The Confluence Issue 29

Confluence The

Summer Days Local Man Struck By Lightning, pg. 3 Cupcakes! pg. 8 Meadow Dragons, pg. 6

July 15th 2013

July 15th 2013

Flying Solo Garett Svensen, Editor-in-Chief.

Andy has now left, and it is just me in the office. Well, me, and the executive committee members, and Bobby, and Teleah. But we are down one editor and I have to figure out if I am capable of doing this job by my lonesome.

These summer months aren’t too bad, pretty much anything goes, but I fear the fall when the volume of submissions increases dramatically and the paper requires more coverage of student and local events. On the other hand, I no longer have classes in the fall, so that should work out.

student paper. More regular contributors are always welcome, and there is room to do big and interesting projects, like the October comics issue that was spearheaded by Andy.

Want $20?

The Confluence is actively If there is anything at all you would like to see in this paper, feel free to email. seeking submissions for biweekly Response time varies, but I can usually get publication. Submissions are back to you within a week or so. ongoing, so if you have news, And with that, I’m signing off on my first opinion, short stories, poetry, solo issue. Hope you enjoy it. comics, pictures or anything else you

would like to see in the paper, send them to us and we will pay you $20 Let me know how I do, email news@ for a published submission. cncsu with your commentary, requests and As is, I am working on expanding The stories.

Confluence’s web presence, attempting to Contact us at: co-ordinate regular segments and trying news@cncsu.ca

The Confluence - News

to co-ordinate the unfortunate necessity of advertisement. There are some exciting things in the pipe, and it has almost become tradition to do a redesign at the end of summer.

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That being said, The Confluence is heavily influenced by our main audience: the students, faculty and staff at CNC Prince George. This magazine would never have come together if not for the work, advice and opinions of people who care deeply about what goes into a

Garett Svensen, Editor-in-Chief

Taren Johnson, Web Manager

July 15th 2013

2013 JULY

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Canada Day

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WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

FRIDAY

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Confluence Submission Date

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19 Last Day of Intersession

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24 Exec. Meeting

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29 30 International

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Confluence Submission Date

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Ed. White Water Rafting

The Confluence is produced biweekly at the CNCSU office on CNC’s Prince George campus by Garett Svensen Submissions, inqueries and requests can be made to news.cncsu.ca, in person at the CNCSU office room 1-303, or mailed to “The Confluence c/o CNCSU 3330-22nd Ave. Prince George, BC. V2N 1P8”

www.free-printable-calendar.net

Weather

SATURDAY

6 13

Farewell Mr. Johnson

20 International Ed. BBQ

27 The Confluence - News

July 2013

Environment Canada 7-Day Weather Forecast: For Prince George, BC. 29 June - 5 July 2013 Monday, July 15: 13°C, Sun. Tuesday, July 16: 26°C, 6°C, Sun. Wednesday, July 17: 28°C, 11°C, Sun. Thursday, July 18: 26°C, 11°C, Sun.

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Friday, July 19: 28°C, 12°C, Sun. All submissions are welcome, the authors of edited works used in the Saturday, July 20: 28°C, 12°C, Sun. confluence receive a $20 cheque upon publication. Advertisement rates are Sunday, July 21: 27°C, 12°C, Sun. availiable upon request.

July 15th 2013

Local Man Hit by Lightning, Totally Stoked

Garett Svensen, Editor-in-Chief.

Prince George resident, Nels Hansen was struck by lightning Wednesday July 10th, CBC reports.

Sitting in the bleachers at a baseball diamond in town, Hansen unfurled his umbrella when thundershowers rolled in Wednesday afternoon. During a thundershower, the unthinkable happened when lighning struck Hansen’s umbrella.

In Hansen’s words: “I had this umbrella right here...next thing I know, my whole hand lights up right here, and I’m like, ‘Whoa! I’ve been hit by lightning,’” His friends on the field soon rushed to the scene, discovering that Hansen was shocked, but all right.

The Confluence - Culture

“I realized I’m okay. And I’m like, ‘Oh yeah, I got hit by lightning!’ I was totally stoked.” said Hansen.

“It’s little things like that you never know -five minutes makes a difference, man. So life throws you all this stuff -you just gotta ride it, man. I love it. I love it.”

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Lightning Strike Survivor Nels Hansen.

Image CBC News

http://cncsu.cfs-services.ca/en/student-saver

Paul Strickland, Contributor.

July 15th 2013

Vignettes

“Tu vas a morir! [You're going to die]” Cecilia told Warren when he told her he was taking the bus from Madrid to Munich.

Early the next morning, Cecilia gave him a kiss at the side of the bus. A stray snowflake drifted by.

Warren got on the coach.

“We've been acquired by a new group,” he told her. “We should wait to see what the new general manager does.”

Monday morning during the drive to work there was news on the car radio about the cutbacks by the Chretien government. Warren walked toward his desk, but he was told to go directly to a staff meeting in the boardroom with the new general manager, Harrington McTavish.

“You people are lazy,” McTavish told the frightened employees. “You haven't had a new idea in years.

“I have a good mind to lay off the whole lot of you!”

The Confluence - Culture

That night he slept very little in his second-floor room. He saw images, in rapid succession, of the Plaza Mayor, the Prado Museum, the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, El Parque de Retiro, the Hotel Lacorzan where he'd stayed the first three weeks after arriving in Madrid, Avenida de Jose Antonio, the downtown post office (El Correos) – all the places with which he'd become familiar during the past three months. He'd heard the myth about those falling off cliffs seeing a rapid review of their lives before they hit the valley floor below. Maybe he was dying to Madrid.

Maybe he'd never see Madrid again.

“When are you going to buy me a house – if not in Heritage or the Hart Highlands, at least in College Heights?” Wilma asked Warren after their dinner together Sunday night.

After work Warren called his friend, Gary.

“What's the matter, buddy?” Gary said.

“Can't you take it?

“That's the nature of a job, don't you know?” Gary continued. “Maybe you're depressed.You should see your doctor about Prozac.”

He called Wilma and said that, in view of the layoff threat, he couldn't see his way to making a down payment on a house quite yet.

“You're lacking in commitment,” she said.

“It's off. It's over between you and me.”

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In recent weeks Warren had seen only more frequent demonstrations and ever intensifying riots met with tear gas and rubber bullets from Guardia Civil. Strikes were spreading everywhere, and he feared a re-play of the Spanish Civil War now that Franco was dead. Best to get out to relatively peaceful West Germany.

July 15th 2013 Page 5

The Confluence - Culture

Here There be Dragons

Grizzly Lake, Roughly an Hour’s Drive from Prince George

July 15th 2013

Untitled

The Confluence - Arts

Bring Your Rubber Boots

Rubbers, Dragon, and Turquoise Lake...

How Joe Got Three ‘Birds’ (And More) During one High Hike Chris Trampowski, Contributor

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Joe went higher and higher and finally he reached an area of Alpine meadows. It took him quite a steep, long and exerting ascent but he made it. The attraction of his destination gave him push and pull, promising to unveil the hidden rewards later. As the drops of sweat were filling his hat and getting to his eyes, Joe rested his vision (and his legs too) on relatively flat area that finally he reached: the high meadows. The sweat evaporated fast from his face and he began using his camera, pointing it at different vistas which surrounded him 360°. Everything seemed perfect. The weather was warm. There were only few and rather charming but not threatening clouds. The hiking path became comfortable and well defined, leaving him to the area of rest by Turquoise Lake.

July 15th 2013

Everything was perfect…except couple inches of water at his feet that reached almost to his ankles. The meadows were more than just wet. For six months of the year, they were constantly flooded by the shallow waters. But Joe came well prepared. He found a log to sit on and put his light rubber boots on. They were carried in his backpack for this occasion.

With his rubber protection on, Joe leisurely strolled ahead, making occasional splashes to see if his protection works. It was good!

But there was one more thing that could give Joe reasonable worries fi he had chosen to. However, he came well prepared for this threat as well and brought more than enough of adequate equipment to protect himself from the bear attack. Though it aroused his alertness, this helped him also to appreciate even more the beautiful country of northern British Columbia that surrounded him also everywhere.

He was in Grizzly Den Provincial Park area. The rangers did not keep this name as an extension of their fantasy but for a good reason: be aware of bears. So, he appreciated the beauty of this unique and stunning ecosystem.

fire coming through the dragon’s nostrils.

Joe looked in amazement as the creature scanning around cranched salty cookie, held in one pay while washing it down with Clamato (still bloody) Mary, held in a glass by another paw. Even to Joe’s bigger amazement, the creature got vocal and multilingual. There was Spanish, German, English, with a few others languages coming out too but Joe was focused on real multilingual cues. Was there Wooza, Hottentot, or Parkit? Joe started throwing rubbers at the creature and the drops of sweat from his forehead began to drip in reverse, back to Joe’s forehead.

Suddenly, as it appeared, the creature also disappeared, like a water bubble. It was gone; the dream was gone too. Still with his eyes closed, Joe pondered. Was this unusual dream a result of sudden clash of pristine and nutrient rich air with his sweaty exertion that led him to this place?

He opened his eyes, had a bite, and then got up.

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The Confluence - Culture

There was a little wind. The previously unspoiled lake’s surface was a bit wrinkled and the bells were swinging but without making a sound yet. Joe packed his backpack and started a scramble up a gentle rocky face, above the lake. Only in minutes, he reached a comfortable Safely and leisurely (after the steep viewing place. From the above, he glanced ascend), he reached the lake and was at the lake and it seemed to blink at him astonished by the magic of this place. But with his turquoise ‘eye.’ He did not wink by this time he also felt quite exhausted. back but was continuing to observe the He managed to tie the fishing line to the leisurely panorama that spread like a plants around him. This line had an array colourful quilt thrown under his feet. He of smartly inserted and well placed bells checked the time. There was still more which were to give him enough warning than enough hours of daylight to get down if some creature would cross his resting to his car. He decided to get even higher. zone. Then he layed down, placing beside The Valhalla Ridge was just next to him, him his powerful anti-bear whistle and the five hundred feet above. He did not ‘risk’ doubly charged, bear spray dispenser. He to have another snooze during this rather closed his eyes. busy but leisurely day, spent in the wild.

Instead, Joe ascertained himself that he Suddenly, he heard the noise: strick… came well prepared and equipped and he strick. The surface of the lake became got full satisfaction. He was happy hiker, turbulent and the fantastic creature landed on its feet(?), flippers(?), (anyway, scrambler, trekker…but not a camper. He something like that) and this landing was slept at home and well. not very firm too. The creature turned out to be a rather unusual dragon. Joe could not tell precisely its gender. The dragon was so huge but also very hairy.

It had two black eyes and it seemed somehow outsourced. There was a trace of smoke, coming out from both of its ears but Joe could not spot any sign of the dragon being happily employed which Joe concluded it would be the obvious

Jabberwocky Illustration John Tenniel

The Ingredients: 1 large egg 1 large egg white ½ cup milk 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 packed cup unbleached allpurpose flour Lime Cupcakes ¾ cup sugar Photo Andrea Sparks 2 tsp baking powder ¼ tsp salt 5 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature 1 tbsp lime juice 1 ½ tsp grated lime zest Frosting 5 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature 2 cups powdered sugar, unsifted Pinch of salt ½ tsp vanilla extract 1 tbsp lime juice 1 tsp very finely grated lime zest

The Process

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3.

I had been wanting to make cupcakes for quite some time. I had even already bought pretty little cupcake liners and an icing tip and icing bags to upgrade a plain cupcake into something beautiful. I knew I wanted lime. Or coconut. Or lemon.

Or chocolate. Or strawberry. Oh! The possibilities are endless with cupcakes.

But I stuck with my first instinct and went with lime. The next step was to find a recipe. With the pinterest craze amongst everyone from housewives to students to middle-aged working class people, there is a recipe for everything that you can think of. I wasn’t happy with what the searches brought up, however. Instead, I brought out trusty ol’ Google.

The search with Google brought up about 14,700,000 results, give or take a few million. How does one decide. I know I In a small bowl, lightly combine the eggs, a quarter of the milk, and the vanilla. didn’t want a recipe that uses an entire carton of eggs (I buy free-range, SPCA In large mixing bowl, combine all the dry ingredients and mix on low speed for a certified eggs, they are expensive!). I minute to "sift." Add the softened butter and remaining milk. Mix on low speed didn’t want a recipe that had enough steps to fill a small notebook. I really didn’t until combined. With mixer on medium-high speed, beat for a minute and a half. want a recipe with cream cheese frosting Scrape the bowl.

(I know, I am weird like that). I clicked and Beat in the egg mixture in three batches, beating for 20 seconds after each addition. clicked through recipes, and went with my gut and went to the first result on the Scrape the bowl and, with spatula, stir in lime juice and zest. search list.

Immediately remove from pans and cool on wire rack for an hour. They must be This brought me to an independent thoroughly cool before frosting. writer’s food blog. The website is nice and In the bowl of a stand mixer, or with a hand mixer, cream the butter until smooth. simple, and the recipe seemed basic and tasty. She had a short introduction (much With the mixer on low speed, gradually beat in the powdered sugar. Scrape down shorter than mine!) and followed it with a the sides of the bowl. Add the salt, vanilla extract and lime juice and beat on high recipe for lime cupcakes with buttercream speed until frosting is light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Toward the end, beat in the frosting. I want to share her recipe with finely grated lime zest. With a pastry bag fitted with a 2D or 1M tip, pipe frosting you, and encourage you to try it! You can on cupcakes in a classic swirl. If you don’t have a pastry bag, you could just spread find her blog at www.delightfulrepast. com. The only difference between how the icing on the cupcakes with a butter knife. she did her cupcakes and mine, is that I decided to use food dye and make the frosting an appropriate bright green colour. Bon appetit!

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line a muffin pan with cupcake liners.

2.

With the reinstatement of a working oven in my little rental basement suite, I decided to get my baking on. The possibilities of what I could have made were endless. I could have made the classic, heartwarming chocolate chip cookie. I could have made banana bread to use up the ever-growing collection of brown bananas in my freezer. Or I could have even made a loaf of bread, a talent that is recent and still in development.

Instead, though, I decided to go all out and make a sweet and tantalizing lime cupcake.

July 15th 2013

Andrea Sparks, Contributor.

The Confluence - Arts

Put the Lime in the Cupcake and Eat it all Up

July 15th 2013

The Last Page

The Confluence - Arts

Departing Editor, Andy Johnson Gives Some Parting Remarks.

On the other hand, I have received plenty of positive feedback for my efforts as well. My writing and editing skills have improved immensely and I have met some of the most note-worthy authors of contemporary Canadian Literature. These note-worthy authors seem—at least to me—to be the people willing to engage in conversation and the most willing to try and make the world a better place. I can’t imagine being in better company.

Signing Off

While I’m on the subject of the “Poetry War,” I would also like clarify a few misconceptions about what this situation is. This feud has almost nothing to do with writing—save for the few addresses of certain people’s writing that was deemed Andy Johnson, mean-spirited. This situation is merely a Contributor. symptom—in Prince George—of a bigger world problem. What this bigger problem is, I cannot put my finger on just yet, but there are patterns that have emerged in One thing I have always tried to ensure in my editorials— this conflict that have some interesting regardless of my errors in taste, grammar or spelling—has been implications. This situation has affected a to tell the naked truth. This seems to be something that is very rare in lot people and although efforts are being the craft of writing. While it isn’t completely absent in writing in general, made to ensure an end, chances are that the truth appears mostly in easily digestible bit-sized portions; much like this situation will become similar to the US and Russia during the Cold War. giving a dog a prescription pill in cheese or peanut butter. These small

grains of truth are what engage a reader, keeping their attention and leads them to their next dose of truth.

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I believe that takes care of most of the negatives I experienced during my time as Editor-In-Chief of The Confluence, now With that said, some of my editorials have been called mean-spirited by those who I for something more inspiring. One of the have already mentioned on multiple occasions during my stay with The Confluence— greatest challenges for two people running all the past issues can be found online at cncsu.ca—and I feel I should address in this a small student magazine is getting good-bye letter to this magazine’s readership. While, yes, I have been brash and frank submissions. Countless times Garett and in more than one editorial, my motives were simply to open a dialogue with misguided I would scramble for content and would academics who believe that their motivations are to be the guiding forces in the Prince end up filling the twelve pages between us.

George community. Other than being called mean-spirited and being part of a “boy While days like these were stressful, a lot band”—the blog post from which I’m quoting is no longer online—my attempts of our more interesting content came from at opening a dialogue have been mostly futile with those I consider to be misguided these days. These were the days that most academics. of our creative content came from.

July 15th 2013 The Confluence - Arts

For me, these were the most rewarding days as we created something out of nothing. Of course, when we first started at The Confluence we were much slower at this and would take us nearly a week to generate content to fill an issue. It now takes approximately two days to generate an entire issue of content. With that said, we’ve also had our fair share of trying times when we did have enough content for an entire issue. One such time was our “greatest hits” issue to welcome the Quesnel Campus to the Canadian Federation of Students. While this only took Garett and I two hours to pick out our best articles, it took Garett a day to do the design and layout and then it took both of us until 2 AM to finish printing the issue due to an error in the printer buffering.

Again, while times like this were stressful, they were rewarding to both the work and Garett and my friendship.

Andy Johnson

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These are the times I will miss the most from my time at The Confluence. Saying good-bye to something you love is never easy and leaving The Confluence team is no exception. The past two years— including the summer months when most student papers/magazines usually shut down their presses—has been an amazing adventure and I wish all the best to Garett and Taren, even though I know they will do fantastic!

U-Pass FAQ

Lockers FAQ

The Universal Transit Pass gives you unlimited use of Prince George Transit as well as full use of both the Aquatic Center and Four Seasons pool in Prince George.

You may rent your locker at the Students’ Union office, Room 1-303, near the Gathering Place in the main building on the Prince George campus.

What is the U-pass?

What do I need to get a U-pass?

You need to bring your CNC Student Card which can be obtained from the Admissions office.

When can I get my U-pass?

You can get the U-pass up to two weeks prior to your program start date. For example, if your program starts on September 3, 2013, the soonest you can get your U-pass would be August 19, 2013.

Health & Dental FAQ Am I covered?

All full time students enrolled in the Fall semester taking three or more courses or enrolled in a vocational and trades programs that are 14 weeks or longer are automatically included in the plan.

If I already have coverage can I Opt-Out?

Yes, if you already have extended health and dental benefits you are able to be exempted from the plan. Just bring proof of existing coverage to the CNCSU Office room 1-303 before Friday September 27, 2013.

Where do I rent my locker?

When can I rent my locker?

Locker rentals begin two weeks before the start of your program; For example, if your first day of classes is September 3, 2013, you may rent your locker starting on August 19, 2013.

How long may I rent my locker?

Per program term to a maximum three terms (1 full year).

You must be registered in a least one course in the term to be eligible to rent a locker.

What do I need to bring to rent a locker?

CNC Student Card or CNC registration statement and Photo ID.

What is the cost to rent a locker?

- Half size lockers are $5 per term - Full size lockers are $10 per term - $5 lock deposit fee - Payment method: Cash Only

If I’m a part time student can I Opt-In?

Yes, if are enrolled in atleast one class at CNC Prince George or Quesnel campus you can Opt-In at the CNCSU Office room 1-303 before Friday September 27, 2013.

MEET THE 2013-14 CNCSU EXECUTIVE & STAFF

Roxanne Quock Chairperson

Joshuah Balsom PG Campus Representative

Arnold Yellowman Secretary

Patricia Obasi International Students’ Representative

Leila-Soila Abubakar Womens’ Representative

Mick Frazier Treasurer

Teleah Old (Staff) Services Coordinator

Robert Chavarie (Staff) Executive Director