NEWS FLASH: TIGER WOODS GONE WRONG
stupid. I’ve never texted or talked to him on the phone.” Though Tiger and Uchitel both deny the affair, The National Enquirer followed her to Australia where she and Tiger were staying in the same hotel.
BY SAACHI JHAVERI
Tiger Woods has been on top of the world. He is one of the best golf players, he is a worldwide role model, he has numerous endorsement deals, and he is a multi‐millionaire. He has a great family with his wife, the Swedish model Elin Nordegren, and two lovely children.
…SO WHAT WENT WRONG? "Hey, it's Tiger," he says in the voicemail obtained by Usmagazine.com. "I need you to do me a huge favor. Can you please take your name off your phone? My wife went through my phone and may be calling you. So if you can, please take your name off that. Just have it as a number on the voicemail. You got to do this for me. Huge. Quickly. Bye." This was a message sent during one of many affairs Tiger has been having with other women during his marriage to Mrs. Nordegren. The voice message above was sent to Jaimee Grubbs, a 24‐year‐old Los Angeles cocktail waitress, who claims that she and Tiger have been immersed in an affair for thirty‐one months. “I loved how we got along,” Grubbs tells US Weekly. “But I knew, the back of my mind, there could never be just us. There would always be the wife, or somebody else.” Grubb revealed that their first hook up was in April 2007, and they went on to have twenty more after that. Jaimee Grubbs provided the public with inappropriate text messages Tiger had sent her, and photographs of the two of them together to prove that her claim was true. To add more fuel to the scandal, The National Enquirer published an exclusive story that Tiger was having another affair with Rachel Uchitel, a New York party girl. Uchitel tells US Weekly that, “The whole thing’s a lie. Tiger never told me he loved me. It’s just
To make matters worse, Tiger recently got accused of engaging in a third affair, with Las Vegas marketing manager Kalika Moquin. An insider reveals that the two of them have hooked up numerous times. He told her that marriage life wasn't all that it’s built up to be, and that there was just too much pressure on him. Tiger recently released the following public statement: "I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart. I have not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves. I am dealing with my behavior and personal failings behind closed doors with my family." Of course, who’s to judge? It just must be SO hard to be married to a gorgeous wife, with whom you have two children with AND have an amazing job that you’re passionate about, that also just so happens to make you millions of dollars. Tiger would was just bound to cheat right? References DIllon, N. (2009, December 2). Tiger Woods triple bogey: Kalika Moquin is third alleged mistress with Jaimee Grubbs, Rachel Uchitel. NY Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2009/12/02/2009‐12‐ 02_tiger_woods_triple_bogey_kalika_moquin_is_third_alleged_mistress_with_jaimee_gru.html Hear Tiger Panic to Mistress: “My Wife May Be Calling You”. (2009, December 2). Us Weekly. Retrieved from http://www.usmagazine.com/celebritynews/news/ hear‐tiger‐panic‐to‐mistress‐my‐wife‐may‐be‐calling‐you‐1970241 Tiger’s Alleged Mistress: Drug Abusing “Hookers” Made Up Affair. (2009, December 2). Us Weekly. Retrieved from http://www.usmagazine.com/celebritynews/ news/tiger‐woods‐alleged‐mistress‐drug‐abusing‐hookers‐made‐up‐affair‐story‐2009112 Hearsch, C. (Photographer). (2008 ). Retri eved fr om http://christopherkhersh.com/ Physi cian ‐C oachi ng‐and‐ Consulti ng/coachi ng/ even‐tiger ‐w oods ‐has‐a‐coach/
Climate Ch— what?! BY DANIEL WESSON
The hot topics in the media have been capriciously shifting these past few months, with special guests like healthcare and Afghanistan, along with those returning guests that merit a second or even third cycle of attention, but really are not that exciting—I write with you in mind, job losses. It seems as though we have forgotten something. Again. It is climate change, and its threat is still real. However, with the upcoming environmental conference in Copenhagen, the issue will step back into the limelight for at least a few days.
A melting snowman
Copenhagen, Denmark, is hosting a global environmental conference involving about 12,000 delegates, including world leaders from China, the US, the UK, France, Japan, Germany, and many others. The purpose of the conference is to seal a deal on concrete emission reduction from the world powers. But let’s be serious—it will not happen. The world is in the midst of an economic recession, and countries simply have other priorities at the moment. Barack Obama has called the environment a “top priority”, yet when any world leader is presented with a choice between stimulating
the economy to please the working class within a few weeks, and reducing carbon emissions to please left‐ wing hippies left over from the 60’s (who may lose their high at any moment right along with their enthusiasm for the cause) over the span of decades, the decision will consistently be the former. The simple fact of human nature is that we do not appreciate the long term as much as we should. And that will be a problem in the Copenhagen conference. The thing most likely to happen is that the world leaders will discuss our planet’s imminent peril, mull over reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and consider strategies for future cooperation. However, dialogue is apparently good enough to snag you a Nobel, but it will not be good enough to snag a deal in Copenhagen. Just look at the US: Obama’s ambitions are lofty, but his power to deliver is limited in light of how the government operates and how the economy currently operates. The US also has yet to ratify Kyoto. China? Pledged to increase energy efficiency by upwards of 40%— a weak pledge at best, considering China was already on track to meet that goal and that under the terms of the pledge, China would still increase its annual emissions. India? One of the world’s largest emitters of greenhouse gases, yet very low per capita, its economy booms along with demand for energy. Japan? Come on. The Kyoto Protocol. Kyoto. According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, five years ago, Japan needed to reduce its CO2 emissions by 12% to meet its obligation according to Kyoto, a goal that is now in the vicinity of impossible. To be fair, though, Japan may have experienced a miscommunication in the process; we all know how tough learning Japanese may be for...some people... On the bright and unpolluted side of things, the Copenhagen conference will be environmentally friendly from the mode of delegate transportation to the energy consumption of the conference building to the restriction on plastic bottles in the building. The cost for the Danes: “The Danish government has allocated approx. US$ 62 million on the government budget to COP activities, but it is possible that the final amount will exceed this figure.” References Greenhouse, S. (2009, December 2). Elusive goal of greening u.s. energy . Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/03/business/energy‐environment/03greenjobs.html?_r=1 United nations framework convention on climate change. (2004). Retrieved from http://unfccc.int/files/essential_background/background_publications_htmlpdf/application/pdf/ghg_table_06.pdf Copenhagen ‐ background information. (2009). Retrieved from http://unfccc.int/press/fact_sheets/items/4975.php 3d model of melti ng snowman . (200 9). [Web]. Retri eved fr om http://www .3 dexport.com/i mg ‐melted‐snow man‐191 47.htm
2 many txts BY NINA GALLO
We do it late at night, in the dark. We do it while we’re riding the Rokko Liner. Some of us even do it underneath desks during class. In fact, we do it so much our fingers often begin to ache. What am I talking about, you ask? That would be texting. Let’s face it: we do it 24/7. Last month, when I was at home browsing through the mail, I stumbled upon an unusually heavy, thick envelope. At first glance, the letter did not appear to be important, so I was somewhat inclined to simply put it aside. What stopped me was the fact that the kanji on the return address struck a chord of familiarity within me. “Crap”, I thought to myself, “my least favorite time of the month.” I opened the envelope, and my fear was confirmed: it was my family’s cell phone bill. I skimmed down the bill, until one number in particular stood out amongst all the rest. It was the number of texts I sent during the previous month: 324. This sounds like a lot, but after speaking with certain members of both the Canadian Academy community, and some of my friends from the states, I found the number of texts that I send is, by comparison, shockingly meager. To put it more dramatically, we are members of the first “texting generation”, and data shows that we most likely will not be the last. According to a report released by the Nielson Company in 2008, American teenagers sent more text messages per month than any of the other age group. How many texts per month, you ask? 2,272. That’s an average of eighty texts per day—which is apparently more than double the average recorded in 2007. This texting phenomenon is not only beginning to worry parents suddenly faced with dramatically higher phone bills, but physicians and psychologists as well. Some even believe that texting in many cases is responsible for anxiety, falling grades, distraction in school, sleep deprivation, and repetitive stress injury. With that being said, I am, in no way whatsoever, advocating the eradication of text
messaging. Why? Because honestly, I like texting. In many cases, text messaging can serve as a speedy and convenient form of communication, in our oftentimes very chaotic lives (courtesy of the IB). However, what I do have an issue with are two, rather detrimental side effects of texting that have the potential to impede the social growth of our own generation, and that of future generations (I also have a problem with driving while text messaging others). First of all, text messaging, like instant messaging, too easily provides individuals with the perfect excuse to avoid face‐to‐face conversation. In other words, texting has become a way people to virtually escape confrontation altogether, or those “…” slash uncomfortable situations. This habit is a dangerous one if it becomes the norm. Not only has text messaging, along with instant messenger services and e‐mail led to less in‐person interaction, but it has also led to less phone conversations per month. Avoiding actual face‐to‐face conversations may facilitate “functional” relationships in high school when everybody else is doing it, but what about after? You aren’t going to be able to text “brb” to your boss when you sense an imminent potentially confrontational situation. If you depend on texting now, then you aren’t going to know what to do when this type of situation arises in the “real world”. Why? Because all of those text messages you used to avoid all forms of confrontation have hindered your conversation skills, and you didn’t even realize it. The second damaging side effect of text messaging is that it tends to distract people from “living in the moment”. In essence, instead of living in the now, or focusing on what’s going on around you, most people in public have their hands glued to their cell phones, and their eyes staring intensely into the screen. They’re all waiting for that “receiving message” icon to pop up. What frustrates me the most is when I see someone texting during a conversation with their friend, or during dinner with their friends or with their family. Not only is this extremely impolite and obnoxious, but in doing so you detach yourself from the people you care about and with whom you supposedly enjoy spending your time. If you’re sending a text about something trivial, like the score of the latest Lakers game, it can wait a
few more minutes. And if you’re texting something “serious” or important, you shouldn’t even be discussing it through a text message anyway. Pick up your phone, dial their phone number, and talk to them. It’s not that hard. Because honestly, what do you think you are doing now that you’ll remember in ten years? An uproarious conversation you had while you were at dinner with your friends, or a text message you sent your friend about your English homework? Reference: Hafner, Katie. (2009, May 25). Texting may be taking a toll on teenagers. New York Times, Retrieved http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/26/health/26teen.html?_r=2&8dpc
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But what if Soulja Boy is insane? BY AVU CHATURVEDI
Soulja Boy is the most untalented “musician” (for lack of a better word) in the history of sound. Oh yes; he’s a platinum plaque‐parading public enemy, but that doesn’t give him the right to receive the honor of being consider an emcee. After his contrived feuds on the *ahem* internet, and his constant fear of beef, anyone with half a brain, ears, and any sense of music realizes that Soulja Boy is trash. But what if…what if Soulja Boy is insane? This makes what we know about him much more understandable. After all, if he isn’t insane, he is simply evil, and evil like that can’t go unpunished. Or he might be the son of God, but this I doubt for various reasons. Soulja Boy is considered perhaps the worst lyricist in the history of music. While hip‐hop is thought to be the premier music genre of aspiring lyricists, Soulja Boy has managed to create some of the most uninspiring lyrics and repetitive hooks in history. “Chain on chill, watch on freeze / So much ice I got looking like Chinese” is an excerpt that exemplifies his stupidity, not to mention the chorus of the same song: “Ey, Gucci Bandana, Gucci, Gucci Bandana”, times let’s say twelve or thirteen. The kid doesn't have a single song to his name that can be considered decent. It’s hard to imagine that a single individual can be as terrible at
rhyming as this young fellow makes himself out to be. It is also thoroughly challenging to bring ourselves to believe that some combination in our noble race rendered a creature evil enough to force us to listen to such rubbish out of our own volition through catchy Southern beats. But if Soulja Boy is insane, then this all makes perfect sense. His limited IQ and lack of a sense of judgment explain the torment he accidentally imposes upon the human race. Because of our inherent compassion for those so unfortunate to be this *ahem* stupid, we must forgive Soulja Boy for his accident. However, if Soulja Boy is insane, then he genuinely thinks his music is good, and this is horrifying. Thank God he admits his own faults. Soulja Boy, in an especially delightful act of foolhardiness, attempted to define his persona and propagate his lack of ability to make words rhyme as a choice to maintain his image as a poppy, misogynistic failure. Apparently, once one sheds one’s dignity, it is quite easy to gimmick one’s way to stardom, and this is exactly what Soulja Boy prides himself upon. He has claimed to not want respect from people, because people who demand minimal respectability, normal people, “probably don’t like [him] anyways”. But if Soulja Boy is insane, then he simply doesn’t understand standards of decency and norms of society, which is once again, horrifying. If he’s insane, then maybe we shouldn’t have allowed him to touch a mic and hit the international spotlight. Soulja Boy has attempted to beef with several prominent rappers. Ice T is the most prominent of these, as he and Soulja Boy exchanged a serious of YouTube disses regarding the apparent “wackness” of the latter. This made Soulja Boy look like an idiot, as he made the mistake of insulting Ice T’s age, while Ice T objectively insulted his opponent’s lack of musical acumen. Most inane of Soulja’s beefs would be his YouTube comments to Nas. Nas, who recently claimed that hip‐hop was dead, suffered media attention and criticism. Among the worst responses from the South was Soulja Boy claiming that by saying hip‐hop was dead, Nas killed hip‐hop, because no one realized hip‐ hop was dead before Nas opened the doors. He then had the audacity to claim that he didn’t make those assertions. But if Soulja Boy is insane, then he clearly has no control of his actions. This is horrifying because of his prominence in the international eye. He is likely to make a similarly ludicrous statement in public, perhaps
at the Grammys, or worse, the VMAs. Can we please make sure to keep him out of an acting career? Soulja Boy also compared himself to Barack Obama. He said that both were African Americans who had a large population of “haters” and a larger population of supporters. Couple key differences: Soulja Boy has a 22% approval rating, reciprocal to Obama. Furthermore, Obama is good at what he does. Soulja Boy isn’t. Soulja Boy thinks he singlehandedly brought Obama into office. He apparently told fans to vote for Obama, and this enabled the good man to win the American presidency. But if Soulja Boy is insane, he doesn’t have any clue what a logical comparison is. Thank God he doesn’t try to use complex similes and metaphors in his lyrics. I believe he is scheduled to compare himself to Princess Diana in a couple years. That would be joyous. Soulja Boy also recently convinced a minor to consume alcohol. This, as far as I can tell, is a felony, especially considering that Soulja Boy is a minor himself. More drastically however, is that the minor who was under Soulja’s charm drank a bit too much and died. Yeah, he killed a kid…accidentally. But if Soulja Boy is insane, then we shouldn’t have left him alone with alcohol, let alone alcohol and a minor, and maybe because of his insanity it’s…no, it’s still not forgivable. Insane or not, Soulja Boy is a menace to society who will likely end up causing a couple more homicides and suicides on the way. He has the sway and swag of Maximilian Robespierre and the intellect of a two‐year‐old. That is horrifying.
Turning Japanese Part III: The Art of Catching Drumsticks BY SEAMUS BELLEW
There is an art to everything—an art to cooking, an art to football, an art to singing. And now, there is an art to catching drumsticks. My record so far this year is two concerts, and two drumsticks. Drum‐stick‐catching may appear to be entirely coincidental and based primarily on luck, but I believe there really is an art to it.
I have that art perfected. There are a few things that you can do in order to increase your chances of perfecting this essential skill, and thereby catching yourself a drumstick or two at the next concert you attend. Here are some very handy tips: Possibly the most important thing to remember when entering the venue is positioning. Your positioning in relation to the stage will either dramatically increase or decrease your chances of catching that holy drumstick. It is important that you don’t stand too close to the act. Bands tend to throw drumsticks into the crowd and the drumstick will fly over you if you are in the front row. That being said, you shouldn’t stand too far back, because they aren’t going to throw it as far as they possibly can, either. It doesn’t hurt to be tall when you go hunting for that drumstick, either. Being a tall gaijin gives one a great advantage over the many small Japanese women who also idolize the band playing. When choosing your location, stand behind people shorter than you, so that you can easily reach over and snatch that drumstick in front of their eyes. Another key factor that comes into play is the possession of lightening quick reflexes. Chances are, a drumstick will come your way during the concert. But the tough bit is that the people around you will be just as eager to get that coveted drumstick as you are. The drumstick will come out of nowhere, and you will have to be ready. Once is it up in the air you need to be prepared to snatch it quickly away from the grasp of others. This might cause a few looks of despair and disappointment, but it needs to be done. What it comes down to, however, is indeed luck. You might be the tallest and have the fastest reflexes in the world, but sometimes, they (the drumsticks) just don’t fall right. The drummer might have played his drums a little harder than the night before. Because of this, he might throw them a couple meters shorter than what you were anticipating. Catching drumsticks is something that takes skill. It requires you to have the right frame of mind—something possessed only by a select few.
Christmas Around the World
to leave gifts in children’s stockings is from the Netherlands. The story of reindeers pulling Santa Clause’s sleigh began in Switzerland. The Christmas meal also reflects the blending of all nations—the United States has accepted many Christmas traditions and changed them to suit their image. Many Americans celebrate Christmas with family visits and the exchange of gifts and greetings. During Christmas dinner, roast turkey or ham is usually served with mashed potatoes, corn, and green beans, then cake or cookies for dessert. Eggnog, an alcoholic drink made with eggs and cream, is a popular Christmas drink. Other treats typical of Christmas in the U.S. include candy canes and gingerbread.
MEXICO
BY EVANGEL JUNG
What words come to your mind when someone mentions “Christmas”? Party. Shopping. Gifts. Carols. Great food. Santa. Lights. Excitement. Snow. Fantastic. Christmas trees. Best time of the year! Yes, everyone loves Christmas. Christmas is probably the most celebrated holiday in the world. However, the ways Christmas is celebrated in different countries around the world are very different from each other. Visit ten different countries and see how they celebrate Christmas!
THE UNITED STATES
The United States is "a melting pot", as stated in many historical books. It is a country where many different nations’ traditions are blended together. Indeed, Christmas celebrations indicate just that. Children of the United States sing carols from England and Australia, and decorate trees from Germany. Santa Clause, also known as St. Nick, originated in Scandinavia; his visit to all houses through the chimney
While the most beloved Mexican Christmas traditions are firmly based on the birth of Christ, the timing of the celebration coincides with Mexico’s ancient worship of the sun. During the nine darkest days of winter, the Aztecs celebrated the God of the Sun, pleading for his return and praising both the sun and his virgin mother goddess. Christmas festivities begin with Las Posadas, which are nine consecutive days of candlelight processions and lively parties starting on December 16th. Posada means “inn” in Spanish. Every home is decorated with a Nativity scene. It is also popular for neighbors to visit one another’s houses singing Christmas songs. Everyone carries small candles in their hands, and four teenagers hold two small statues of St. Joseph leading a donkey two statues of the Virgin Mary. A popular game played in Mexico is piñata. Blindfolded children take turns hitting the piñata, a clay jar filled with sweets that is hanging from the ceiling, with a stick until it opens and the sweets pour out.
MADAGASCAR
The day of Christmas is celebrated by the Christian population living in Madagascar, an island off the east coast of Africa. Celebration of Christmas in Madagascar is different from those in other parts of the world. Christmas day is very warm in Madagascar, but holly, robins, and snow are still common Christmas
decorations. Since the environmental conditions of the island have led to laws that prevent deforestation, the tradition of cutting down and decorating a Christmas tree is not usually followed. Santa Clause is called “Dadabe Noely,” which means “Grandfather Christmas”. Carols form an important part of Christmas celebrations in Madagascar; everyone participates. Churches give out sweets to the people who come on Christmas Eve. Many people enjoy picnics and parties outdoors on Christmas, due to the warm weather. Filled with fun and frolic, Christmas in Madagascar is one of the major festivities of the island.
ENGLAND
Christmas is England’s most popular holiday. It is characterized by traditions which date back hundreds of years. Many English Christmas customs traveled to the United States with the English immigrants. In both countries, children hang stockings and look forward to their stockings being filled with presents. There is no Santa Clause in England, however; instead, children excitedly await Father Christmas. At Christmas dinner, families gather and enjoy a magnificent meal, ending with plum pudding as a dessert. Coins are hidden in the pudding, bringing good luck to those that find them. Plays are presented by actors known as Christmas mummers during the Christmas season to the entertain people both young and old. In some villages, a church bell is rung once every year on Christmas. The ringing is said to keep the devil away. On December 26th, the English celebrate Boxing Day; they give gifts to people in service jobs, such as shop clerks or maids.
GERMANY
In Germany, Christmas preparations begin on December 6th. People often bake spiced cakes and cookies, and make gifts and decorations in the evening. Germans are also famous for making beautiful gingerbread houses and cookies. Christbaumgeback, a type of white‐colored dough that can be molded into shapes and baked, is commonly used for tree decorations. Some homes in Germany have several Christmas trees, and in all towns across Germany, they can be seen glittering and glowing. Germans hang up advent wreaths of Holly with four red candles in the center. They light one candle each Sunday and the last one on Christmas Eve. Children count the days until Christmas using an Advent calendar. On Christmas Eve, children leave letters on their windowsills for
Christkind—a winged figure dressed in white robes and a golden crown who distributes gifts.
SWEDEN
The magical Christmas of Sweden is the biggest and longest holiday of the year. The joy begins the first Sunday of Advent with the lighting of the first Advent candle. Each Sunday prior to Christmas, another candle is lit with growing excitement. The actual celebration begins on December 13th, Lucia Day, which legend says is the longest night of the year and a time when man and beast need extra nourishment. On this day, the eldest daughter in a family becomes Queen Lucia, and wears a white robe and a head wreath decorated with candles. Everyone dresses up and Queen Lucia serves the family Lussekatter and coffee in bed. The climax of the Christmas celebrations, however, is Christmas Eve. Everyone is busy preparing for the splendid Christmas meal. This is the famous Swedish "smorgasbord." Dishes such as ham, jellied pig feet, and rice porridge are traditional. After the meal, children graciously leave a dish of porridge for "Tomte,” the Christmas elf who brings them presents.
CHINA
Since there are such a small number of Christians in China, Christmas is mostly celebrated in major cities, such as Beijing and Shanghai. The Christians in China light their houses with beautiful paper lanterns and decorate plastic Christmas trees. Children hang their stockings on the “Trees of Light” and wait for “Christmas Old Man” to visit their house with gifts. Most people, however, do not celebrate Christmas; they look forward to the main winter festival, the Spring Festival, for luxurious feast and enjoyment. Did you know? One strange thing is that China produces most of the Christmas decorations in the world. How ironic!
JAPAN
Christmas in Japan is quite different from the Christmas celebrated in countries where the population is mostly Christian or of Christian heritage. December 25th is not a Japanese national holiday; unless it is on the weekend, Japanese people still work and attend school on the day. Only one percent of Japanese people believe in Christ. Even so, most Japanese people decorate their stores and homes with evergreens during Christmas. Christmas is mostly a commercial event in Japan. Many people don't know exactly what
the origin of Christmas is. Christmas is thought of as a romantic day, on which couples spend time together and exchange presents. Japanese have a Buddhist monk called Hotei‐osho that acts somewhat like Santa Claus. He brings presents to each house and leaves them for the children. Many people hold parties for children, playing games and decorating their own Christmas sponge cake.
Your Toughest Santa Questions Answered
AUSTRALIA
One image that might come to mind when you see the word “Christmas” is Santa Clause riding his sleigh pulled by reindeer thorough the dark snowy night. Well…not for Australians. Christmas in Australia is never white! It hardly ever snows on Christmas day in Australia. In fact, children spend Christmas during their summer vacation. For the Australians, Christmas means bright sun, beach, surfing, and camping. Most people have a seafood barbeque dinner, with prawns and lobsters along with other cold foods.
RUSSIA
In Russia, the religious festival of Christmas is replaced by the Festival of Winter. In the traditional Russian Christmas, special prayers are spoken, and people fast until the day when the first evening star appears in the sky. Next, a twelve‐course supper is held in honor of each of the twelve apostles. The dishes consist mainly of fish, beet soup, cabbage stuffed with millet, cooked dried fruit, and much more. On Christmas Day, hymns and carols are sung. People gather in churches which have been decorated with the usual Christmas trees which they call “Yelka”, that are covered with flowers and colored lights. Babushka is a popular traditional Christmas figure that distributes presents to children. Legend has it that she declined to go with the wise men to see Jesus because of the cold weather. However, she regretted not going, and set off to try and catch up, filling her basket with presents. She never found Jesus, and that is why she visits each house, leaving toys for good children. References
Cooper, J. (2009). Christmas cultures. Retrieved December 1, 2009, from http://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/ The‐North‐Pole.com. (2009). Christmas Around the World. Retrieved December 1, 2009, from http://www.the‐north‐pole.com/around/
BY GRACE KAY MEIKLE
Many of us are taught from an early age that on Christmas night, a fat, jolly man dressed in red that goes by the name of Santa Clause flies through the night sky and across the entire world in a sleigh driven by eight reindeer, carrying a sack full of toys. He then lands on the rooftop of every hope, slides nimbly down the chimney with his sack of toys, and places them under the tree for all the children that have been “nice” that year. From this belief, there have arisen a multitude of delightful traditions. But throughout our childhood, these traditions are somewhat muddled by a few rather troubling observations, that we not only find difficult to overlook, but that many skeptics choose to exploit in order to question the credibility of this belief in the first place. The older we get, the harder these observations are to ignore—which is why, disturbing as it is, by the age of eight years old, most children stop believing in Santa Clause altogether. Fortunately, Larry Silverberg, a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at North Carolina University, has done extensive research on the subject and has been able to develop explanations to even the toughest Santa‐related questions.
How does Santa to travel to every single home and deliver presents in the span of only one night? To achieve this astounding feat, Santa would have to cover over 200 million square miles and visit hundreds of millions of homes in about 24 hours— impossible, right? Not so! Silverberg’s research reveals that there is actually much more to Santa’s journey than meets the eye. “[Santa] understands that space stretches, he understands that you can stretch time, compress space and therefore he can, in a sense, actually have six Santa months to deliver the presents," Silverberg told Reuters Washington, according to The Scientist online. "In our reference frame it appears as though he does it in the wink of an eye and in fact there have been sightings of Santa, quick sightings, and that's in our reference frame, but in Santa's reference frame he really has six months". Clearly, Santa is not capable of performing at his best in only 24 hours. But with six months, Santa can easily traverse the entire world and deliver presents to each and every child that eagerly awaits his arrival. How Santa is able to carry enough presents in his sack? You can imagine how difficult it would be if Santa had to carry all those hundreds of millions of presents in a single sack—of course this would be impossible! If he didn’t, though, Santa would constantly have to travel all the way back to the North Pole to pick up more presents. Six months is enough time for Santa to visit every home, but traveling back to the North Pole so often would be highly inconvenient. It seems that the answer to this conundrum has been right under our noses the whole time. According to Reuters, Silverberg’s research has established that Santa does not, as commonly thought, carry enough presents for each child in his sleigh. “How could he?” Silverberg asks. "We believe that he uses nanotechnology to grow the presents under the tree and really, what he's done, is he's figured out how to turn what we call irreversible thermo‐dynamic properties into reversible ones. So he really starts with soot, candy, other types of natural materials, puts them under the tree, and he grows them in a reverse process to create the presents, wrapping and all." How does Santa determine who is “naughty” and who is “nice”? Santa is a busy man, and certainly does not have time to go around and observing each and every child
to determine whether they are “naughty” or “nice”. Rather, Silverberg says, "We believe, that there are large antennas miles long under the snow up at the North Pole and we think the grid‐spacing is in the order of millimeters so that you can receive radar‐type signals." These antennas are specially designed to pick up signals correlated with children’s behavioral tendencies. Thus, at the end of each year, Santa is able to sift through the signals and thereby compile a list of “naughty” children and “nice” children before he embarks on his journey. Last of all: How do Santa’s reindeer fly? You probably already know this, but Santa’s reindeer are no ordinary animals. According to Silverberg and his colleagues, Santa’s reindeer are in fact “genetically bred to fly, balance on rooftops, and see in the dark.” All of these skills are crucial to the efficient and successful execution of delivering Christmas presents. So why study the mysterious of Santa in the first place? Silverberg believes the results he has uncovered make his studies well worth the effort. He said of his work, "It's certainly a worthy thing to spend time on and it has all sorts of ramifications in everyday life". Reference: Muir, R. (2008, December 15). Technology helps Santa make magic, scientist says. Reuters, Retrieved from http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE4BE4IT20081215 Australian Media. (1997). Christmas traditions around the world. Retrieved on December 10, 2009 from Santa's Net at: http://www.santas.net/howmerrychristmasissaid.htm
BONUS: How to say “Merry Christmas” all over the world!
BY KATIE MEIKLE
JAPAN: “Me‐ri ku‐ri‐su‐ma‐su” FRANCE: “Joyeux Noel” SOUTH AFRICA: “Gesëende Kersfees” SOUTH AFRICA (AFRIKAANS): “Gesëende Kersfees” INDIA (HINDU): “Shub Naya Baras” ISRAEL: “Mo’adim Lesimkha. Chena tova” GERMANY: “Froehliche Weihnachten” CHINA: “Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan” BRAZIL: “Boas festas e feliz ano novo” NAVAJO: “Merry keshimish” KOREA: “Sung tan chuk ha” THE VATICAN (LATIN): “Natale hilare et Annum Faustum” MAORI: “Meri kirihimete” POLAND: “Boze Narodzenie” INUIT: “Jutdlime pivdluarit ukiortame pivdluaritlo!” USA, CANADA, UK, AUSTRALIA, & NEW ZEALAND:
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Unforgettably Forgetful BY SAKI SHIMADA Owner of one of the most studied minds in brain science, and whose condition is truly an enigma wrapped in a mystery, the “man who could not remember” has now left scientists with an investigation that will not be forgotten. For years, Henry Molaison—more commonly known as H.M., to protect his identity—has left in the hands of neuroscientists, his brain: a gift to the field of studying the functions of memory, which is expected to provide an immeasurable amount of new insights for generations to come. Mr. Molaison lost the ability to form new memories after a significant portion of his brain was removed during an operation in the 1950s attempting to correct his epileptic seizures. The procedure ended up leaving Mr. Molaison without much of his hippocampus, which is critical for memory formation, and subsequently unable to form new long‐term memories. Since his surgery, H.M became the most studied patient in brain science, and his brain, having been under intense investigation ever since the 1950s operation, revolutionized neuroscience with new discoveries based in the nature of the oft‐cited memory‐loss condition, amnesia. Amnesia, in simple terms, is the loss of memory. It is one of those conditions of the human mind that has left many people baffled—take, for instance, Jason Bourne in the Bourne Trilogy movies! Jason Bourne suffers from amnesia after being shot in the back and enduring a long soak in the Mediterranean Sea. After his rescue, he attempts to uncover the mysterious origin of his flawless perceptive capabilities, his unparalleled skills in tracking and hand‐to‐hand combat, and most importantly, his identity. As he continuously evades attempts at his assassination, the unsolved mystery of his past progressively unravels, and he gradually puts all the pieces of the jigsaw together. Unfortunately, for H.M., the puzzle remains unsolved. For him, both good fortune and very bad luck conspired together to make him one of science’s most valuable resources and helpful collaborators. After his initial brain operation indeed relieved the seizures he had been having, it became clear that H.M. could not form new memories as a result. But now H.M’s brain is being dissected and digitally mapped in exquisite detail. Computer recording tissue samples of his brain will produce a searchable “Google Earth”‐like map of the brain to provide scientists with compelling information of how memory is formed and retrieved, and overall, the rest of the lingering
mysteries that surround of the division of labor in this vital organ. The new brain‐mapping project is set to allow scientists to gain the ability to study areas of the brain on a level of detail more precise than we could possibly imagine. Mr. Molaison consented to donate his brain for study years ago. Now, with the recent first anniversary of his death, neuroscientists from the University of San Diego have finally begun painstakingly cutting away at the most famous organ in science. This investigation of Mr. Molaison’s brain is expected to be a two‐day process in which about 2,500 tissue samples are to be produced or sliced away for further analysis. What makes this procedure even more exciting is that it is being shown live online on thebrainobservatory.ucsd.edu/hm_live.php. According to M.I.T. neuroscientist Suzanne Corkin who worked with Mr. Molaison in the last five decades of his life, “H.M. loved to converse, for example, but within fifteen minutes he would tell you the same story three times, with the same words and intonation, without remembering that he’d just told it.” Every time H.M met a friend or acquaintance, or took a stroll around the block, he experienced it all as if it was his first time. Prior to studying H.M.’s brain, scientists thought memory‐making functions were distributed throughout the brain, as opposed to being dependant on a specific section. However, since studying Mr. Molaison, researchers have established that the area removed from H.M.’s brain, the hippocampus, is in fact by far the most critical to forming new memories. With these series of studies, H.M. himself suggested the study that ultimately revolutionized our understanding of learning, by demonstrating that some of his memories were actually fully intact—contrary to what scientists’ initially thought. The breakthrough that clarified this finding came in a landmark experiment, in which Mr. Molaison attempted to trace a line between two five‐point stars, one inside the other. Each time he tried this experiment, it seemed to him an entirely new experience. Yet at the same time, he gradually became more proficient—signifying that there are at least two systems in the brain that are capable of storing memory, one for events and facts, while the other for implicit or motor learning. Hopefully, the new technology that the so‐called “brain‐mapping” studies suggest and whose findings have neuroscientists utterly stunned will catalyze the links between other disorders, like tremors and dementias. But kicking off the project with the most famous brain of them all is what makes this project even more intriguing. rd
Reference: Callaway, Ewen. (2009). Watch it live: dissection of famous brain. New Scientist. [Electronic version] Retrieved December 3 , 2009 from http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/shortsharpscience/2009/12/watch‐it‐live‐dissection‐of‐br.html.
Daniel BY AZAR CORDELIA KHOSROWSHAHI
Walking along Yamate Kansen in Mikage on any given morning, one will be pleasantly overwhelmed by the enticing aroma of chocolate and caramelized sugar wafting from the pastry shop, Daniel. When you begin to smell this sweet scent, you know that you are within a block’s distance of this dessert paradise. In early November, I had the wonderful opportunity to interview the owner and chef of Daniel, Michihiko Nakamura, and learn about the history of Daniel, how it became the best pastry shop in Kobe, and the special desserts that Daniel prepares for the Christmas and New Year season.
Nakamura‐san at the Mikage Daniel. Photo by Azar Khosrowshahi.
In 1979, when Nakamura‐san was in high school, he took a part‐time job working at a coffee shop. As a result of his experience working in this shop, he decided that in the future he wanted to open a coffee shop or café of his own. At the time, Nakamura‐ san was not interested in pastries, breads, or desserts. After he graduated from high school, Nakamura‐san began working in a hotel’s French restaurant, where he was able to gain more experience in the management and operation of a food establishment. It was at this restaurant that Nakamura‐san became fascinated with the art of dessert‐making, as he began experimenting
with the preparation and presentation of pastries and other types of desserts. At the age of twenty‐four, Nakamura‐san traveled to France, where he began working to gain more knowledge of French cuisine and desserts. While in France, Nakamura‐san had the opportunity to live with a very famous chef, and through the chef’s recommendations, Nakamura‐san was able to work in a variety of restaurants where he acquired even more specialized skills. Through Nakamura‐san’s exposure to French desserts and his extraordinary experiences working in France, Nakamura‐san began to consider focusing on desserts and pastries in his future shop instead of opening a coffee shop as had previously been his plan. The first Daniel store was opened twenty‐one years ago, in 1988. Nakamura‐san’s explanation of the story behind the name “Daniel” was an interesting part of our interview. He explained that while he was living in France, he had many friends who were named Daniel. “Daniel with ‘le’ is a girl, and with ‘l’ it is a boy, so it is a name for both boys and girls,” he said. As a result of the multitude of good friends who had this name, Nakamura‐san chose to name his store Daniel, after all of those “good people.” Currently, there are four Daniel locations: Mikage, Sannomiya, Ashiya, and Kyoto. Each location specializes in a certain type of food. For example, the Mikage Daniel store sells mostly pastries, cookies, and desserts, while the Ashiya Daniel store sells more breads and savory foods. The chefs at Daniel start work early at six‐thirty in the morning, and until noon the kitchen is bustling, as many different foods are being prepared simultaneously. Nakamura‐san explained that most customers come to the store during lunchtime or in the afternoon. The majority of the desserts for the day are prepared before noon, so when the customers come to the store, the work in the kitchen is more relaxed. At the Daniel stores, almost all of the ingredients—for example, the fresh fruit and vegetables—come from Japan. Nakamura‐san estimated that approximately seventy percent of the ingredients are Japanese, and the remaining thirty percent of the ingredients come from other countries— mainly Daniel’s specialty ingredients imported from
France, Spain, and Italy. At Daniel, my favorite dessert is the chocolate tart, which is usually available in the autumn and winter. Although I have a favorite dessert, I wanted to know what desserts the customers preferred. Nakamura‐san explained that desserts which include fruits are usually the most popular, such as the tarts that were being made in the kitchen during our interview, which used cream and fresh sliced strawberries. While Nakamura‐san is working in the kitchen, he usually does not prepare the pound cakes or chocolate cakes, as his main focus is making the fruit tarts that the customers prefer. These tarts are currently his favorite Daniel dessert. Along with the many delicious staple desserts that are found in the Mikage Daniel, such as chocolate cake, cream puffs, and éclairs, each season there are a variety of tasty seasonal desserts. These desserts are only made at certain times of the year because the required ingredients, such as the specific fresh fruits, are best when they are in season. Nakamura‐san explained that in autumn, there are many chestnut‐ based desserts, since chestnuts are an autumnal ingredient. “The new fresh fruits are always changing, and we put them into tarts, mousse, cakes or blancmange.” Nakamura‐san also explained that not only do the fruits in the desserts cause the types of desserts to change, but the weather and temperature do as well. He said “in the summer, we make desserts that are not heavy and are really light, because it is very hot, and now the desserts are getting heavier, since it is getting cold.” In addition to the desserts that Daniel offers in the winter season, Daniel also makes two special desserts during the holiday season: the Buche de Noel and Gateau de Rois. The Buche de Noel is a “Christmas log”, a cake decorated to resemble a Yule log during the Christmas season. Circa 1870, Parisian pastry shops began to make Buche de Noel as a Christmas dessert that was usually eaten on Christmas Eve. The Buche de Noel is a rolled light sponge cake that is filled with cream and chocolate and decorated with icing, chestnuts, almonds, and meringue. Daniel has been making their own Buche de Noel since they opened twenty‐one years ago. This year, Daniel is making its delicious traditional Buche de Noel with the chocolate and cream filling and decoration, and it is also making an equally delicious strawberry Buche de Noel that uses the sponge cake with a strawberry and cream filling and strawberries. The second special dessert that Daniel makes during the holiday season is the Gateau de Rois,
also known as the King’s Cake, or the Twelfth Night Cake. This cake is usually eaten in early January, as the Christian Epiphany on January sixth is a feast day celebrating the arrival of the Three Kings, and for many, marks the end of the holiday season. It is a brioche‐type cake that has a sweet taste. Traditionally, there is a small coin or ceramic figurine inside the cake, and the person who finds the figurine in their portion is given the opportunity to be the ‘King’ for the day. While many French patisseries have switched to a more inexpensive substitute, Daniel still honors tradition and uses French‐ made ceramic figurines. The delicious Gateau de Rois that Daniel makes contains one or two ceramic pieces. The Gateau de Rois also comes with a golden paper crown for the ‘King’ to wear, making it both flavorful, and festive.
A “Buche de Noel” from Daniel’s brochure
If you have a moment during the winter holiday and you are in the mood for a sweet and delicious treat, take the opportunity to follow your nose to Daniel. Inside you will find glass cases displaying the most beautiful deserts you have ever seen, spectacular cakes, and a variety of tasty cookies, breads, and chocolates. The store is always filled with the amazing aroma that wafts in from the kitchen. Moreover, the friendly staff makes it a happy place to stop in for the best pastries in Kobe. Note: Thank you to Kei Nakamura ’10, for assisting in the interview with his father. Daniel Mikage 1‐23‐12 Mikage Gunke Higashinada‐ku, Kobe 078‐843‐5020
Reference: Larousse Gastronomique, Completely Revised and Updated. Clarkson Potter, New York. 2001. p.299
What’s in store for you this month?
Ox This month, you’ll be guided by both seething energy and devouring passion. This astral ambience will render you somewhat credulous, but let's hope that you won't go so far as believing in things that are obviously hearsay!
BY SONIA NESTOROWA
Tiger Health‐wise, your batteries will be exhausted: no energy, no willpower, and no enthusiasm. However, the stars will favor those who discipline themselves—by reducing their excessive consumption of food, coffee, etc. Opportunities will spring up where you least expect them.
Rabbit
The atmosphere will be laden with love, in the largest sense of the word. You'll even find reasons to appreciate people who used to annoy you. As for those whom you usually love, you'll love them even more. Avoid all risks of becoming irritated, and all situations that lend themselves to conflict. You'll constantly want to go further, and no obstacle will be able to impede your progress; however, don't let yourself be intoxicated with success.
Rat If you absolutely must travel this month, expect delays—and in such situations, welcome a bit of humor! Be cautious regarding the management of your personal possessions. Modify your investment methods only after careful study, and don't be too hasty to follow the first advice that comes your way—always seek a second opinion.
Dragon You will benefit from a lucky and successful life‐ renewal. You'll be determined not to dream of impossible projects anymore, and to keep your feet well‐grounded on earth. Greater self‐confidence will allow you to meet with more successes in life.
Snake Impatient and keen to succeed, you may end up committing psychological and tactical errors in your work; try to be a little more diplomatic, and beware of getting too ahead of schedule. If you insist upon diving into things head first, expect to experience some sudden mood changes, as well as intervals of discouragement—let alone risks of a nervous breakdown, or fainting fits. Alone, you can bring nothing to success; but oftentimes, you'll tend to be so authoritarian that there'll be gnashing of teeth within your work team or family entourage.
towards maliciousness. It does exist in you, even if you have difficulty admitting it. This time, it may provoke serious dissensions between you and your loved ones. Instead of constantly bearing an underlying grudge, it would be better if you simply burst outright in anger; the issue would be settled once for all.
Rooster You'll have some kneejerk reactions that lead you to be biased towards your near ones. Your lack of objectivity may render you unjust—so be very vigilant on this point. You'll appreciate unusual kindness from certain of your neighbors. Remember, if you want your neighbors to respect your tranquility, respect theirs.
Horse
You'll grapple with the problems that will ultimately hinder your progress. Also, you'll courageously accept certain confrontations which you viscerally dread. You'll experience difficulty following new methods or a new pace of work; yet your chances of professional survival will greatly depend on your capacity to adapt. Therefore, make the effort necessary to get out off the beaten tracks.
Goat As happens rather often, you'll have the impression that happiness is something that can't be grasped. Open your eyes: happiness does exist, and it's easy to attain! This month, your natural charm and magnetism will be quite operative, and will give you opportunities to have some very pleasant encounters. Relations with foreign countries will prove complicated; consisting of disputes, endless discussions, and ruptures of negotiations or contracts. One could only suggest you behave with diplomacy and patience.
Dog You'll show a very clear tendency to bring all those around you into line. However, if you refrain from imposing your will so much, you can use your energy to un‐jam certain situations that remain at a standstill. Do not embark on a daring financial operation in the near future. Beware of your possessive tendencies—you may feel them more strongly than usual this month. If such is the case, and you cede to them, expect serious troubles!
Pig You'll manage your business affairs with panache. You shouldn’t find yourself short on time, simply because you'll be obsessed with efficiency. In order to achieve the best results from your work, you'll have to make some serious efforts to adapt to changing situations. But don’t worry, you won't get lost, and you'll hardly have any bad surprises.
Monkey You'll disappoint others and others will disappoint you, because you exercise constraints on your friendship or social relations, or because you labor needlessly under their despotism. There will be considerable risk of dispute with your near ones. Beware of your tendency
(2009). Chinese monthly horoscope [Electronic Version]. Astrologizeme. Retrieved November 16, 2009, from http://www.astrologizeme.com/monthly_chinese.shtml