations were few and far between during my hour long visit. One person dropped off some cash in the box by their tent, but most seemed to be on a mission to hit the books. “Some people will be like ‘What’s up,’” said Earle. “But then other people just obviously want to study and just run by looking at the floor,” added Peyton. Earle and Peyton were much cleaner than I expected, given that they only get five minutes to leave their roped-off living space for every hour they spend in it. Apparently they’ve been staying inside for hours at a time, banking their freedom until they have enough time saved up to snag a wash at the Field House. “I went to shower for the first time today,” said Earle. “I could go the whole ten days without showering.” Earle and Peyton encourage everyone to help the cause with whatever change they can spare. “People walk by and say they don’t have enough to donate and that they’ll be back later. But every bit of change helps,” said Earle. Donations to the Live-in for Literacy campaign can be made in the QEII’s main lobby up until Jan. 26. Visit Earle and Peyton’s blog at http://lilatmun. wordpress.com or see their webcam at http://www.library. mun.ca/liveinforliteracy.

Megan Earle and Maggie Peyton will be living in the library and accepting donations until Jan 26. Pat Cahill

UNIVERSITY COUNSELLING CENTRE ACADEMIC WORKSHOP OFFERINGS WINTER SEMESTER 2009 Effective Reading and Study Skills Workshop (5 week duration) Round 1: Starts Tuesday, January 27, 2009 Time Slot 16 (Tuesday & Thursday @ 12:00 noon) Round 2: Starts Monday, March 2, 2009 Time Slot 4 (Monday & Wednesday @ 11:00 a.m.) Writing Term Papers and Essays Workshop (4 week duration) Starts Monday, January 26, 2009 Time Slot 5 (Monday & Wednesday @ 12:00 noon)

Time Management Skills Workshop (2 week duration) Round 1: Starts Monday, January 26, 2009 Time Slot 7 (Monday & Wednesday @ 2:00 p.m.) Round 2: Starts Tuesday, March 3, 2009 Time Slot 19 (Tuesday & Thursday @ 2:00 p.m.) Oral Presentation Workshop (one-day workshop) Date: Wednesday, February 18, 2009 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.



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NEWS

Jan. 22, 2009

www.themuse.ca

Clearing the path this winter Concordia’s City adds new machines to manage snowsolar panels covered sidewalks are bigger than yours A new building at Montreal’s Concordia will be heated with photovoltaic solar panels By Ruben Bastien, The Concordian

M New sidewalk plows mean easier trots around town, but ice still plagues some walkers.

By Kenny Sharpe

T

he City of St. John’s has pumped more resources into this winter’s snow removal plan, adding snow blowers and extra workers to its f leet. Council has budgeted just under $13-million for snow removal this year, $170,000 of which is dedicated to two new sidewalk snow-clearing machines and their operation. Paul Mackey, director of public works with the City, says the new additions to the snow f leet have been running on two 8.5-hour shifts each day. In the event of a blizzard, Mackey says they up the ante in order to cope. “If there is a storm, or icy conditions, or we get busy with removing snow, we bump those shifts up to 24-hour per day coverage, so two twelve hour shifts.” Mackey says that the increased concentration on sidewalk clearing is to address people’s concerns about the safety issues created by impassable sidewalks. “There has been very positive feedback for the most part,” Mackey said. “And part of that

is due to the fact that this has been a fairly easy winter for the most part. We have probably got more done than we had anticipated we would … with the new sidewalk program.” After looking at statistics gathered by the Eastern School District, Mackey says they began clearing areas with the most pedestrian traffic, including the perimeter of Memorial’s campus and the elementary and high schools. “Essentia l ly most of it is in the downtown area, Bonaventure a rea, where there is a high concentration of schools, and the other area is on the university side, over by Elizabeth Avenue, where there are high concentrations of student pedestrians trying to walk to class.” T he schedu le depend s on how often we are hit by wintery weather, potentially leaving those walkways on the outskirts of town snow covered for days. “We have to explain to residents that it takes several days to get to some of the routes, and then if we have a second snowfall we have to go back and start again,” he said.

Phil Hann

“The other thing is the nature of our type of winters that we have here. We get a lot of freeze, thaws, and icy conditions which a lot of those other cities don’t get.” Peter Macpherson, a first-year student at Memorial, says he has walked to class everyday since September of last year. While he notices the effort the city is making, he thinks there is still room for improvement. “The sidewalks are being cleared, so it seems, but they are still covered in ice. A little bit of sand or salt wouldn’t go astray,” he said. Macpherson recommends an alternative sidewalk clearing solution. In other Canadian cities, residents are asked to clear the sidewalks that border their property. Mackey says that residents are better off with some of the sidewalks being cleared rather than none and says that he doesn’t think the city will enforce a program to have citizens clear their own sidewalks. “A lot of people are not able to do that and it’s very difficult to find a place to put the snow in some places.”

Aquarena Tim Hortons Re-Opening!

Friday, January 16, 2009 Now serving sandwiches, soups, chili and specialty teas!

ONTREAL (CUP) – Concordia University was bolstering its green credentials last week when it announced that the new John Molson School of Business will house the largest installation of photovoltaic solar panels in Canada. According to the university, the building will be more than just an energy consumer, but also a contributor to the electricity distribution network. The project’s 300 square metres of solar panels will produce 100 megawatt hours per year of energy, according to the Solar Buildings Research Network. Despite the fact there are already some examples of buildings making use of renewable energy, Josef Ayoub, energy planning advisor at Canmet Energy, says Concordia is the first to take the concept this far. C a n me t E nerg y, a department of Natural Resources Canada, invested over $500,000 for the design, development, and acquisition of t he i nst a l lat ion’s equipment. The technology behind photovoltaic panels allows for the instant conversion

of energy into ready-to-use electricity. Part of the energy will also be converted into heat, which will warm the air coming into the building through the ventilation system. Still, energ y experts working on the project say the panels are not enough to supply the whole building. Ayoub estimates the panels will only represent between five and 10 per cent of the energy needed for a building this size. “It has nothing to do with reaching a target of performance,” he said. Despite contributing to only a fraction of the electricity for building, the panels will prove to be useful for heating. Brendan O’Neill, the project engineer, calls the installation an economical solution that’s competitive in terms of pricing with natural gas. Even so, this type of installation is far from being able to compete with HydroQuebec in terms of pricing. In the spirit of promoting public awa reness a nd showcasing the installation, the School of Music lobby will have an energy display monitor that shows, in realtime, the amount of energy being harvested from the sun.

A new www.muse.ca coming soon. we promise.

Jan. 22, 2009

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NEWS University of Alberta to study environmental impact of nanotechnology E

DMONTON (CUP) – Nanotechnology is being heralded for its futuristic potential, but its success relies on discovering solutions to certain structural faults, including the adverse effects that some nanomaterials tend to have on biological and environmental systems. Greg Goss, a life sciences researcher at the University of Alberta (U of A) in Edmonton, recognizes these risks involved with nanotechnological research. “There are concerns for the [researchers] who are working with these things,” he said, suggesting matters like respiratory issues as one of many concerns associated There may be risks inherent in nanotechnology, but Greg Goss, researcher at with nanotechnology. Nanotechnology deals with matter the U of A, says their benefits could be astounding. CUP on an atomic or molecular scale for

Let the games begin with Campus Battle ’09, where Rogers customers duke it out to win a private concert for their school in April. It’s open to universities across the country, so cast your vote today and may the best school win. Contest ends March 1.

Text BATTLE to 4869 or visit facebook.com/campusbattle Contest ends March 1, 2009. No purchase necessary. For full contest details, visit rogers.com/urticket. Nokia and Nokia Nseries are registered trademarks of Nokia Corporation. TM Trademarks of Rogers Communications Inc. used under license. © 2009 Rogers Wireless.

the improvement or creation of things like technology, medicine, and energy production. It has become a catalyst for research in all areas of science, and Goss trusts that the potential benefits of nanotechnology outweigh the known risks. “We’ll make lighter steel; planes won’t use as much fuel; cars will be more efficient. Nanotechnology has so much potential, and I don’t want to say it’s going to be toxic, because it’s not,” he said. Research to support Goss’ hopes is just on the horizon, as Alberta has quietly become a leading worldwide centre for nanotechnological study. This is the reason behind the recent announcement that the province is set to receive $3.3-million in federal funding towards the formation of a panel, headed by Goss, to research the environmental issues

NOKIA N95 8 GB

By Anthony Ta, The Gateway



surrounding the technology. While the proposal is still in its final evaluative stage, preliminary speculation reports that the panel would be headquartered in Edmonton and involve the co-operation of 13 scientists, five universities, three government departments, and two national research institutes. “We’re extremely close,” Goss said. “Right now we’ve got the grant in for second review. There were some concerns, but we’ve addressed those.” With the power of interdisciplinary co-operation, the team will delve deep in search of answers to the questions surrounding nanomaterial safety and the environment. “Whether it’s chemistry, physics, or engineering, either way, it’s an interdisciplinary thing,” Goss said. “I think there’s been a lot of focus on nanomaterials as being a particularly dangerous class of materials,” added Lori Sheremeta, a research associate with the National Institute for Nanotechnology, who believes understanding nanotechnology requires a broader perspective on the subject. “When you look at the [periodic table of] elements and their potential combinations, you know that some of them are necessary for life, and others are inherently dangerous,” she said. Sheremeta uses carbon as an example. Recent studies have shown that carbon nanotubes may act like a sort of “carcinogenic asbestos.” “Carbon – we use it all the time. You put [it] together in a particular configuration, such as a nanotube, and then these materials begin to act differently,” Sheremeta said. Both Goss and Sheremeta agree Alberta’s role in this research is no accident. “Alberta is seen as an amazing hot bed of nanotechnology. Yes, it’s not the Silicon Valley, but it will grab its share of the market,” Goss said. Sheremeta also believes the benefits to further research are astounding. “I think it’s terrific for the U of A,” she exclaimed. “A lot of collaboration would take place and this institute would be used for what it was intended to be – an institute for [nanotechnology] research across the country. It’s good for Alberta, yes, but the benefits will be felt across the country.”



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EDITORIAL

Jan. 22, 2009

www.themuse.ca

Unpaid work-terms are a scam “

Dear Friend, Good Day, My name is Mr. Song Li. I am the credit officer in Hang Seng Bank, Hong Kong. I have a business proposal in the tune of $19.5m. After the successful transfer, we shall share in ratio of 30% for you and 70% for me. I look forward to hearing from you. Kind Regards, Mr. Song Li” This actually showed up in my spam folder, but as far as some students are concerned it might as well be an e-mail from MUN. Unpaid work-term students at our university − and many other schools in Canada − certainly feel like someone’s trying to rip them off. Students in education, nursing, and social work pay tuition to work for free at their placements,

driving them further into debt while they gain experience in their fields. Sure, the internship or coop experience is essential and a welcome part of their programs for many students, but fact that they pay for a full course-load without actually receiving much from MUN proper leaves them confused, upset, and with less stuff jingling in their pockets. The problem isn’t just that they have to pay to work. If everyone with a work-term option was in the same boat less people would complain, but with business and engineering students sometimes making enough off their workterms to pay for the whole school year I can see why the other students are pissed. Plus, business students only have to pay roughly

the cost of one course. The argument goes that business and engineering students often get co-op placements within private industry and that’s why they get paid. Nurses, teachers, and social workers work in publicly funded industries, so that’s why they don’t. First of all that’s not even true. The provincial and federal governments offer lots of workterms for business students, for example. They start at $12.50 an hour. But aside from the untruth of that argument, what kind of logic is that, anyway? A job is a job, government or not. Oh wait. Unless you’re in a female dominated, unionized field. (Yeah, I went there). Then it’s a job you don’t get paid for,

conveniently. You’d have better luck surrendering your banking information and waiting for Mr. Song Li’s deposit than to expect any cash from a full term of hard work teaching people’s youngsters. Or showering old people. Or helping the people behind the city’s social problems. Unpaid co-op students aren’t exactly fetching coffee for their superiors. They’re doing real work and how they’re being compensated is unfortunately consistent with the historical pattern of underpayment of “women’s work.” I contacted student journalists from across Canada to find out what the situation is for co-op students at their schools. At all

Albertan universities studentteachers don’t get paid, while most business students do. At the University of Regina education internships are unpaid, and business ones are. At Kwantlen University in B.C. nurses and journalists do unpaid work-terms while business students get paid. The situation sucks across the board. But who better than MUN and the provincial government, leaders in post-secondary accessibility in this country, to lead the way in making work-terms more fair. If collective agreements and government bureaucracy mean these students can’t get paid from their work-terms, the least MUN can do is give them back their tuition. Kerri Breen

George W. must be bushed By Grant Loveys Life Lessons

W

hat will George W. Bush do now that he’s out on his own, free from the massive burden of responsibility that rested on his shoulders for eight long years? He’s seen a lot go down in his two terms as the most powerful man in the free world: September 11th, two wars, hurricanes, floods, wildfires, economic crises, environmental crises, a black president-elect, a snarky Oliver Stone biopic, Cheney shooting a guy in the face, a bunch of Super Bowls (and, as an added bonus, one breast), Saddam Hussein swinging from a rope, hundreds of thousands of middle fingers connected to surly protestors, and, yes, a couple of shoes flying over his head. He must be, well, bushed. I have to wonder, though: How did he sleep during his last few nights in office? Maybe he slept soundly, his weary head dancing with visions of the Bush clan sipping iced tea as the Texan

sun sets on the nation he led for nearly a decade. Of course, there was a time – not too long ago, in fact – when George W. said the outcome of his actions would be decided in the annals of history, that we would see the righteousness of his actions be revealed years down the road, when the dust of battle had settled, and the struggles of the present had become a footnote in history books. So maybe he spent those last few nights tossing and turning, tortured by thoughts of being forgotten. But he doesn’t have to worry. Members of the gay and lesbian community who have watched their rights being trampled upon and their communities further marginalized will remember him. The thousands of homeless and displaced victims of Hurricane Katrina who suffered and endlessly waited for their government to rescue them while their city was washed away will remember him. The scores of unemployed

The

Muse

workers and the homeowners kicked out of their foreclosed homes will remember him. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, who risk being shot to death, or blown apart, or beheaded in some sandy hell, will remember him. The Iraqis who have had their nation torn away from them while they watch as their friends and neighbours are slaughtered will remember him. All those “enemy combatants” holed up and tortured in Guantanamo Bay and all the other secret prisons will remember him. The families of the troops, who wait year after year for their child or spouse or brother or sister to come home for good, will remember him as well. But the 4,226 Americans killed since the wars started cannot remember. Nor can the approximately 90,000 Iraqi civilians who have died. So we will remember for them. Or, more precisely, we will never forget. Happy trails, Dubya.

Thursday, Jan 22, 2009 Volume 59, Number 14

Phone: 737 8919 Fax: 737 7536 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.themuse.ca Office: UC-2002

Staff

Board of Directors

Editor-in-Chief Kerri Breen [email protected]

Arts Editor Sarah King [email protected]

Photo Editor Chad Young [email protected]

Systems Administrator Chad Young [email protected]

Human Resources Vacant [email protected]

News Editor Ian MacDonald [email protected]

Sports Editor Jon Dykeman [email protected]

Senior Photographer Ken MacLeod [email protected]

Webmaster Alex Gillis

Design Asst. Adam Puddicombe

[email protected]

Production Manager Elsa Morena [email protected]

Features Editor Nathan Downey [email protected]

Submissions Editor Krysta Fitzpatrick [email protected]

Business Manager Brad Stone

Distribution Barry Ross Madhu Pinto

Science Editor Ashley Lockyer [email protected]

Senior Reporter Kenny Sharpe [email protected]

Asst. Business Manager K athryn Curran

Copy Editor Zaren White [email protected]

Kerri Breen Brad Stone Noreen Golfman John Gushue Cameron Campbell Phil Howell Courtney Barbour [email protected]

Contributors Krissy Breen, Courtney Barbour, Brandon Goulding, Jillian Sexton, Tony Moores, Guruchathram Ledchumanan, Grant Loveys, Ashwin Gupta, Natalie Holden, Obadah Shadid, Phil “lunchboss” Hann, Pat Cahill, Heather King, Colin Peddle

Advertising Phone: 737 6161 Email: [email protected] Fax: 737 7536 Multimarket advertising Campus Plus Phone: 1 800 265 5372 Web: www.campusplus.com

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The Muse is a member of Canadian University Press (CUP). Established in 1950 as a successor to the Memorial Times (est. 1936), it distributes 12,000 copies weekly and is published by The Muse Publications Inc. The Muse reserves the right to edit copy for length, profanity, content, grammatical errors and material that is unfairly discriminatory or which contravenes Canadian libel laws. Opinions expressed in The Muse are not necessarily those of the staff, MUNSU, the Board of Directors, or the administration of Memorial University. Material within is copyright The Muse and its contributors, 2006. Permission is given for any member CUP paper to reproduce (giggady) and alter material for publication so long as the original intent is not altered. The Muse is printed by Transcontinental. The Muse’s sister paper is the Fulcrum (University of Ottawa).

Jan. 22, 2009

www.themuse.ca

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OPINION

Psychology 3533: Let’s talk about sex, baby



Mouth Off By Krysta Fitzpatrick and Courtney Barbour

What do you think of MUN’s snow clearing?

Bryan Landry Third-year social work We have snow clearing?

Ken MacLeod

By Krysta Fitzpatrick The Loch Sex Monster

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emember sexual education back in grade school? Yeah, me neither. That’s because it didn’t really exist. We had health class with those ridiculous Fully Alive books, but what did they really teach us? Most girls my age learned what the term “hard on” meant from the movie Now And Then, which is saying something about our educational system. Luckily, we’re in university now, which means they’re not afraid to teach us about sex – which is great since, by the time we get here, a great number of us have already done the deed. Unfortunately, many of us are walking around thinking we’ve got sex figured out. News flash – we might not. Fortunately, there is the course Psychology 3533. That is, the psychology of sexual behaviour. Around since the early ‘80s, the

course has been taught by Elena Hannah since 1986. It’s not your average sex ed. course, though. Besides the basic physical side of sex, Hannah also discusses the influences of history, media, and religion on sex, gender roles, techniques, arousal, contraception, abortion, rape, hormonal changes (did you know men experience a sort of menopause too?), sexual orientation, disorders, and much more. The course, which I am currently taking, is basically everything you ever wanted to know about sex but were too afraid to ask. And it isn’t just a boring old lecture on sex either (as if anything about sex could ever be boring). Hannah uses images and toys in some discussions, stating that toys are “an added thing to have fun with.” The class can be quite eyeopening; there are many things we think we know about sex

which we really don’t. For instance, I recently discovered that the problem of achieving female orgasm isn’t really a worldwide issue.

contraception was punished by death during a long period of time and, even in the 1960s, some doctors were jailed for providing contraception.”

Some societies, such as in Polynesia, are more openminded about sex. They openly talk about it and have it more freely. In these places there doesn’t seem to be much of a problem with females achieving orgasm. However, according to Hannah, “most societies do impose restrictions on women’s sexuality, and [problems with female orgasm] is one of the consequences.” “I’d say that we have this problem because patriarchal societies and the JudeoChristian tradition, over many centuries, exerted control over people’s sexual behaviours − especially women’s − in an attempt to have more control over people in general,” she said. “[ For example], use of

So is there any sexual hope for North Americans like you and me? “It will take time,” said Hannah. “I wish we didn’t have the misleading information in the media.” And what will it take for North Americans to become more sexually liberated? “We need more education and critical thinking that help make people more comfortable with their sexuality.” The most important thing that Hannah pushes for is that we’re all normal, sexual beings. Sex is normal, sex is healthy, sex is fun, and if you aren’t enjoying it, don’t worry, you’re still normal. Psychology 3533 with Elena Hannah is offered every fall and winter semester.

Sherry Power Eleventh-year education I don’t know, I don’t drive. Not very good?

Chris Ryan First-year history It’s not very good. Give it a few days and it’s okay, but on the day it’s snowing it’s not very good.

Matthew Quinlan Third-year biology It’s not the greatest.

The Muse Good enough to eat?

Becky Winsor Third-year political science I think they use too much salt.

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Jan. 22, 2009

www.themuse.ca

My quest to understand society’s signage snafus By Nathan Downey

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trolling idly through the blogosphere, I came across a photo of a roadside Dairy Queen sign that proclaimed, “Scream until Daddy stops!” After my bout of side-splitting laughter subsided, I was left thinking that somebody wrote that having absolutely no idea of its hysterical (and disturbing) double meaning. It was one more example of a well-meaning sentence being hilariously ambiguous. This got me thinking: I know I’ve seen examples of this closer to home. In fact, the university campus – home to possibly the largest concentration of signs, posters, and all things text-bearing in the whole city – is prone to grammatical gaffes, spelling snafus, and enough rogue apostrophes to choke a medium-sized housecat. I was forced to ask myself some tough questions: Do the people making these signs realize the double meanings behind their posters? Does that person selling “Shakespeare novels” think they’re fooling anyone? Has the incorrectly inserted apostrophe in “80’s” really become the correct way to shorten the year of our Lord?

In search of answers, I sat down with several experts in the field of wordiness – kindred spirits if ever there were – to gain some insight into the mystifying world of tragically ironic signage copy. Incidentally, what do I mean by “copy?” It’s text intended for publication. (You’re looking at some right now). “As soon as you put up a poster, it’s publication,” said Bradley Clissold, MUN English professor. I could see what he meant. In my view, anything in the public eye – whether it’s an ad in a periodical, a poster, or the sign for a business – is automatically submitted to the perception and judgment of its intended – or unintended – audience. We see so much copy in the run of a day. As I see it, the very goal of copy is to have people look at it and be compelled by it in some way – whether it’s asking me to buy baked goods or opt out of my school-sponsored health plan. So if I find myself chuckling at a sign that says, “Wisdom has two parts: Knowing alot and not saying it,” have its creators failed in their intention? If I find myself cringing at a poster that says “dog treat’s for sale,” am I being too much of a punctuation nitpicker?

Chad Young

Persnickity punctuation, stupid spellers?

Chad Young

Clissold and my other expert, linguistics professor Gerard Van Herk, seemed to agree that the pesky errant apostrophe was among the most common punctuation errors both on signs and posters, and in students’ work. I don’t want to insult any of my readers’ intelligence, but in the interests of adequate coverage, I feel compelled to mention that an apostrophe functions as an indicator of possession (such as in “the submarine’s door”). It can also indicate that something has been shortened, contracted, or as they say in linguistics, cliticized. Don’t, won’t, couldn’t, and shouldn’t are all examples of correct usage of the apostrophe; however, it can be stretched to apply to other shortened words, such as ‘80s, which takes the place of 1980s. “As that cranky Eats, Shoots And Leaves author points out, the apostrophe for plural marking is really common on commercial signs. I think she calls it the ‘greengrocer’s apostrophe,’ from all [those] handwritten cards saying ‘turnip’s,’” said Van Herk, who has been appointed Canada

Research Chair in Regional Language and Oral Text. “I would say the [error] that’s most prevalent is the overuse of the possessive [apostrophe]…we see it even at a graduate level,” said Clissold. Rummaging around the Internet, I read that apostrophe abuse stems from – in most cases – a phenomenon known as hypercorrection. I interpret this flashy word as an incomplete understanding of the possessive rules in English punctuation wherein a writer feels he or she must…ahem…cover their ass by sprinkling apostrophes liberally throughout their writing. As for the greengrocer’s apostrophe, I learned it mainly occurs to indicate plurality in a foreign-sounding noun, such as poncho’s, or in the abbreviations of longer words, like bro’s. That it sometimes occurs in words like ‘treat’s,’ I guess, is just an example of this phenomenon taken to extremes. Thinking to myself about what I saw as horrible abuses of English conventions occurring at uncomfortably high and everincreasing frequencies, I pondered the possible reasons for it. Then it struck me: The Internet! Text messaging! The fact that people feel the need to type their thoughts as quickly and efficiently as possible is contributing to the utter breakdown of the English

language. Thinking smugly to myself that I, a lowly undergrad, had cracked the code, I pitched my theory to my two learned experts. “The problem with [your] argument is that it might be true on some level, but people argued the same things when postcards came [into popularity]; whenever there’s a new technology that makes us tweak our language… the language persists,” Clissold said. Damn, I thought. He’s picking holes in my conjecture. “How do you think the [English] language developed? When we think about words like ‘taxi’ that have become part of our general lexicon, those would have been considered awful truncations or abbreviations in an earlier period. [It] would have been considered informal or colloquial if you used them,” he added. Van Herk was no less emphatic that I was mistaken. “People have been saying that grammar’s getting worse since at least the 1700s. Language is changing – that’s what it does. It’s hard to see how ‘winter has arrived’ is worse than ‘winter is arrived,’ but until about 1830 ‘has’ would have been considered wrong,” he said. “There are changes going on right now that people barely notice. Most people reading your article will think that ‘I’m hearing that a

Jan. 22, 2009

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FEATURE

Layout By Elsa Morena

lot these days’ is a perfectly normal English sentence, but until about 30 or 40 years ago almost every native speaker would have said ‘I hear that a lot these days.’” Crestfallen, I attempted to form another argument to save a little bit of face. Surely, I thought, with all of the technology available to us, with all of the ways there are to cut spelling and grammatical corners, in thirty years English is going to be a very different beast. “It’s easy now to laugh at people in the 1850s who thought the telegraph and the steam train were going to eliminate dialect

differences, but 30 years from now people in their flying cars will be laughing at people from 2009 who thought that Twitter was going to change the deep structure of English,” said Van Herk. I couldn’t help but wonder if by people, he meant me. So Van Herk didn’t agree with me, but what did Clissold think? “ I think in [thirty years] we’re still going to be struggling; I think we’re going to find…the necessity for English departments to teach the correct usage of language is going to be even more prevalent,” he said. I realized I had reached a

wall, an impasse, a roadblock, if you will. Though I was feeling more enlightened about the world of grammar, punctuation, and spelling, I began to wonder if I hadn’t gone down a bit of a grammatical gopher hole. After all, I had started this mission based on the fact that I’d seen a photo of a ridiculously worded commercial sign. Feeling like I better understood the grammatical tics and foibles of the sign-creating, poster-slinging public, I began to consider more subtle aspects of the copy I saw every single day.

Failblog

Chad Young

Failblog

Offensive, outrageous, hilarious?

Failblog

A sign bearing the slogan “Scream until Daddy stops” has a meaning that could be interpreted in two different ways. On one hand, a cute and wholesome image appears in my mind, a Norman Rockwell-approved portrait of an American family in which a little girl pesters her father into buying her a whistle dog. On the other hand – let’s just say some images are better left undescribed. This was a sign intended for public eyes. I thought people are going to drive by, see this message, and interpret it in one of two ways. This is the point I was trying to make with my investigation. As I see it, whether it’s something as ludicrous as the Dairy Queen sign, or something downright offensive, the copy leaves its

creators and – for better or worse – becomes something public. But what should our reaction be upon seeing something like this? Should we be morally outraged and scandalized? Clissold contends that as long as the gaffe isn’t offensive it should be celebrated. “I just get that much more enjoyment out of my day when I see [poorly-composed, poorly thought out copy],” he said. “There’s been a long-standing tradition of this…Jay Leno has his headlines and Letterman is always getting quirky misspellings or little classified ads that say something ridiculous inadvertently; that’s the postmodern kind of headspace we should be in when we’re dealing with languages.” However, Clissold was willing to give my inner grammar grouch an inch, agreeing that people should think before they put something

in the public eye. “As far as I’m concerned, you don’t get to have fun with language until you know the rules.” So what did I learn from my quest to find out all about copy errors and textual foot-in-mouthisms? They’re effing hilarious, for starters. Seeing that unfortunately misused apostrophe, or a street sign that reads “Warning: Protruding Manhole,” I shouldn’t question the mental faculties of the creator; I should thank them for providing me with such a delicious moment of laughter. I now vow never to cringe when I see a sign advertising “Todays special: Salt pork riblet’s, $2.99.” Have you seen examples of hilarious posters? Silly signage? Send pics of any finds to features@ themuse.ca. They’ll appear on the Muse’s new website.

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Jan. 22, 2009

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No hibernation for Wintersleep Frontman Paul Murphy talks about the band’s anticipated East Coast tour By Sarah King

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escribed by singer-guitarist Paul Murphy as “our biggest and best attempt yet,” Welcome To The Night Sky brought Wintersleep national success and is bringing them back to St. John’s for two shows with Montreal’s Plants and Animals. Murphy says the upcoming tour has him looking forward to “coming back to the hearth.” “We just spent two months in America, so we kind of need this for sanity’s sake,” he joked in an interview via e-mail. As a band that calls Halifax its home base, Wintersleep revels in opportunities to revisit places on the east coast that provoke good memories. The province in particular, according to Murphy, is nostalgic for the guys. After holding their first tour here, opening for Pearl Jam, and eventually surrendering bandmate Jud Haynes to the capital city, this is a place “really close to [their] hearts.” “St. John’s is a place where we’ve had so many great memories,” said Murphy, “People there were so supportive even in the earlier stages.” “We kind of think of it as a bit of a magical pleasure centre. That sounds perverse...I guess it is just a place we’ve always had great times and met some amazing people.” The band has no shortage of fondness for their roots; the tour also allows them to return to their home base in Halifax, something Murphy says becomes more appreciated with growing success. “[Halifax] is always the same, which I used to think was a negative, but now realize it as a

definite positive,” he said. “There’s something really grounding for me about the East Coast.” Of course many of the things that make the region so ‘grounding’ also make it more challenging for artists to make it big on the national scene. Murphy says that the same obstacles and rules apply no matter where you’re from, and all it takes is dedication. “There is a bit of separation from the main industry in Canada. I don’t think that is a detriment though. I think if you’re going to do this, you have to get out there and tour and you have to pretty much do it constantly.” When asked about the best or most exciting thing to come out of Wintersleep’s success, Murphy answered: “Just the feeling that hard work pays off. Being able to make a living at all in this line of work is something that we definitely don’t take for granted.” But it’s not all work and no play for this band: World travel, working with great artists, and the excitement of song writing are perks of the trade that don’t go unnoticed. He expresses an appreciation for the simple joys in life. For him, the ocean, his brothers Mike and Conor, and a little Hank Williams keep him in great spirits. “The world is a pretty inspiring place,” he said. “I think we take it for granted sometimes how beautiful life really is.” Wintersleep performs Jan. 24 and 25 at Club One with Plants and Animals and Dog Day. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door and are available at Holy Heart Theatre or online at www.sonicconcerts.com.

Wintersleep will play in St. John’s at Club One on Jan. 24 and 25 with Plants and Animals and Dog Day. Scott Munn

St. John’s cinema gets diverse

MUN launches Global Cinema Series to expand students’ options

By Chelsea Howard

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o indie theatre? No problem. MUN students interested in broadening their film horizons can check out the new Global Cinema Series. For students, it’s becoming increasingly important to view and interpret films produced in different cultural settings, says Frederick White, Associate Dean of Arts, who is behind the initiative. “It is a way to help students see film not just as entertainment,” he said. “Its aim is to open students’ eyes to different cultures and t he globa l community.” The series is a project of the Faculty of Arts and the Division of Lifelong Learning. “Essentially, we’re trying to be everything for everybody. But I think for students especially, it is a way to engage in an intellectual discourse on media that we’re starting to open up with the new film studies minor at MUN.” The intent is that people who

attend the series will gain ideas and inspiration that may not be provided by mainstream, popular culture films typically shown in the city’s larger theatres. “Our focus is on a different genre of films, many of them foreign language films,” White said. “This is an avenue for exploring what ideas are important to other people and cultures in the world. Does it always have to be a happy Hollywood ending, or are there other ways of looking at things?” The Global Cinema Series is inherently different in scope and presentation from the MUN Cinema Series, offering aud iences supplementa r y commentary on the films facilitated by members of various faculties here at MUN. “One of our biggest challenges so far has been distinguishing the Global series from the MUN series,” White said. Unlike the MUN Cinema Series, the Global Series is being held on Tuesday nights

Professor Frederick White is spearheading MUN’s Global Cinema Series. CHELSEA HOWARD

on campus, in hopes of keeping the Series within the university community. The film nights consist of an intellectual part, a viewing or entertainment part, and then an opportunity for the audience themselves to ask questions to the presenter and have an open

discussion. “The presenter tries to help the audience watch the film in a manner that is culturally and intellectually more akin to how audiences in the film’s country of origin would,” said White. The next screening of the Global Cinema Series is on

Tuesday, February 3. Dr. White will be facilitating The Return, a Russian film. Screenings are held at the Inco centre. More information on the Global Cinema Series can be found on the website at www.mun.ca/arts/alumni/ cinema2009.php

Jan. 22, 2009

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ARTS & CULTURE

Border crossing plot delves into life’s other divides

Cinema Series By Mildred Pierce

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arning: The following videos that I, Madam Internet, have selected for your viewing pleasure may cause inspiration that will lead to fun times. The videos that I’m recommending this week feature light painting/ drawing/graffiti. If you’re a photographer on any level and you have a decent camera, I’m pretty certain you’re going to feel compelled to try this if you haven’t already.

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y the time you are reading this, the MUN Cinema Series will have probably screened the Charlie Kauffman gem Synecdoche and the satiric Canadian feature Growing Op. Yes, the winter season program is well in stride, offering you a warm, cozy, stimulating haven from the cold and snow every Thursday evening, at least until the weeds start peeking through the concrete again. And so, if you missed the first two shows, happily prepare yourself for the rest of the series, which is truly, madly brilliant, blocked with award-winning independent material you simply will not normally find at a theatre near you. For example, Entertainment Weekly − my Bible of informed opinion about the industry − just identified Frozen River as one of the best films of the year. You’ll never catch it here in the city outside the MUN Cinema Series. Why is this film, which won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance last year, so great? Well, the film pretty much makes instant stars out of its two leading women, Melissa Leo and Misty Upham, while it tells an important story about social conflict. Frozen River is about opposition and borders, the divide between

Spider Walk http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=CR0HE5vBJy0 Tags: Animation, light, graffiti, short film

Frozen River informs its audience of an important and often forgotten part of Canadian/U.S. history.

white and native, American and non-American, water and land, men and women, legal and illegal activities, and rage and forgiveness. Set in the Mohawk region between upper New York State and Quebec, the film points out how easy it is to move across the 49th parallel essentially by traversing the frozen St Lawrence. This makes for all kinds of smuggling and trafficking possibilities, but the one most important for the plot is the movement of immigrants from one nation into the next. The two women at the centre of the plot are Ray and Lila, the

former, a white woman chasing a deadbeat husband, and the latter, a Mohawk, with her own reasons to pursue some risky business. Although they seem naturally at odds with each other from the get-go, the two women gradually come to an uneasy understanding of each other’s difference. Frozen River is not only about the hardships enforced on people by gender, race, and poverty, but it is also about what extremes people will or need to go to in order to survive. We are all familiar with the relatively benign antics of Trailer Park Boys culture, but Frozen River reveals another, much more

grounded side of that experience, one largely hidden from middle class awareness. The film was shot in the upper NY State town of Plattsburgh, a popular tourist destination for Canadians, blocked with discount retailers and bargain hunters. But the movie shows us another side of that reality, in a much more forbidding winter landscape that is, paradoxically, also a path to freedom for those seeking to avoid border crossings. Frozen River plays Thursday, Jan. 29 at Empire Theatres Studio 12 in the Avalon Mall. Tickets go on sale at 6:00 pm and showtime is 7:00 pm.  

Why you should listen to Animal Collective

Talented by proxy By Nathan Downey

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nimal Collective is the best band of the decade, period. There, I said it. I’m going to ignore the indignant cries from the Radiohead, Spoon, TVOTR, shit, even the Kanye camps and stick to my guns. I’ve always been a fan of seeing a band progress, improve, mature, and ultimately own their sound, and there is no better example of this life cycle than Animal Collective. Their oeuvre consists of nine full-length records. Beginning with the somewhat alienating and challenging soundscapes of Spirit They’re Gone, Spirit

They’ve Vanished, and Danse Manatee, the group has cultivated and developed their distinctive sound. The trio of Sung Tongs, Feels, and Strawberry Jam showed the band progressing in a more accessible, pop-centric direction. These records also cemented AC’s immortalization in the sacred halls of indie-rockdom. It’s only fitting that, as this decade draws to a close, Animal Collective has released not only their best work, but one of the best albums of the last 10 years. Merriweather Post Pavilion is a juggernaut of an album. It’s the culmination of all the sonic experiments from their earlier records refined into pop perfection. While the band has always been adept at making a good hook, they have never released an album more replete with catchy melodies. Bandmates Avey Tare and Panda Bear have never sounded better. Their voices sit further back in the mix than on previous albums, functioning more like another instrument in the songs.

They seem to have mastered the art of vocal harmony, which draws the obvious and enjoyable comparison to the Beach Boys. The meandering, multi-tracked vocals certainly share a few qualities with some of the Boys’ efforts, but it can be argued that the band has never sounded more like itself. That’s actually an impressive achievement, considering this is mainly an electronic record, sharing little in common with their more organic previous efforts. Layer upon layer of glorious electronic noise results in dense, alluring musicality. The bass is heavy enough to make each track dancey and fun – with the exception of the stoned-out slow burner “No More Running.” There are a few contenders for lead single. “Summertime Clothes” is the closest thing to a conventional pop song, with a bouncy, rolling bass line. “Guys Eyes” contains some of the best vocal styling the band has ever recorded; Panda’s voice is tracked over and over itself, resulting in a hypnotic swirl of

sound. The didgeridoo-led pomp of “Lion In A Coma” is probably the closest nod to some of the band’s earlier work, with schizophrenic vocals, jarring lyrics, and homemade percussion. However, for all of these standouts, there is nothing better than album-closer “Brothersport.” The moments between 1:00 and 1:25 might be the best 25 seconds of music I’ve ever heard. The track begins with jaunty bass and the lyrics “open up your throat” over and over. It takes off in an ecstatic crescendo of sparkly synths and monkey noises, and winds Pavilion down spectacularly. It’s refreshing to see a band actually deserving of its hype. Animal Collective’s Merriweather Post Pavilion rises above all of its five-star reviews, a mammoth 9.6 rating from indie hegemon Pitchfork Media, and all of the salivating bloggers. It reinforces all assertions that Animal Collective is the most innovative and influential band of the past 10 years. An instant classic, it’s one for the ages.

This is a great example of superb animation created with light. To draw with light, you set your camera to a slow shutter speed to be able to capture the light while someone draws in the air with a flashlight, cell phone, glow stick, or any other light source. Once the camera is finished taking the shot, voilà! You get light art. Even for a photo it can be tricky to get the desired effect, so just imagine how long it took to make a stop-motion film.

Light Painting Animation July 2008 http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=VygqIeWfpvY Tags: Light, painting, animation, July 2008 Here we get to see dancing with light, and I know that sounds pretty friggin’ artsy, but I guarantee this pick of the week is quite entertaining. The dancers perform in various styles while cell phone generated light glows around them. The video also has an amusing soundtrack (i.e. silence).

PIKA PIKA 2007 http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=HMpJ3JHJocY Tags: Light, graffiti, stop, motion This is a five-minute video of chaotic light painting, and it’s amazing. Watch as the “painters” draw all kinds of shapes and characters in mid air. And after watching this one, your head should be full of ideas for exciting light creations. Madam Internet’s YouTube Picks of the Week is a weekly column. Send your suggestions to madaminternet@ gmail.com.

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ARTS & CULTURE

Adorable losers hook up

Last Chance Harvey Starring Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson, Liane Balaban, and James Brolin Alliance 92 minutes Rated PG

By Jillian Sexton

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Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson are cuter than buttons in this film about unexpectedly finding love.

Mall Cop doesn’t mess around when it comes to shopper safety and viewer entertainment Paul Blart: Mall Cop Starring Kevin James, Jayma Mays, Keir O’Donnell, and Bobby Cannavale Sony 91 mins Rated PG

By Zaren White

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e’s untrained, unarmed, unco-ordinated, a nd completely unimpressive, but Paul Blart doesn’t take his responsibility as a shopping mall security guard lightly. Paul Blart: Mall Cop is the story of a middle-aged, overweight, and single father with an unfortunate porn-star moustache and no romantic prospects. Paul (James) is a mildmannered and well-meaning guy with an enthusiasm for his under-appreciated job – and his adorably geeky Segway motorized scooter, in his mind, makes him an undeniably badass man in uniform. It’s not easy being a mall cop. His boss doesn’t take him − or their occupation − seriously. He spends his days getting assaulted by rambunctious bra shoppers while breaking up fights in Victoria’s Secret and the jackass bully from the stationary store is always giving him a hard time. Still, Paul Blart has an unwavering dedication to the call of duty and thinks that things are looking up when he catches a glimpse of Amy (Mays) − the beautiful and exuberant woman at the wig and hair extension kiosk − on a security camera. One splendid ride on that motorized scooter later and Amy is, well, perhaps not interested in Paul, but definitely keen on his friendship. Too bad that Paul, typically a non-drinker, gets immediately and irreparably intoxicated after inadvertently drinking a jug of margarita and makes an ass out of himself at a mall employee function. Ashamed and embarrassed, it doesn’t seem like this underdog is going to get a chance at redemption, until the megaplex

t’s rare to find a romantic comedy that makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside without dripping in predictable one-liners and unrealistic rain-drenched make out scenes. Luckily, despite its clichéd title, Last Chance Harvey is a feel-good film that doesn’t need precipitation to make you swoon. Harvey Shine (Hoffman) is a veteran TV jingle composer. Although his profession is being increasingly dominated by computerization, he insists on rushing home from his daughter Susie’s (Balaban) wedding in London, England, to ensure he doesn’t lose an important contract. After an embarrassing rehearsal dinner in which Susie asks her stepfather to give her away at the altar and a wedding ceremony where he is forgotten, Harvey misses his flight home and learns that he has been let go from his job. Meanwhile, native Londoner Kate Walker (Thompson) is struggling to deal with an attention-starved mother, a dead-end job, and the reality that she is aging and still single. After a brief and forgettable runin at the airport gate, Kate and Harvey find each other in the airport lounge. Harvey charms Kate into dinner conversation, and the pair set out on a delightful afternoon adventure that inadvertently allows each of them to feel more comfortable and accepted than they have in a long time.

Jan. 22, 2009

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The strength of Last Chance Harvey’s story lies in its simplicity. Neither Harvey nor Kate’s character is unnecessarily complicated and their lives are believable. The costumes are also very average and everyday – Kate uses the same bag several times, Harvey’s suit is wrinkled and does not fit perfectly. The addition of dialogue that is beautifully straightforward allows the film to feel as though the relationship forming could happen to anyone at any time. This minimalist approach makes for a smooth and natural revelation of Kate and Harvey’s personal histories. Not surprisingly, the acting is phenomenal. Hoffman and Thompson can do no wrong. Hoffman wonderfully conveys a vulnerable, wounded Harvey, culminating in the delivery of his “father of the bride” speech. The moment is both awkward and touching. Thompson delivers a very real performance as well. True to form, she says more when she’s not speaking than when she is, and her body language is absolutely filled with emotion while remaining impeccably subtle. Most romantic comedies neglect the idea that love can happen beyond the age of 25. Last Chance Harvey creates a love story between two people who are considered past their prime, providing hope for the cynics, and reminding audiences that new love and acceptance has no age limit. As a delicate and delightful love story, Last Chance Harvey gracefully avoids the romance stereotypes and still manages to leave you with a goofy grin pasted on your face as you exit the theatre. 3.5 out of 4 stars

THINK YOU KNOW IT ALL ABOUT COMPUTER SCIENCE AT UPEI? THINK AGAIN!

Kevin James goes on a mad tear, scooter style, as mall security officer Paul Blart.

where he works is seized and taken over by a highly skilled, dangerous, and organized gang of criminals – criminals with tattoos, skateboards, ninja skills, and hilarious codenames like Rudolph and Prancer. Paul, distracted by his own noisy video game playing while “minding the arcade” during the evacuation, is the only person besides the hostages left inside the mall. Communicating with the outside, Paul is faced with the most terror and excitement that his career as a mall security officer has ever afforded him – trying to stop the crooks from the inside and save his mall. Paul Blart: Mall Cop fluctuates between being hilariously cute and campy and almost unforgivably far-fetched and ridiculous, with a multitude of plot holes and technical continuity errors. Certain antics in the name of comedy are frustratingly excessive. Are we supposed to believe that a grown man – with presumably adequate body fat to absorb a fair bit of alcohol – could accidentally go from stone sober to idiotically drunk? The bar scene of Blart’s inebriation

is so psychedelic, you’ll think he’s on LSD rather than piña coladas. And how about those ninjas? The high-kicking, somersaulting mall thieves are a strange amalgamation of street-wise punk and ultra high-tech codebreaking bomb technician. But wonderful, over the top performances redeem the frequently faltering storyline. Kevin James, of King Of Queens fame, is convincing in this comedic lead. As the can’t-get-ahead loser who is finally given an opportunity to prove himself, James is outstanding as the overwhelmed and under confident Blart. Jayma Mays is fabulous in her first leading film role as Paul Blart’s unlikely female love interest. Paul Blart: Mall Cop is an entertaining and satisfying comedy that, despite its sometimes embarrassingly awkward writing and direction, is both genuinely exciting and sweet with enough after-hours mall hijinks to make you reconsider security guard as a career option. 2.5 out of 4 stars

The UPEI Department of Computer Science & Information Technology has a new Video Game Programming Specialization that is CREATIVE, CHALLENGING, AND FUN. Students who have completed one year of computer science studies with Java should be able to make a seamless transition into this program. Visit upei.ca/csit and click on Video Game Programming Specialization for details.

DEIRDRE AYRE, Studio Head, Other Ocean Interactive of Charlottetown, PEI, says,

“Our industry is growing exponentially, but recruitment is always a challenge. With local educational programs providing skilled workers, we have the potential to grow our company more quickly, and better meet the demands of our customers.”

15 ALBUM REVIEWS

Jan. 22, 2009

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ARTS & CULTURE

Ryan Adams and the Cardinals Cardinology Lost Highway Records Alternative country

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By G u r u c h a t h ra m Ledchumanan

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f you can imagine the Grateful Dead’s country rock fueled by U2’s arena-filling power chords, then you can imagine what Ryan Adams and the Cardinals sound like on their fourth album together. Cardinology is a good, oldfashioned classic rock record to

The Killers Day And Age Def Jam Recordings Alternative rock

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By Brandon Goulding

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illers fans? Anyone? Well if you weren’t a fan before, you’d be daft to not become one now. They might be arrogant and pretentious as heck, but these guys know how to please the masses. Day And Age, the band’s third studio album, has a rockin’ sound mixed with some raw emotion

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John Frusciante The Empyrean Record Collection Experimental/Psychedelic rock

By Tony Moores

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ohn Frusciante, like the rest of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, has never been regarded as someone who’s likely to be normal (or clothed, for that matter). This fact has always shone through in his solo work as well, and continues to do so with the release of his tenth solo album, The Empyrean.

All That Remains Overcome Razor & Tie Metal

the core. The album shoots off four bullets straight from the hip. The first track, “Born Into A Light” brings to mind Gram Parsons’ country twang. The lyrics give credence to faith: “For everyone alone I wish you faith and hope and all the strength to cope…the past is just a memory, heal your vines, you’ll heal inside eventually.” The second song, “Go Easy,” is a heartfelt promise of love that comes complete with a heartland sweeping sing-along chorus à la Tom Petty. Adams croons, “I will always love you so go easy on yourself.” It

may sound cliché, but he somehow manages to give the listener a realistic kind of hope without sounding trite. “Fix It” is a slinky rhythmand-blues groove with lyrics that almost beg to repair your damaged soul. The fourth track, “Magick,” is pure fun with grungy, distorted, Sonic Youth-style guitars and comparatively mindless lyrics: “You’re like a rain cloud if it rained mushroom clouds.” The album is a critically acclaimed, crowd-pleasing blend of heart-filled country twang and naked and tender piano

melodies. With simple, yet meaningful lyrics, catchy hooks, and genremelding versatility, Cardinology channels the classic greats while upholding an originality that evades much of today’s popular music. The subject matter is simple but contributes to the overall classicrock feel, while experienced musicianship makes Cardinology an instrumentally solid record. If you’re a fan of classic rock that’s an easy listen, Ryan Adams and the Cardinals offer a fresh and enjoyable take on the successes of old.

to give the listener goose bumps and the urge to dance at the same time. One thing that old fans will notice about Day And Age is that it has more of a techno feel than the band’s previous work. With that being said, the album is still driven largely by the recognizable vocals of lead singer Brandon Flowers. “Human,” the first single of Day And Age, is catchy with a steady beat and soulful vocals. The drums in the track are reminiscent of older Killers songs like “Mr. Bright Side” and “All

These Things That I’ve Done.” Now I’ll admit, I’m not a fan of techno, but the Killers hit the nail on the head with this song, mixing drum beats, vocals, and a very catchy underlying guitar riff into a crowd-pleasing song that will likely be played at every Sea-Hawks game for the rest of the year. “Joy Ride” deviates a little bit from the electronic feel and brings a really funky sound to the album. A bitchin’ bass line, saxophone, searing guitar licks, and the hook, “when your chips are down, when your highs are

low” make this song one of the most fun on the entire album. The techno vibe of many of the songs may keep some people away, but I’m willing to bet that it will draw more in. Trying something different after releasing two very successful albums takes guts, but there is enough old-school Killers in this record to please loyal fans and enough experimenting to attract some new folk. In a nutshell, Day And Age is one catchy-ass album and you should all go out and buy it (or at least give it a listen on Grooveshark).

The album opens with “Before The Beginning,” and I had to convince myself several times that I wasn’t listening to Explosions In The Sky. It follows their formula almost exactly – a mellow, rhythmically simplistic tune with a spacey, effect-laden lead guitar part. From there follows a cover of an old Tim Buckley tune, “Song To The Siren.” It kind of sounds like a long-lost Pink Floyd track with Frusciante playing it. Midway through “Unreachable” I was seriously checking out the CD jacket to see if there was a writing credit

to Waters or Gilmour. It’s a neat song, and the harmonized guitar solo is a standout. But, like I said, it’s a page taken straight from The Dark Side Of The Moon. If you haven’t picked it up from my comparisons, this album is intensely experimental. Perhaps I’m just used to the light-hearted indie rock sound from older Frusciante songs like “Murderers” and “Going Inside.” The Empryean offers little more than a glimpse of that sound. However, the glimpses are there. “God” f lows incredibly

well and has an admirable vocal performance. “Enough Of Me” and “Central,” featuring Johnny Marr of The Smiths and Modest Mouse fame, come off like Red Hot Chili Peppers renditions of Modest Mouse songs, and the results are great. Overall, there are some redeeming qualities, and this album isn’t bad. I’d recommend a listen just for the experience, which I guess is what experimental rock usually aims for. But it’s still pretty inaccessible, and I don’t see myself listening to more than a couple of the tracks again.

Playradioplay! Texas Island Electronic pop

16 DISTRACTIONS

{ Across

Jumping ____

1. In addition to

48. Suggestive of the supernatura l and mysterious

5. A river in Russia flowing from Lake Baikal 9. There’s __ ____ in sight 14. Where there’s a ____ there’s a way 15. The _____ usually cou nt s t he la rge st percentage of your final mark 16. One who prepares someone for military conflict with weapons

We’re sorry we messed up last week’s crossword.

26. A rudimentary seed

57. A springy bouncing stick 58. Everyone hates the window screen “404 error ____ not found” 59. A device a painter uses to hold their canvas

61. A male given name, a form of Francis

24. Broadway hit musical Guys and ____s 25. A female gametocyte that develops into an ovum after two meiotic divisions 2 8. Wa r n i n g s or notifications 32. A small pendant fleshy lobe at the back of the soft palate 33. Brief and to the point 36. A verbal expression of fascination, or wonder

62. Formal attire 63. Quick; agile; lively 64. You’ll find a lot of this at the beach Down 1. A pointed tool used for making holes, as in wood or leather 2. He gave an IOU in ___ of cash 3. A thick piece of anything; wood, bread, or rock 4. The method of reckoning dates according to the Julian calendar 5. A person or group to whom a lease is granted 6. Entrances and _____

37. What English people call the subway

7. Nickname for someone named Nathan

38. Something of someone beautiful, remarkable, or amazing

8. To remove or correct faults in

39. A pile of combustibles 40. A nickname for a Yale University student 41. A containment device usually used for shipping 42. Where dinner waits 43. After 35 years at a job, most people will want to do this 45. This person distributes cards, cars, or drugs. 46. Downtown coffee shop

22. CKSJ-FM, better known as _____ 101.1 FM

56. A contract renting land or residence to someone

18. A location; web____

23. The human body has 10 fingers and 10 ____

21. The ninth letter of the Greek alphabet

25. Used in contrast to inner, most of the time

60. A slang term for someone’s butt

20. A plot of agriculture grown only to meet the farmer’s needs

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49. A shy, modest, or selfeffacing person

17. A fast driver has a __ __ foot

19. Capital of Egypt

Jan. 22, 2009

9. The enclosed part of a dirigible in which the engine is housed or passengers are carried 10. Any person or thing serving as an agency of divine communication 11. A title of certain Turkish officials 12. Emperor of Rome from 54 to 68 AD 13. The verb in Snoop Dogg’s most quoted piece of lyrical advice

27. An ancient linear unit based on the length of the fore 29. The ruling monarch family 30. A rich cake, usually containing lots of eggs, chopped nuts, and little flour 31. Transparent 33. What Tetley peddles 34. To consume 35. To wish that something had never been done, taken place, or happened 38. To damage, to fall into disrepair 39. Between the regular season and the Stanley Cup Finals 41. An open space or notch between two merlons in a battlement or crenelated wall 42. Any lovely, graceful person 44. Any of certain similar birds belonging to the stork family 45. To commit any amount of effort 47. Cold 48. Any of various moths of the family Lasiocampidae 49. Rosebud was the name of Kane’s _____ 50. To listen 51. To tear down; demolish; level to the ground 52. Songstress Jones 53. A coin and monetary unit of Italy, equal to 100 Centesimi 54. Distinctive style or flair 55. To or have a tendency toward a particular quality, state, or degree

Jan. 22, 2009

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For Interest LOOKING FOR TV HOST FOR NEW MARINE DISTASTER SERIES. If you are a marine engineer, a marine archeologist, a marine architect or a have a background in marine safety or have one of the following skills in marine technologies (Sonar, Imaging, ROVs etc.) or technical diving experience please contact Tobin Long directly at tobin.long@ ajetv.com The Canadian Federation of University Women St. John’s advocates for women and girls, funds scholarships for women’s education and gets involved in the community. Currently offering student memberships at a reduced rate. Phone 747-4080 for more details on joining CFUW. RSEARCHER INVOLVED WITH OLD SHIPS on both sides of the Atlantic since 1945 offers student interested in writing/photography opportunity to explore coastal areas of Newfoundland. International drivers license, passport a plus. 726-3998 Anytime. FOR THE LOVE OF LEARNING offers free lunch for youth between 15 and 35, Monday to Friday, 1:00 p.m., basement of Gower St. United Church (99 Queen’s Rd.), ring doorbell to get it. Visit www. fortheloveoflearning.org or call 722-8848 for more info. Interested in finding out about volunteer opportunities on campus and in the

CLASSIFIEDS community? Visit the Student Volunteer Bureau, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday in room UC-4001 for mad volunteer hook ups. You can also check out www.mun.ca/cdel/volunteer or e-mail [email protected]. Get involved and volunteer! PROOFREADER with excellent English language skills and an eye for detail available to proofread your document for spelling, grammar, and proper English usage. Lots of experience correcting masters and doctorate theses as well as other academic papers. FREE 2-page trial. Call Alison at 722-3733 or e-mail: [email protected] GMAT tutoring available. Learn tips, strategies and obtain a great score! Receive one-on-one instruction from an experienced tutor and successful GMAT writer. Contact [email protected] for more information. WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE in the lives of people living with cancer? The Canadian Cancer Society is seeking a volunteer to drive patients to and from their scheduled appointments. Just a few hours a week can make a difference. For more information, call Rachel Little 753-6520. ANNONYMOUS TESTING for HIV, Hepatitis A, B, and C. Sexual Health Centre. 203 Merrymeeting Rd. Tues. 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm. All welcome. The Women’s Centre, 150 Lemarchant Rd., Tues. 1:00

pm to 4:00 pm, women only. Offered as part of a study, requires that you complete a confidential questionnaire. Call 1-800-563-6111 or 777-7120 for more information. THE NL SEXUAL ASSAULT CRISIS AND PREVENTION CENTRE Men’s Committee needs volunteers. No experience required; all are welcome. Contact coordinator@ sexualassaultcentre.nf.net. MEMORIAL AMBASSADOR. Do you embody the spirit of Memorial? Volunteer to represent Memorial at universitysponsored events. Apply at www.mun.ca/leadership.

MUN GEEK SOCIETY. Looking for a good place to chat with like-minded people about games, movies, and pop culture? E-mail us for more information, webmaster@mungeeksoc. com, or check out our websites and forums at http://www. mungeeksoc.com/forums. Open to everyone. MUN LIONS. Looking for students and staff to start a Lions club on the MUN campus. Please e-mail Bill Taylor at [email protected] for information. ECONOMICS SOCIETY. Are you pursuing a major

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or minor in economics? Do you have a general interest in economics? Join the Economics Society mailing list by e-mailing economics.society.mun@gmail. com.

Personals NATHAN DOWNEY and the Dandypratts featuring Elsa and the Fingerless Lady Gloves. YOU FELLERS in ta chips? IT’S THE Chinese year of the brohams. UNCULTURED swine

ENGINEERS WITHOUT BORDERS. Idea workshops held every Monday at 5:15 pm in EN-4000. Come learn about international development and social justice, or just have some free fair-trade coffee or hot chocolate. Everyone is welcome. OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS. If your eating habits cause you concern, there is help. Overeaters Anonymous is a group of people who want to stop eating compulsively. For weekly meeting times or other information, please contact us at 738-1742 or www.oa.org.

Clubs and Societies MEMORIAL ENGLISH STUDENT SOCIETY. Join MESS and get a cookie. Stop by our room in A-3027, for cookies, chat about lit, or to find out more about our new graphic novel club, movie club, mixers, and more.

e-mail [email protected]

18 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

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Jan. 22, 2009

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Research in obesity slims down genetic factors By Ashley Lockyer

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r. Guang Sun and first-author PhD student Jennifer Shea identified 45 genes related to weight gain by challenging study participants to overeat rather than diet. What makes their study original is its method. Previous studies have looked at already obese individuals’ adipose (fat) tissue and genes, but this study sought to look at the cause of obesity by observing genetic changes before and after overeating. “To be able to get the obesity causalities is critical,” Dr. Sun said. “Why do some people stay lean, and some get level one, level two, or morbidly obese when they live in the same society?” The study involved 26 male participants between the ages of 19 and 25 who were either lean or obese. X-rays, medical examinations, as well as a small biopsy of adipose tissue and a blood-sample were taken to determine pre-overeating genetic standing. Each participant was required to complete a dietary questionnaire to establish baseline food-energy requirements. They were then assigned to eat 40 per cent above their personal required intake. “Our objective was to mimic

the natural overeating process to challenge the body. If the body does have a set of genes that predispose you to weight gain, they must respond,” Dr. Sun said. “The majority of studies looking for candidate obesity genes have compared gene expression in adipose tissue in lean versus obese people,” Shea explained. “But there haven’t been any studies that have combined the over-feeding challenge with adiposity status.” After one week of overeating, participants were brought back to the lab to repeat the medical testing. The researchers were able to identify 45 genes that were differentially expressed in both lean and obese people. They also identified six candidate genes that were expressed differently in lean individuals in response to the overfeeding, compared to obese people. The six candidate genes show particular promise in that their expression differs between the obese and lean participants. “For instance, one gene was up-regulated in response to the overfeeding challenge in lean individuals but was downregulated in obese individuals,” Shea explained. “Those six now represent really promising

Dr. Guang Sun and PhD student Jennifer Shea sit in the lab where part of their research took place. ASHLEY LOCKYER

candidate obesity genes that we can now go on to further examine.” The researchers are thankful to the MUN students who

contributed to this study and were part of such a significant scientific finding. “Obesity is really a modern

New tech for the new year The top four products from the International Consumer Electronics Show

Tech talk By Ashwin Gupta

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he world’s biggest technology trade exhibit recently took place in Las Vegas. The I nter nat iona l C onsu mer Electronic Show attracted over 2,700 technology companies, showing off products from snazzy new cell phones to the next generation 3-D televisions. Most importantly, it gave a sneak peek at the technologies that will shape the electronics world in 2009. Here is a look at the four most exciting products from the show – all of which have created a buzz in the market before officially launching later this year.

Palm Pre The Palm Pre is the winner of the Best Of Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Award for 2009. This device is en route to recapture the smartphone market it created.

It has a very natural, pebblelike design, along with a 3.1-inch touch screen. It also has a slider full-QWERTY keyboard – great for people whose fingers don’t co-operate with touch screen keyboards. The phone runs on a Linuxbased WebOS operating system, which, by the looks of it, is very stable and fast. But what makes it different from the iPhone is that it is a multi-tasking beast. The user interface is based on a system Palm calls “cards.” What that means is that all your applications can be docked as cards on your home screen. You can easily scroll to and fro across all your applications. Other features include a three mega-pixel camera with flash, a built-in Amazon MP3 store, and support for all of your email accounts. It also has a full-fledged HTML browser that renders webpages very beautifully. All in all, Palm has got a winner and a potential iPhonekiller on its hands. The phone will probably be launched in the U.S. by the end of the second quarter of 2009.

Windows 7 Beta Windows 7 Beta was unveiled at Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer’s keynote address. It is being

hyped as the best Windows ever and by the looks of it, it’s relatively faster than Windows Vista – great news for netbook lovers. Windows 7 is based around making day-to-day tasks easier. It has a lot of new features that make organizing applications a lot more efficient. It also shows advances in touch, speech, and handwriting recognition, support for virtual hard disks, improved performance on multi-core processors, improved boot performance, and kernel improvements. Windows 7 Beta is now available publicly for free download at microsoft.com. I would recommend giving it a shot.

Sony P-series Lifestyle PC In 2008, by companies like Asus, Acer, and HP sold more than 124 million netbooks. Netbooks are cheap, lowpowered, brisk Internet usage laptops that are small on both size and budget. Sony entered this market with the launch of the P-series laptop, but refrained from calling it a netbook, although it has many of the same features. It is one of the smallest laptops you can get on the market with

a widescreen 8-inch 1600 by 768 display and a tiny keyboard less than one inch thick and weighing only 1.4 pounds. The laptop is full of features like 3G mobile broadband antennae 802.11n Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth, with mobile broadband service provided by Verizon, at least in the U.S. This product will retail at about $900 and is a very good travel option for the always-onthe-go crowd.

Samsung P3 The Samsung P3 is an upgrade from the highly successful P2 touch-screen MP3 player. The player supports both video and audio playback. It also has support for stereo Bluetooth, allowing you to sync it with Bluetooth headphones and listen to the music wirelessly. It uses haptic feedback, which means it vibrates every time you select something on the screen. It also has a built-in microphone and speakers and is capable of syncing with any Bluetooth enabled cell phone – letting the user to accept or reject calls received while listening to music on the P3. The device is expected to have capacity of up to 32 GB. The P3 is expected to be on the market by the end of this year and will be priced similarly to the P2.

problem,” Dr. Sun said. “‘What caused this obesity pandemic’ is really the million-dollar question.

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} SPORTS & HEALTH Sea-Hawks women miss, Tightening then catch their prey your belt and shaping up Jan. 22, 2009

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The young Sea-Hawks men’s team loses to nationally ranked X-Men By Jon Dykeman

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his past weekend the Sea-Hawks men’s and women’s basketball teams played their first home games of 2009 versus the high-ranking St. Francis Xavier University X-Men and X-Women, coached by rookie Matt Skinn. Going into the weekend, the XMen sat in the top spot in the Atlantic Conference and fifth in the nation, while the X-Women were tied for second in the Atlantic Conference, two points behind MUN.

By Natalie Holden Health Buzz

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here are many reasons why we gain weight: For many people, at one time or another, food is a source of temporary comfort in stressful times. Also, as a result of being very busy, we will often exercise less and eat more, or as we enjoy our Christmas and New Year’s Eve, our regular eating habits take a holiday as well and we indulge. We often start the New Year with high expectations and a vision for our health goals for the year, and sometimes we get carried away in budgeting for a gym membership or even a personal trainer. Before you go in debt, there are a few things to consider when thinking about improving your fitness.

Women The Sea-Hawks, who went into the game undefeated, struggled to find consistency in the first half. St. FX out-chanced their opponents with 16 more shots and made the difference in their shots beyond the arc, knocking down four threepointers. Forward Vicki Thistle was the lone flame for the Sea-Hawks, leading all scorers through the half with 14 points. The X took the lead at the half, 40-33. The Sea-Hawks started the third quarter with a spark, led by fifthyear guard Kelly Himmelman. Himmelman quarterbacked the play and dished some key passes to bring the Sea-Hawks to within three points at the end of the third. In the fourth quarter, the true colours of the better team showed, as MUN committed several unforced errors. Led by guard Jacquelyn Richardson St. FX capitalized. She tied with Thistle for a game high of 19 points scored. The X-Women won the game, 7972. “It was a disappointing loss tonight,” said Himmelman. “[X] had a lot of energy… usually that’s our thing.” “We just didn’t have our focus…we turned the ball over a lot.” In the second game of the weekend series, the Sea-Hawks women showed their hometown faithful why they are ranked eighth overall in the country. MUN nearly doubled St. FX in points in the second half and managed to hold the X to just 49 points in the game. Rookie Ally Forsey played to her full potential, leading all players in field goal shots with 19, foul shots (six for six) and points (20). MUN won 65-49, to give them a 91 record for the season and top in the Atlantic Conference with St. FX stuck in a jam among Dalhousie University

The rookie-laden Sea-Hawk men duke it out in the paint verses the fifth-place team in the nation, the St. FX X-Men. Colin Peddle

and Cape Breton University.

Men It was the young Sea-Hawks men who started off the game looking like a top-ranked team, jumping out to an impressive 16-5 lead, to finish the quarter at 16-9. The X-Men however awoke from their slumber in the second quarter. Neither team scored many baskets in the third quarter, yet St. FX was able to increase its lead by five points. In the fourth quarter, the floodgates opened as both teams combined for a total of 48 points. Fifth-year veteran Tyler Richards led the way for the X, scoring 11 of his game-high 25 points in the fourth quarter. X only shot 40 per cent from the field through the game however the Sea-Hawks were worse, with just 33 per cent. MUN lost the game 71-60. “It was a prime opportunity to take them,” said MUN head coach Peter Benoite. “We just weren’t ready to take them…we just had an inability to adjust anytime the other team adjusted. We need to recognize that and get better at that,” he said. “In the last couple of minutes we just didn’t seem to drop the shows we

Sammy the Sea-Hawk sports his flashy red attire.

Colin Peddle

needed,” said Shepherd, who finished second in team scoring. “We’ve got to be able to handle their full court press a little better,” said Sea-Hawk Mark Woodland. In the second game, MUN came out hard again in the first quarter, keeping to within four points of St. FX with the score 21-17 at the end of the quarter. From then on, the powerhouse X took control of the game, led by Richards, with 20 points and Christian Upshaw with 19 points. Shepherd of the Sea-Hawks tied with Richards for a game-high of 20 points. “They were ranked number three [in the nation last week] for a reason,” said rookie guard Sean Murphy of the Sea-Hawks. The X won the game easily, outscoring the home team 22-13 in the final quarter to win the game 94-68. “We’re a young team, we’re still growing…the future is looking good.” The loss for MUN leaves them with a 2-8 record on the season. Next weekend, the Sea-Hawk men’s and women’s teams will travel to Fredericton to play the University of New Brunswick Reds. The UNB men are winless, while the women sit in the fifth spot with a 4-6 record.

Be realistic in your fitness goals Decide what your goals will be. If you want to lose weight, the first step is to find out how much you need to lose to improve your health and well-being. This may be a matter of preference or it may be guided by legitimate health concerns. For the best advice, talk to a family doctor or a dietician. At many gyms you can also make an appointment with a certified personal trainer or fitness specialist who will give you an approximation of what you can do to improve your fitness based on your goals. If you want to gain muscle mass, or improve your flexibility or endurance, certified fitness staff can help design the best work out program to attain your goal. It is wise to look into the staff member’s education, experience, and maybe even speak with some of their past and present clients. A client with a positive testimony will be a good advocate of personal training.

Choose a g ym according to your goals and budget If you are a full-time student at Memorial, your membership at The Works is included in your tuition. The Works website has a lot of information about different services as well as aerobics and swimming schedules. An alternative is the Aquarena gym, which offers quality fitness machines and allows for different membership options (at a cost), which includes the use of the Field House. It even has an Arthritis Exercise Program. Conveniently, all of the costs and fees are listed on the website. If you decide you would rather work out at an off-campus facility, be careful when shopping around for a new gym. Many gyms won’t give you any information about membership

fees over the phone or online. Instead, they wait to meet you in person and give you a tour of the facility before putting a price on the table. Be sure to let them know that you’re checking out all your options, meaning that this isn’t the only gym that you’re going to tour. This way, you can arm yourself against being pressured to commit to sneaky membership plans. Make sure you find out if there are supplementary fees. Some gyms will charge you a large fee if you decide to cancel your membership before the renewal date. Some local gyms have scales that measure bioelectric impedance (Nubody’s and Goodlife Fitness carry these scales). They calculate the total amount of fat you have based on how quickly an electric current can travel through your body. As well, body fat percentage can be estimated based on circumferences (of your waist and hips) and thickness of skin folds on different body parts. Personal trainers sometimes offer this service as part of an initial fitness assessment. They may also test your current level of strength, flexibility, and cardio endurance. As well, the Allied Health Services (AHS), part of Memorial’s Human Kinetics and Recreation (HKR) department, offers a range of services. For more information about the AHS, check out HKR website and click on the AHS link.

If you are on a student budget, weigh your options carefully If you are just looking for variety in your routine, go for a walk or jog around some of St. John’s trails, parks, or downtown streets. If going out at night, bring a friend and wear reflective gear. The same goes if you choose to bike. Things like crunches, core exercises, and basically any exercise where the resistance you work against is your own body weight can be done at home. Youtube.com hosts a variety of cool exercise videos and inexpensive resistance bands and yoga mats can be purchased at Sportchek or Wal-Mart. If you buy a stability ball, be careful because they are sometimes smaller than the packaging suggests. Stability balls are most effective when they’re actually the right size for your height and weight. It’s important to do a little research and really invest some time in your fitness program, as starting it off wrong will likely lead to injuries, loss of interest, or lack of improvement. Remember, when it comes to losing weight or making small health improvements, big transformations are not going to happen overnight. Start small and build.

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