A (New?) Stance (Rant?) on (The Islamic Republic of) Afghanistan(‘s Problems)
BY DANIEL WESSON
The poor little landlocked country of Afghanistan is surrounded by Iran and a few other ‐stan countries (which we exclusively refer to as “‐stan countries”). Ownership of the region has passed hands between Aryans, a few different types of Persians, Macedonians, Seleucids, Hindus, Greco‐Bactrians, Indo‐ Greeks, Indo‐Scythians, Indo‐Parthians, a few more Indo‐____(fill in the blank)s, Turks, Mongols, and countless other peoples from rising and falling empires around the region, and more recently, Britons, Soviets, and Americans. The country has been through no less than six civil wars in the past forty years and an ongoing civil war for the past 23, the GDP per capita is under $500 USD, and the country ranks 174th in the Human Development Index. Essentially, the country has the poverty of a poor African nation, a past as bloody and strife‐stricken as the French Revolution, the foreign influence of a North American Eskimo first grader’s overworked sock puppet made with real Emperor
Penguin skin, and the self‐control of an epileptic and narcoleptic teenage drama queen with Tourette’s. (On a lighter note, the country is great at growing beautiful poppy flowers). And the world’s leading military power—the U.S.—currently occupies the country, having thrown at it over 200 billion dollars. Since the 90s, the United States has been all but friendly with Afghanistan. The government—before intervention—was the Taliban, an extremist Muslim group harboring renowned Al Qaeda terrorist, Osama bin Laden, and his followers. The U.S. was not particularly pleased with this whole “harboring Osama” idea, especially after 9/11, so in response, the nation invaded Afghanistan, dislodged the Taliban, and set up a democracy under Afghan president Hamid Karzai. Democracy should be good for an otherwise chaotic, anarchic country—so what’s the big deal? Well, things are not going too well. The Taliban has grown in power and influence while the current government holds practically no influence outside of the capital, American soldiers die every day from continued insurgency, and the U.S. is in political turmoil deciding what to do with Afghanistan. Many military advisers shout, “More troops! Support the surge—it works! Victory at all costs! We cannot pull out! America number one!” at Obama while the more passive—and possibly more sane—voices advising the President will say things like “Gee, this country does not seem like a good place to commit given the current situation and the country’s history with superpowers (do not forget: Afghanistan left the Soviets defeated in a pool of self‐ pity and vodka). Wow, 200 billion dollars could have been spent on other things like education and healthcare. Instead, the death rate of our men and women in uniform is rising.” And some will even venture as far as to say “Maybe we just make the fanatics even angrier by invading and occupying their country and killing their people.” With all these different voices to hear, Obama has the tough job of figuring out what exactly he should do. At the moment, he is carefully assessing the different options he has and the consequences of each option; he cites the rush into Afghanistan and Iraq without proper war strategies or exit strategies as part of the reason the U.S. finds itself in this current
predicament (former Vice President Dick Cheney continues to scold Obama for taking too long). Many fear that a premature exit from the country will create a safe haven for terrorists and a collapse in the government and a takeover by the Taliban. Some say that the U.S. needs to pull out before making anything worse for the poor Afghanis or worse yet, squandering even more American money. Whatever decision the U.S. makes, rest assured the poor little landlocked country of Afghanistan will not see the end of war and controversy for some time, and the topic of Afghanistan will not fade from the mind of the American public. REFERENCES: (2001, October). Backgrounder on afghanistan: history of war. Retrieved from http://www.hrw.org/legacy/backgrounder/asia/afghan‐bck1023.htm (2009). Afghanistan. Wiikipedia. Retrieved (2009, October 23) from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistan#History IMF, Initials. (2007). Report for selected countries and subjects. Retrieved from http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2009/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2006&ey=2009&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c= 512&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a=&pr.x=50&pr.y=16 Zeleny, J. (2009, October 26). Obama defends afghanistan timetable. Retrieved from http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/26/obama‐defends‐ afghanistan‐timetable/?scp=2&sq=troops%20afghanistan&st=cse Image: http://static.open.salon.com/files/afghanistan1223411529.gif
Top 10 Happiest Countries
support a person’s consumption of goods and resources, in units of “global hectares”). After gathering data from 143 countries around the world, HPI 2.0 determined which countries are closest to achieving sustainable, legitimate “happiness”. So what are the top ten happiest countries, you ask? Costa Rica → HPI: 76.1
Life expectancy: 78.5 Life satisfaction: 8.5 Ecological footprint: 2.3 With the highest levels of reported life satisfaction and the most years of happy living, Costa Rica stands out in the HPI. Life in Costa Rica is good. As the haven of democracy and peace in turbulent Central America, Costa Rica provides an attractive and satisfying lifestyle for its citizens. It is the ideal tropical paradise, complete with beautiful beaches and exotic wildlife—which could partly explain why Costa Ricans are so happy. Feeling blue? A trip to Costa Rica might lighten things up for you. Dominican Republic → HPI: 71.8
Life expectancy: 71.5 Life satisfaction: 7.6 Ecological footprint: 1.5
BY EVANGEL JUNG
All things considered, how satisfied are you with your life as a whole? Everyone wants a long, happy, and meaningful life. Interestingly, the place where you live plays a significant role in how happy you are as a person. According to Happy Planet Index (HPI) 2.0, published recently by the New Economic Foundation (NEF), there are three components that come into play when calculating a country’s overall “happiness”: life expectancy, life satisfaction (on a scale of 1‐10), and ecological footprint (the amount of land needed to
The Dominican Republic takes the prize for the second happiest country in the world. Described by Christopher Columbus as a “beautiful island paradise with highest forested mountains and large river valleys”, The Dominican Republic is a destination like no other. Its rich culture contains a mixture of Spanish, French, Haitian, and African influences, making the country a unique and interesting place to live. Jamaica HPI: 70.1
Life expectancy: 78.5 Life satisfaction: 8.5 Ecological footprint: 2.3 With the highest levels of reported life satisfaction and the most years of happy Jamaica’s appearance in the top three of the HPI table comes somewhat as a surprise. It is has suffered high levels of inequality and unemployment. In recent years, however, the Jamaican quality of life has improved.
Located on the coast of the Caribbean Sea, Jamaica is famous for beautiful beaches, wonderful weather, and kindhearted people. Once you go, you’ll understand why Jamaicans are such a happy people. Guatemala → HPI: 68.4
Brazil → HPI: 61.0
Life expectancy: 71.7 Life satisfaction: 7.6 Ecological footprint: 2.4 Honduras → HPI: 61.0
Life expectancy: 69.7 Life satisfaction: 7.4 Ecological footprint: 1.5 Guatemala, the heart of Maya, is territory where man and nature live forever in peace, untarnished by the passage of time. The country is known as a place surrounded by lush vegetation, where one can enjoy unique and enriching experiences with the natural. The ancient native culture, with its numerous rich traditions, also makes Guatemala one of the most unique and happiest places on Earth. Vietnam → HPI: 66.5
Life expectancy: 73.7 Life satisfaction: 6.5 Ecological footprint: 1.3 Vietnam takes the cake for being the happiest country in Asia. Its beautiful natural scenery, ancient religious monuments, local markets, delightfully pleasant people, and gorgeous beaches are just a few of Vietnam’s most attractive elements. With a high life expectancy and life satisfaction, Vietnam serves as a model for all Asian countries. Colombia → HPI: 66.1
Life expectancy: 72.3 Life satisfaction: 7.3 Ecological footprint: 1.8 Cuba → HPI: 65.7
Life expectancy: 77.7 Life satisfaction: 6.7 Ecological footprint: 1.8 El Salvador → HPI: 61.5
Life expectancy: 71.3 Life satisfaction: 6.7 Ecological footprint: 1.6
Life expectancy: 69.4 Life satisfaction: 7.0 Ecological footprint: 1.8 20. China → HPI: 57.1 35. India → HPI: 53.0 75. Japan → HPI: 43.3 114. United States of America → HPI: 30.7 Surprisingly, with the exception of two (Jamaica and Vietnam), all of the “top ten happiest countries” are from Central and Latin America. This shows that having money isn’t necessarily everything. Many of the Latin American countries have a GDP per capita below $20,000, yet their citizens are reportedly leading the happiest years of life in the world. So do richer countries necessarily have a higher wellbeing? Generally, yes—but an even more important factor than money that contributes to a person’s happiness is human benevolence and the expression of gratitude. These ideal human characteristics are subtle but powerful ways to make your life as happy as possible. Latin America seems to understand this method of achieving happiness. There, people gather and share what they have, even if it’s not very much. They maintain a more open‐minded and positive attitude towards life—perhaps that is the key factor that developed countries seem to be lacking. To diverge from assessing individual countries, let me ask: are we living in a happy world? Perhaps not… The overall HPI score of our planet is only 49 out of 100. This suggests that the human race as a whole has much to change if we are to live longer, happier, more fulfilling lives. One step we can take is shifting our values, from individualism and material consumption, to a more promising system that promotes social interaction and intimacy between all different kinds of people. Let’s make our world a happy place to live! REFERENCE: NEF. (2009). The Happy planet index 2.0. Retrieved from http://www.happyplanetindex.org/
Turning Japanese: Part II of Summer Sonic
The four‐piece Metronomy was what truly made the festival memorable. The quirky and humorous Joseph Mount, who leads the band, made a special effort to involve the audience—a challenging feat, as he couldn’t speak a word of Japanese. That didn’t matter, because the crowd knew every word of every song, which brought a unique atmosphere to the dance stage. The crowd enjoyed Metronomy’s catchy lyrics, which were made danceable by their sound, and which draw influence from the likes of Devo, Kraftwerk kmand David Bowie. Metronomy were certainly the best live act at Summer Sonic. The final act of Summer Sonic 2009 was the six‐ foot‐five Orthodox Jew Matisyahu. Matisyahu was definitely the way to end the day, with his music BY SEAMUS BELLEW intertwining rap and reggae into a smooth and calming sound, which was much needed at the end of two What do you need after a big day of music? An tiresome days. The highlight of this relaxing even bigger one. Day three at Summer Sonic began with performance was when all six‐foot‐five of Matisyahu the rain and it continued for the majority of the day. stage‐dived into the hands of unsuspecting Japanese That certainly didn’t put a damper on anyone’s women who could hardly support his weight. Summer Sonic 2009 brought together various attitudes, as even more people flocked to the festival. It genres of music into one festival. It was worth every did, however, lead to a stockpile of umbrellas as festival‐goers dumped them at the venue. There were yen to see the electrifying sets that were put on by several standout performances by the likes of Delphic, some of the bands that attended. Yuksek, Metronomy and Matisyahu. Delphic, hailing from Manchester, were a late addition to the festival, but they made sure to put on an UPCOMING ACTS IN OSAKA: act to be remembered. This new and upcoming group Scotland’s most prominent Indie band, Franz played to an audience who had never heard of their th music and did well to entertain a crowd who didn’t Ferdinand, is here on the 14 of November. Alt‐rockers know one song from the next. Their sound, which can Mae and supporting group Owl City, whose sound can th be described as heartfelt machine‐driven electronica, be described as synth‐pop, arrive on the 25 . It’s a th got the crowd to move—which is an impressive feat, while again before Yo La Tengo play, on the 14 of considering their lack of fan base at Summer Sonic. December. Delphic, who are reminiscent of New Order and the Klaxons, are clearly destined for great things. Another standout was the soloist, Yuksek. This young French artist was one of the headliners of the dance stage, and he showed the crowd why. With his debut album to showcase he made the crowd forget the weather and dance to his big baselines and snyth melodies. The light show, which went hand‐in‐hand with his music, only added to his powerful performance. IMAGES: http://above‐thefold.com/blog/wp‐content/uploads/2009/09/owlcityowlcity.jpg http://www.zigzaglive.com/live/wp‐content/uploads/2007/12/yolatengo.jpg http://prettymuchamazing.com/music/franz‐ferdinand‐have‐fun‐with‐an‐ipod http://www.summersonic.com/09/english/
Memory Lane (Sittin’ in da Park) BY AVU CHATURVEDI
What more can I say? I wouldn’t be here today if the old school didn’t pave the way. ‐2Pac Hip‐hop hasn’t been the same since ’88. Since it became a lucrative profession, there’s a misconception that a movement in any direction is progression. ‐Canibus So here we are, thirty years deep, sitting on a park bench watching hip‐hop grow. The kid comes out partying, grows older, becomes cocky, violent, eventually overdoses on money, and sadly enough, dies. In 1994, Common released a song, which was arguably the greatest single hip‐hop song of all time: he called it, “I Used to Love H.E.R.”, an extended metaphor in which hip‐hop is personified as a young women completely destroyed by modern culture, not unlike Jenny from Forest Gump. Twelve years later in ’96, Nas released “Who Killed It?”—which once again, portrays hip‐hop as a woman. In this case however, rather than becoming a corrupt drug addict, she simply dies. Which is to say, hip‐hop is dead. Hip‐hop is dead. Quite a catchy phrase, isn’t it? One is immediately inclined to disagree. If hip‐hop is dead, why are we making bread? That’s simply the point. Refer to the above lines by Canibus, and one would see that hip‐hop has been completely corrupted by the music industry and commercial sellouts. But is it on life support, or is it actually dead? For now, let’s avoid that topic, and just take that trip down memory lane. Hip‐hop was a fledgling New York music genre for its first six or so years, up until 1986. Although several chart‐toppers and more street anthems emerged earlier than this, until the release of Run‐ DMC’s Raising Hell, hip‐hop music‐making wasn’t considered a real profession. While several demons spawned out of Run‐DMC’s influence (like shoe endorsements and crossover singles), its progressive influence on the game is so great that it deserves our undeviating respect. For the two years that followed this album’s release, hip‐hop experienced its first, and
unconditionally best, Golden Age. Top‐ten artists such as Rakim, KRS‐One, Big Daddy Kane, Slick Rick, and Public Enemy all emerged during this time—causing the game to evolve into a showcase of multisyllabic internal rhyme schemes and clever, complex metaphorical wordplay. However, this time period is also responsible for producing hip‐hop’s first destructive force, and the ultimate source of Common’s woes: Gangsta Rap. Gangsta Rap isn’t as hated now as it was in ’88, but it nonetheless represents a huge change in the landscape of hip‐hop. In retrospect, N.W.A.’s Straight Outta Compton, Dr. Dre’s The Chronic, Snoop Dogg’s Doggystyle, and Ice Cube’s AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted & Death Certificate are now considered fully‐fledged classics. Gangta Rap, for contextual purposes, is a West coast phenomenon, in which bouncy beats and violent, but extremely simple lyrics are favored over the old‐ school penchant of complex lyricism and eclectic sampling. G‐Rap dominated the market for the six years that followed its debut, until the NYC music scene regained its foothold in 1994. There were several quite excellent albums released during this time, such as The Low End Theory, Midnight Marauders, and Enter the Wu‐Tang (36 Chambers), but the East coast only really regained its prominence with the critically acclaimed and arguably the greatest hip‐hop album of all time, Illmatic, and the extremely lucrative Ready to Die. From that point forward, the musicscape of hip‐hop swiftly degenerated into an all‐out inter‐coastal war, headlined by the ubiquitous Topic Shaker and Biggie Smalls. With the West coast adopting more introspective, complex lyrics, and the East coast adopting Mafioso‐hardcore themes to respond to G‐Rap, the war appeared to be at a standstill: that is, until death after death of some of hip‐hop’s most beloved emcees. This classic example of creative destruction gave birth to a period of respect and collaboration between the coasts, including some of the strongest posse cuts the hip‐hop scene had experienced in years. But even if it saved the integrity of hip‐hop temporarily, it also allowed room for the Dirty South snap‐music genre of hip‐hop to gain a foothold just a few years later. This coincidentally coincided with the death of hip‐hop. Go figure. But before she dropped her bag on the floor and died, she said if you really love me, I’ll come back alive. ‐Nas
Another Take on College Rankings BY NINA GALLO
It’s that time of year again, when high school seniors are gearing up for the college admissions game. In order to narrow their college search, seniors often look to America's Best Colleges, Peterson’s, and other reputable college guides for information on college rankings. Whether they admit it or not, all seniors want to know which colleges are ranked highest academically and which colleges are of the best value. However, often times, you can learn quite a bit about a college by looking at the more unusual college rankings—like those that rate the campus food, parking, housing, and even the attractiveness of students. Listed below are some unconventional college ratings, compiled from numerous student surveys by The Princeton Review, an American educational preparation company.
Best Classroom Experience 1. Pomona College 2. Reed College 3. Wellesley College 4. Stanford University 5. Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering 6. Mount Holyoke College 7. Williams College 8. United States Military Academy 9. Princeton University 10. Middlebury College Schools Where Students Study the Most 1. California Institute of Technology 2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology 3. Reed College 4. Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering 5. Harvard College 6. Middlebury College 7. Swarthmore College 8. University of Chicago 9. Princeton University 10. Davidson College
Best Surrounding City 1. Columbia University 2. The George Washington University 3. Barnard College 4. Eugene Lang College 5. University of San Francisco 6. The University of Texas 7. American University 8. Georgetown University 9. Northeastern University 10. Emerson College Top Party Schools 1. Pennsylvania State University 2. University of Florida 3. University of Mississippi 4. University of Georgia 5. Ohio University—Athens 6. West Virginia University 7. University of Wisconsin‐Madison 8. The University of Texas at Austin 9. Florida State, University 10. University of California—Santa Barbara Best Campus Food 1. Virginia Tech 2. Bowdoin College 3. St. Olaf College 4. James Madison University 5. Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering 6. Colby College 7. Bryn Mawr College 8. Gustavus Adolphus College 9. Cornell University 10. Washington University in St. Louis Happiest Students 1. Brown University 2. Clemson University 3. Claremont McKenna College 4. Stanford University 5. Bowdoin College 6. Yale University 7. Stonehill College 8. Rice University 9. St. Mary’s College of Maryland 10. Colorado College
Top 10 Weirdest Scholarships (ALSO BY NINA GALLO)
Seniors: Searching for that perfect college scholarship to help finance your college education? Well, most of you probably won’t find that scholarship listed below, but you’ll definitely be surprised at the number of unusual scholarships that are available for college students. Enjoy! 10. Carnegie Mellon University Bagpipe Scholarship. This scholarship isn't very competitive, as there's only one college bagpipe major in the entire United States. 9. The Klingon Language Institute's Kor Memorial Scholarship. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Star Trek, Klingons are those big furry creatures, and fans have constructed an actual Klingon language. This scholarship goes to creative language scholars. Fluency in Klingon is not required.
8. Excellence in Predicting the Future Award. Not as weird as the title makes it sound, actually. It's a contest for students interested in economics. Participants "buy” and “sell" future predictions in the manner of buying stocks. 7. Tall Clubs International Student Scholarship. For female students who are at least 5'10" and male students who are at least 6'2". I wonder if they measure their applicants?
6. American Fire Sprinkler Association Scholarship. Students read an essay on fire sprinkler safety and then complete a short quiz. Each correct answer earns applicants an entry in the scholarship drawing. 5. Scholarship for Left‐Handed Students. Left‐ handedness is the only stipulation. Oh, and you have to be a student at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania.
4. Duct Brand Duct Tape Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest. To enter, you and a date must attend your prom dressed entirely in duct tape. 3. Society of Vacuum Coaters Foundation Scholarship. If you're interested in studying the technology of vacuum coating, this scholarship is for you. 2. Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest Scholarship. If you know how to call ducks, get yourself down to Stuttgart, Arkansas to register. First prize is $1500! 1. American Nudist Research Library Scholarship. A scholarship for young nudists. REFERENCE: The Princeton Review IMAGES: http://college‐financial‐aid.suite101.com/article.cfm/weird_unknown_college_scholarships http://www.merriam‐webster.com/art/dict/bagpipe.htm
Don’t Give Up On Cornell Just Yet… BY KATIE MEIKLE
I don’t know who this guy Cornell is—whether he has a genuine interest in efficient study habits, or delights in student torture—but what I do know for sure is that his note‐taking method dominates 10th grade history classes at Canadian Academy. On Friday nights, he probably pursues his fifth major in general monotony as a college course online, after downing a mountain dew and a latte in quick succession. It will be another sleepless night. There is no need to mention Mrs. Cornell—Mr. Cornell doesn’t have much of a social life. Of course, I’m not serious. Cornell is not a man at all. It is a prestigious university in Ithaca, New York that attracts students from all over the country and the international school circuit, including our very own Canadian Academy. The note‐taking method was developed by a group of Cornell professors, led by a man named Walter Pauk, the author of several renowned works on literary technique including: Six‐ Way Paragraphs; Middle, Six‐Way Paragraphs; Advanced, Single Skills; and Supporting Details. These titles don’t scream ‘action‐packed thriller’, that much is certain. Who knew that you could write two books on six‐way paragraphs? What is a six‐way paragraph? Turns out Walter Pauk may have been the Mr. Cornell we feared him to be. A nerd. Canadian Academy history students do not know about Walter Pauk and do not care; what Cornell means to them is how it manifests itself in their homework assignments. I’ve heard it described as “time wasting”, “life sucking”, and “slow and painful”. Overall, students hate the method because they fear they will become Cornells themselves. If such a man existed, he would have no life. No going out on Friday nights, no sleeping… all work, no play. Nerds. The situation seems grim indeed. As we commence the second quarter of the school year, the sophomore class has been expected to read no less than four 20‐40 page packets on the ancient civilizations of Egypt and Greece, then the Roman Empire, and finally, the Middle Ages. Students are given 2‐3 weeks to do the reading and take the necessary notes. The packets provide detailed account of every aspect of political science in those civilizations, from the
square mileage of the Roman Empire to the philosopher Plato’s ideas on love. The text is swimming in names and dates. The language is complex and complemented with complex diagrams intended to make the thing easier to understand, when really, they don’t help at all. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is what we study in history. On the bright side, Cornell Notes were mandatory for the first two reads. Afterwards, the teachers ceded them as only a recommendation. The problem is solved then, right? Students don’t need to do Cornell Notes anymore. No more 2‐ inch and 6‐inch columns, 3 way processing, carpal tunnels and all that rubbish. Unfortunately, this is not the case. We still need those notes. We haven’t escaped from them, not quite yet, and we are promised with two more years of it, at least. The fact of the matter is that Cornell Notes are the most efficient way to process mass amounts of information. Scientific studies will attribute this to the three ways that students process their notes—first by oral recitation, then reflection, and finally reviewing. As a student I can safely say that in doing the Cornell method most student skip steps 3 and 4 (oral recitation and reflection), but only write the notes, summarize the key points by coming up with essential questions over the material, and finally by repeated review. In most cases, this is enough. The division on the paper separates the details recorded at first, and then the key points recorded as second. In the typical student mind, the material is processed in three different ways. First it appears as the original source, then as processed notes, and finally condensed into essential questions. That is all it takes. If a student only reads, the odds are that the majority of the information will be lost because key details as well as the substantial content of the text is all jumbled together. Few students would take the time to study a complicated diagram or look up a big word in the dictionary, either. Their ability to understand is hindered by their impatience. Cornell Notes make all the important parts of the text more accessible. In history class, a student may be demanded to supply information on the spot to contribute to discussion, or to utilize their notes in completing a graded assessment. If Cornell Notes are properly taken, they can provide all the answers a student ever needs. Cornell seems hot and cold. It is a great way to process information, we know that… but it takes so dang long! Is it really worth that potential “A” if you
spend eight hours of your week reading and writing on some ancient civilization that you don’t care about? A further reason why students disregard Cornell is because they do not appreciate what they are studying. There is so much material presented to them that they lack the energy by the thirtieth or fortieth page to seek out interesting information. Getting through the material as quickly as possible is a crucial feature of Cornell note‐taking. It allows students to keep up that necessary energy, and also to have the leisure time that they have earned with their hard work. Speed and efficiency are not note‐ taking methods that are taught, and many students remain unaware that Cornell Notes do not have to take all weekend. A forty‐page packet can, in fact, be processed in three hours if you know how to do it right. Here are a few tips for maximum speed: 1. Read one paragraph at a time. 2. Never go more than an hour without taking a break. 3. Use shorthand, pictograms, and bullet points, but never sentences. 4. Don’t look at the packet as a packet, or as chapters, or as passages. Look at paragraphs. If the paragraph has something important to say, summarize key points. If it is a tangent or is somewhat superfluous, ignore it completely. SPECIAL RULE (word to the wise): 5. The sources, written in italics, and the pictures, should be looked at only if you have time. They are interesting but they are not important. Here is a passage from my packet on the Roman Empire. (This paragraph would take up about a fifth of a page). A new method of coping with class conflict developed: “Bread and circuses”. Rome bribed the poor, many of them former soldiers from its conquering armies, with a dole of free bread. Up to 200,000 people were served each day. The dole encouraged them to while away their time in public religious festivities, races, the theater, and gladiatorial contests of great cruelty, which pitted man against man and man against beast in spectacles witnessed by tens of thousands. The
public arenas of Rome, including Rome’s largest race‐track and stadia, could accommodate about half of Rome’s adult population. On days of gladiatorial contests, as many as 5000 animals, including elephants and water buffalo, were slaughters. Hundreds of humans, too, were slain in a single day. This combination of spectacle and free food was offered to keep the unemployed urban masses compliant. Here are two examples of Cornell Note‐Taking. The first is that of a student who will take eight hours to complete the entire packet: What was the new method developed by the government to keep the poor people happy? How much free bread was served and to whom? Who went to gladiatorial contests? What happened in gladiatorial contests?
The government developed a new method to keep poor people happy. ‐Bread and Circuses ‐free bread, especially to former soldiers ‐200,000 served a day The poor people could then go to various entertainments including gladiatorial contests. Rome’s largest stadia could hold half the population. Thousands of animals and hundreds of people died in the arenas while the urban masses watched.
Things to note: The notes box on the right has almost half as many words as the original passage. There are four essential questions in the box on the left, for just one paragraph—that is too many! Here is an example of Cornell Notes, the speedy way. What method did the government use to keep poor people happy and how was it effective?
Bread and circuses ‐many poor people served free bread, soldiers too ‐free entertainment, like gladiatorial contest ‐very gruesome, lots of killing ‐‐plan by gov. to keep poor people
Things to note: The notes in the box are very brief, and abbreviated in some cases such as ‘gov.’ for government and ‘’ for happy. There is only one essential question that mandates that the notes be understood and also interpreted for better comprehension.
With these skills, Cornell does not have to be the gigantic pain it’s cracked up to be. As another reminder, if you start becoming so bored that you experience a small thrill when you turn the page and realize that there is substantially little text to cover, or if you feel like crying when you discover you have ten pages left to go in the packet, you have been spending too much time on your notes. You need to rethink your study habits and rethink the way you use Cornell Notes. We need them. So make the most of them. REFERENCES: Wikipedia. (2009). Walter Pauk. Retrieved on November 5, 2009 from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Pauk J acketflap. (2009). About Walter Pauk. Retrieved on November 5, 2009 from: http://www.jacketflap.com/persondetail.asp?person=158688
College Essay Advice (From a U.S. perspective) BY GRACE MEIKLE
College applications to schools in the states are a combination of two things: what you’ve been able to achieve or experience in your four years of high school, and how well you are able to present yourself and this information. At some point, you no longer have control over what you achieve or experience. By the time you’re a senior, if you have some bad grades from previous years, or you suddenly realize that you didn’t take on enough extra‐curriculars, then there isn’t really anything you can do about it. What you can always fix, though, up to the point you submit your application, is the manner in which you present yourself. There are lots of ways to maneuver through your application to undermine the bad and highlight the good. But perhaps the most effective way to convince a college that you’re worthy of their acceptance is via your admissions essay. Most of the common application (which you will more than likely be using) is relatively dry—lists of activities and hours spent doing them, the classes you take, your SAT or ACT scores, and your transcript, a.k.a, your grades. Your essays—either for the common app., or as part of the supplement many colleges also require—are a way for universities and colleges to get to know you, apart from dry statistics. In fact, nearly all the deans of the schools I’ve visited said the essays were their favorite part of the application to read. Essays are also a way for you to transcend what may not look so good in terms of numbers and letters on the rest of your application. Who cares if the student got a B as opposed to an A—they can write a brilliant
admissions essay! What I mean to say is that, in your essay, you’re giving the people reviewing your application the opportunity to like you. They are just people, after all, who are looking for interesting students to fill their school. The admissions essay is one of, if not the most important part of your application. I have visited ten different schools across the country and subsequently have attended a fair share of campus tours and information sessions. I’ve also talked to a number of different sources on the subject of college, and done a good deal of research online. Based on the information I’ve gathered since I began my college search, below I’ve written some tips for writing a quality admissions essay. 1. Find the clearest way to express yourself. Be true to your linguistic capabilities. Don’t use a thesaurus to sound more intelligent, and don’t use words whose meanings you don’t fully understand. Remember that colleges aren’t looking for someone with an enormous vocabulary; they’re simply trying to figure out who you are and whether or not you will fit in their school. Clouding your meaning with a bunch of complicated words does not help them to get to know you better. Furthermore, in some cases, you’ll be one of thousands of applicants, and the dean won’t want to spend too much time trying to figure out what the heck you’re talking about if it’s not clear. It’s much more effective if you use simple, concise language and say exactly what you mean. There are ways to make your language more powerful without using big words. Here are some tips: Never end a sentence with a preposition, like “in”, “at”, “on”, “to”, “into”, “of”, etc. Ideally, you should end your sentences with specific subjects rather than vague and relatively meaningless pronouns like “it” and “them”. Passive verbs add variety to your language, but don’t overuse them; active verbs sound much stronger. Get rid of sentences that you don’t need, or that don’t have much meaning, or the meaning is redundant. A few, powerful sentences is far better than a bunch of vague ones. Finally, have a clear purpose in mind what you write. Chances are, if you don’t know what
you’re talking about, neither will the people reading your essay. As my dad always says, “say what you mean, and mean what you say.” 2. Proofread. It says a lot to the college about how much you really want to go there when your application is spotted with silly mistakes. Proofread your essay (and your entire application) for errors in spelling and grammar. As I mentioned before, make sure your language is clear and strong. Read through and see if you can make some of your sentences sound a bit more powerful, just by rearranging the words or switching from passive to active verbs. Once you’ve proofread it thoroughly, have some other people proofread it for you. You’ll need someone with a strong English background to check over your essay for errors, and maybe they can give you some tips on improving your content and/or language—it can be a teacher, a parent, or a friend. You may want to have a couple of different people read it over, because it’s likely that they’ll have different advice. You don’t have to change everything they tell you, it’s just good to have some fresh eyes take a look at your paper. 3. Exploit your diversity. Attending an international school and taking I.B. classes, especially the full I.B. diploma, is a huge advantage when applying for U.S. universities. The majority of applicants to U.S. schools will not have lived outside of the U.S. and will have taken only A.P. classes. This difference alone already makes your application stand out. In fact, the admissions officer giving the information session at one of the schools I visited, Williams College in Massachusetts, told me that an applicant taking the full I.B. diploma effectively gets a little star next to their name, and gets placed in a separate pile for review. This is especially true for liberal arts schools, although essentially all American schools place special value on simply having experience living overseas if you’re a citizen, or the diversity of culture you bring if you’re a noncitizen. You also have a number of experiences that may seem mundane to you, but are actually quite unique—anything from riding the train every day to school, your half‐Japanese ethnicity, the fact that you regularly encounter dogs that wear clothes, to your
Japanese tea ceremony class. Take advantage of these experiences and write about them. There’s no need to say “This is what makes me diverse”. Just tell the person reading your application something you think they will find interesting, and that they probably know absolutely nothing about. It will catch their attention and make them realize what a unique asset you offer to their school’s environment, even if you never state it directly. 4. Cater your supplementary essay to each school’s “personality”. It’s not a bad idea to have some concept of your desired school’s “personality”, and cater the content of your essay towards the type of students they’re looking to accept. This does not mean you should stray from being genuine, because hopefully, you are applying to schools whose “personality” you feel matches your own. Ideally, you should visit the school—this is the best way to get a sense of the social and academic environment, and whether or not you will fit in there. Of course, that’s easier said than done, since we live so far away—but at the very least, thoroughly explore the school’s website and even e‐mail the admissions office if you have any questions. You’d be surprised how distinct schools’ “personalities” are from one another, especially the smaller liberal arts schools, and members of the Ivy League. Often times, schools will list on their website the particular characteristics they value in prospective students. If you feel you have a good example for one of these traits, exploit it. Also, when they ask, as they often do, “Why do you want to attend this school?”, it’s good to have one or two specific reasons—you want to express to the college that you actually want to attend, and that you’re not just sending out applications on a whim to see who will accept you. Finally, this goes along with proofreading, but don’t make any dumb mistakes like “The reason I want to go to Brown is…” in your application to Vassar. That definitely says something about not only how much time you spent on your application, but how much you really want to attend the school. Give the school the impression that you made your choice carefully and have a strong desire to attend.
Shall We Dance? (On the Rokko Liner) BY SAKI SHIMADA
Most of us have never given much thought to the imperative link that connects the majority of Canadian Academy students to the school building itself. Despite the fact that this sole link is absolutely essential to the majority of student lives, oftentimes it is not even considered a worthy topic of discussion, or deserving of the usage of brain energy to think profoundly upon what makes it tick. Perhaps we have all become so accustomed to the convenience of this crucial link, and have never really contemplated the wonders that it beholds. This link to which I refer is none other than the one and only Rokko Liner. The typical Rokko Liner passenger does not mull over the functions of the Rokko Liner besides their decision regarding which destination they wish to reach and subsequently which fare they must pay. But as a senior and an IB diploma candidate taking HL Physics, when the opportunity arose to write the Extended Essay, I decided to investigate the driving force behind the Rokko Liner, and many of the wonders we ordinarily take for granted that only the realm of physics could possibly provide a legitimate explanation. Hence, I formulated my topic of investigation: a principal study revolving around the physics of the electrodynamics of the Rokko Liner. My investigation focuses particularly on the role played by electromagnetism, specifically, electromagnetic induction, on the Rokko Liner. It is this phenomenon—the electromagnetic force deriving from electromagnetic induction—which never fails to take me to school, regardless of the unwillingness on my own part. It was through loads of research and studies that allowed me to understand the electrodynamics, especially in the motors, of the Rokko Liner. To fully understand the function of this advanced urban transit system, it is essential to investigate how exactly electromagnetism works by exploring the fundamental physical phenomena and principles that comprise this
force—electricity and magnetism. Electromagnetic theory is essentially derived from the theory of electricity and magnetism as a consequence of the interrelation between the two phenomena. Hence the basic premise behind the entity of electromagnetism revolves around the ways in which electricity and magnetism are related: the presence and motion of electrical charges produce magnetic force and that the magnetic field exerts a force on the moving electric charge or current—the attraction and repulsion of particles due to their electric charge goes further to produce an attraction or repulsion between these electrically charged particles due to their motion. Building upon this concept is electromagnetic induction, which summarizes how moving the magnetic field creates an electric current. It is this induction of current that causes the Rokko Liner to move.
If you are a frequent passenger, as many of us are, you may not take heed of the functions of the motor underneath the train. But the electrodynamics, which may or may not be visible, can actually produce some quite interesting, observable effects. The motor is installed underneath the floor of the Rokko Liner, so the floor is the closest part of the train that is in constant contact with electromagnetism. Over the course of the train ride, there are several instances in which the Rokko Liner accelerates and brakes, in between which the train travels at constant velocity. In these different phases of motion, the induction motors function differently. After departing a station, the train accelerates; when approaching a station, the train brakes. In these moments during which the train accelerates and brakes, the motor induces a stronger magnetic field force, as it requires a greater electric current to speed or slow the train. We can observe this phenomenon simply by placing paper clips in the proper location on the train floor just above the motor. During
these intervals of acceleration, the paperclips will stand up on one end. The paperclips fall back when the train reverts to traveling at constant velocity. Note that the paperclips do not stand on one end when they are placed anywhere on the floor, as there is only one sweet spot at which you can see these clips “dance”. (I nearly spent 2 weeks experimenting almost every inch of the Rokko Liner in attempt to find the “spot”). Another interesting fact I found is that electromagnetic induction from the motors emits a field of magnetism (this is leakage), so when a credit card or a cell phone comes in close contact within the field, its data is erased. A credit card has a magnetic stripe, which contains important data arranged specifically in such a way that if the alignment of the tiny magnetic particles is altered even slightly from exposure to external magnetic force, the data is disrupted and thus the encoding is disordered, rendering the card useless. Thus, my investigation of the electrodynamics of the Rokko Liner has given insight into how electromagnetism operates the train, but also the effects that are visible to the naked eye. The application of physics to the real world—in this case, a ride on the Rokko Liner—may transform a mundane commute to one filled with surprises that only physics can explain. REFERENCES: Giancoli, D., (1998). Physics. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall. Kaiser, K., (2006). Electromagnetic Shielding. Boca Raton: CRC/Taylor & Francis Kaiser, K., (2006). Electromagnetic Shielding. Boca Raton: CRC/Taylor & Francis Serway, R., & Faughn, J. (2005). Holt Physics. Austin: Holt Rinehart & Winston.
5 Disgusting Ways Animals Can Improve Your Health BY LUCIA ARENZANA
1. Hippo Sweat A very noticeable difference between hippo sweat and human sweat is that hippo sweat is red and viscous (thick). After much scientific research, it has been discovered that the sweat of these chubby ill‐ tempered mammals turns out to be some kind of “first‐ rate sun block”. The red substance contains tiny microscopic structures that break up and scatter light. It also acts as an antiseptic, as well as a highly effective insect repellent. Makes your sweat’s ability to frighten away women look quite sad in comparison… 2. Maggots Known for appearing in rotting food and corpses, these disgusting insects have shown an ability
to fight off bacteria far better than any antibacterial soap. Maggots are detritivores (they eat dead flesh), which can help people with infected wounds by preventing gangrene. Maggot therapy declined greatly when antibiotics started being mass‐produced, but now that bacteria are becoming resistant to some antibiotics, it might be time to bring back the maggots! 3. Leeches Many CA students can recall from their 10th grade encounters with Medicine and Health and Galen the Greek “doctor” who believed that the body was composed of four humors—blood, phlegm, black and yellow bile—and the excess of any one of those fluids was the cause of all illness. He proposed that the method of releasing the excess blood was to drain it by placing leeches on the patient’s skin. Now we realize that even though Galen was quite wrong in his theory, in reality, leeches do have some very important medical uses. Their spit contains anesthetics, antibiotics, and anticoagulants that can prevent heart attacks and strokes. 4. Shrimp Shells Almost everyone eats shrimp. But hardly anyone eats an entire shrimp with its head, eyes, feet and shell—which is really quite a pity. Research has shown that these hard, crunchy shells are excellent blood coagulants. Fortunately, army scientists have found an extremely effective way to use empty shrimp corpses to save human lives. They created a medical path that stops even the worst arterial bleeding entirely with five minutes—that way you never have to actually taste the shrimp shells! 5. Hook worms These disgusting worms crawl up through your feet. Once inside their host, they breed rapidly and then proceed to leech off valuable nutrients in the body. This is potentially deadly to populations in third world countries where these parasites spread like wild fire (due to the poor hygienic conditions). However, it has been proven that under the right conditions, hookworms can be an effective form of allergy medication. The hookworms force your body’s immune system to fight against the “invaders”, which helps control allergies such as asthma. REFERENCE: http://www.cracked.com/article_17446_6‐disgusting‐ways‐animals‐can‐improve‐your‐health.html
Celebrating Autumn’s Food
BY AZAR CORDELIA KHOSROWSHAHI
The four seasons of the year have a special significance in many aspects of Japanese culture. Living in Japan, we have all probably noticed this significance. For example, Canadian Academy students and faculty that take Tea Ceremony classes will know that the week before fall break, the theme in the Tea Room was autumn and Halloween. This theme was expressed through the colors and patterns on the tea bowls (chawan)—some of them featured Halloween pumpkins and ghosts. There were small plastic pumpkins all over the room for decoration, and even the sweets were miniature green pumpkins with orange filling. The importance of seasonal changes and events is one of the most unique parts of Japanese culture. Not only is the significance of this aspect apparent in Tea Ceremony, but perhaps one of the most interesting domain in which it appears is that of Japanese cuisine. During this time of year, many Japanese pastry shops and bakeries feature pumpkin, sweet potato, and chestnut desserts. Rice crackers may be shaped like autumn leafs or mushrooms and decorated with orange and brown leaf patterns. In homes and restaurants, dishes such as ohagi (sweet rice balls), kabocha amani
(simmered pumpkin), matsutake gohan (rice with matsutake mushrooms), and daigakuimo (candied sweet potatoes), are just a few examples of seasonal dishes served that are commonly served during the autumn season. There are certain seasonal fruits and vegetables used in a variety of sweet and savory foods during this time of year, particularly pumpkin, squash, sweet potato, persimmon, mushrooms, and chestnuts. They can be found everywhere, from open‐air markets to the specialty food vendors in department stores. Even in the convenience stores, one may notice the seasonally influenced snacks, such as maple syrup flavored white chocolate Kit‐Kat bars (each year there are over 100 unique Kit Kat flavors in Japan), or chocolate and chestnut Pocky. Soft drinks can also change with the seasons—this week I noticed Azuki‐ flavored Pepsi in my neighborhood’s Seven Eleven. These popular fall snacks, dishes, and desserts are known as “aki no mikaku”, which means “autumn taste”. This unique array of seasonal foods may seem unappetizing to someone unfamiliar with the Japanese food palette. However, they are surprisingly delicious and flavorful once you get a bit more acquainted with them.
As the seasons change, it is enjoyable to be a bit adventurous, and sample some new cuisines. Normally, when you want to find a new recipe for dinner, you simply consult a cookbook or ask a parent or sibling for help. You’re probably unaware of the fact that there are thousands of delicious recipes and cooking videos
online—a resource that could give you the opportunity to for once, try something completely new and unique. By watching someone else cook, you can learn how to prepare and combine unfamiliar ingredients much more interactively. Watching a recipe come to life is often much more inspirational than simply reading it on a page. For example, my brother enjoys watching Mark Bittman, and his “Minimalist” cooking video segments on the New York Times’ website. It was through him that my family and I recently discovered, and later cooked a new and delicious dish. After watching a soba salad video online, my brother convinced us to watch the video and prepare a soba salad, a meal that none of us had ever prepared at home. This soba salad uses fresh spinach for the salad greens, and when combined with the hot noodles, the spinach is slightly steamed which makes it particularly delicious. The meal is filled with nutritious vegetables like edamame and carrots, making it a both healthy and delectable choice. In the spirit of autumn, we plan to prepare the soba salad once again with the introduction of a few new ingredients: seasonal pumpkin and mushrooms.
In addition to finding new recipes from video sources like Mark Bittman’s “Minimalist” column in the New York Times, some other popular and successful recipe websites include allrecipies.com and epicurious.com. Not only are there thousands of recipes for a variety of foods from every cultural cuisine, but you can even find something as specific as seasonally influenced Japanese dishes. These include “Kabocha Squash Pie (Japanese Pumpkin Pie)”, a vegetarian dessert from allrecipies.com, and “Roasted Japanese Sweet Potatoes with Scallion Butter” from epicurious.com. Note that allrecipies.com has accurate nutritional information for every recipe that it provides.
Be adventurous and go out to your neighborhood market, select some seasonal items that you have never tried before, and celebrate this autumn season in Japan. Scrumptious Soba Salad Recipe Makes FOUR servings Ingredients 3 to 4 ounces of soba noodles 1 carrot, peeled and chopped finely 2 cups of edamame (without the pods) 2 to 3 tablespoons of soy sauce 1 juiced lime 2 tablespoons of white miso 1 tablespoon of mirin (or 1 teaspoon of sugar) 10 ounces of fresh spinach, washed and trimmed ¼ cup of chopped scallions 1 tablespoon of freshly grated ginger Procedure 1. Fill a large pot with water and bring the water to a boiling temperature. Then, salt the water. 2. Put the soba noodles and the carrot into the hot water and cook them for 2 to 4 minutes. Add the edamame and let it cook for 15 to 30 seconds. 3. Drain the noodle, carrot, and edamame mixture in a colander, and set it aside for later. 4. Thoroughly mix together the soy sauce, lime juice, miso, and mirin (or sugar) using a whisk or fork. Put the spinach in the bowl, and put in the soba noodles, edamame, carrots, and the chopped scallions as well. 5. Toss the salad ingredients, and then season with salt and pepper as you wish. Finally, add the grated ginger on top as a finishing touch. 6. Enjoy! LINKS: Mark Bittman Video and Article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/23/dining/23mini.h tml?scp=1&sq=The%20Minimalist%20Soba%20Salad&s t=cse Link to Kabocha Squash Pie Recipe: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Kabocha‐Squash‐Pie‐ Japanese‐Pumpkin‐Pie/Detail.aspx Link to Roasted Sweet Potatoes Recipe: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Roast ed‐Japanese‐Sweet‐Potatoes‐with‐Scallion‐Butter‐ 240549 REFERENCES: Bittman, M. (2009 , September 18 ). The Ne w york ti mes . Retri eved from http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/23/dining/231mrex.html?ref=dining Yos hi z u k a , S . ( 2 0 0 9 ) . A b o u t .c o m . Re t r i ev ed f r o m http:/ /ja pa nes efood.a bout.c om/od/r eci pei ndex /tp/ja panes ea utumnfood.htm (2007, August 29). The Anime blog. Retrieved from http://www.theanimeblog.com/japan ese‐culture‐ links/aki‐no‐mikaku‐a‐taste‐of‐autumn‐i n‐japan
Chinese Zodiac: What’s in store for you this month?
OX This month, you will learn to balance your time a bit better between work and play. You’ll be extremely optimistic—accepting everyone for what they are, and respecting their freedom. If you are debating over whether or not to make an important purchase— anything from a new apartment to a freezer—this will be the moment to either make it, or forget about it.
TIGER You’ll keep your life organized well this month, so everything goes smoothly. You are able to control your energy efficiently—enabling you to succeed in realizing large‐scale plans. Above all, do not embark on insufficiently ripened undertakings, especially if your sentiments are at stake.
RABBIT
BY SONIA NESTOROWA
Find your zodiac sign based on the year you were born, and read what this month has in store for you. Good luck!
RAT Ask yourself: does my life have a purpose, an objective? Am I not spreading myself thin, instead of concentrating myself on the essential? You will, however, see great success in your career this month. The pettiness and hurtful words of your neighbors won't succeed in troubling your equanimity; on the other hand, some family concerns will perturb you.
You can expect to realize any currently pending plans in the next month. A small material chance and very good intuition based on the alignment of the stars will bring your endeavors to a successful conclusion in record time. You will also be given the opportunity to discover different milieus, which will render you more open and more tolerant.
DRAGON You are going to get the feeling that everything is against you, and that you're facing an uncontrollable situation. As a result, you'll lack self‐confidence. The best thing to do is, at all costs, NOT to get panicky, and instead fight against your anguish. Don't let yourself be overly influenced by your family entourage; the counsels of your near ones will only get you further into a muddle instead of clarifying your ideas.
SNAKE You'll be tense, anxious, and a little too nervous; you could even suffer from some digestive problems, or from flatulence. All this will happen because of the revulsion you feel when things don't go the way you wish. Material concerns may darken a corner of your sky. Old dissensions will make a comeback, and the fires of passion will weaken, as your hearts will no longer beat at the same pace; fortunately, these are only transitory and rather discreet disagreements. Don't dramatize anything.
HORSE Some clashes of character may affect couples that live together. Single people will tend to assert their sentiments more frequently. Try to dismiss misunderstandings that have infested themselves your relations with those to whom you are closest. You won't be particularly aware of your own drawbacks; you'll be somewhat like an eye, which sees everything but doesn't see itself!
GOAT You'll be in full possession of your physical and intellectual means. It will then be possible for you to succeed in all that you'll undertake on the one condition that you don’t intentionally stray outside limits of your possibilities. You'll notice some intriguing things about the people in your entourage, which will cause you a painful feeling of frustration; a harsh lesson which will have the merit of allow you to finally acquaint yourself with your own nature.
MONKEY You'll have difficulty falling asleep this month. Ask yourself if your dinners are not too copious or too late. In any case, refrain from coffee or caffeinated tea in your evening meal. Anger may cause you many difficulties this month, in your private life as well as in your work; self‐control will prove more necessary to you than ever.
ROOSTER You will have trouble solving conflicts in a calm manner. Be particularly cautious in all that concerns the financial domain, in which your judgment won't always be clear. Avoid committing important sums of money in the various business deals that may present themselves, as you won’t be absolutely sure of the outcome. Your capacity for adaptation will increase; it will help you considerably in your various undertakings.
DOG You'll have some encounters that will cause you to question many of your certitudes and some of your most profound convictions. All this will provoke within you certain malaise and anxiety. You'll be less inclined to combativeness and virulence than you have been lately; you'll now prefer to wait, or to do whatever is necessary to preserve your tranquility.
PIG Your enterprising mind will reach its top level, and your initiatives will be crowned with success. The only danger lying in wait for you will be the exhilaration of your successes, which could cause you to misjudge people and situations. Furthermore, beware of cardio‐ vascular incidents! Spare your heart; don't run to catch a train or a bus; go up or down stairs slowly. The comportment of the person who loves you will appear to you very disconcerting, capricious, and incoherent this month; you'll sometimes find yourself wondering whether or not they actually love you. REFERENCES Rao, M. Chinese horoscope 2010. Retrieved from http://www.astrologizeme.com/monthly_chinese.shtml IMAGE: http://www.stevengoh.com/wp‐content/uploads/2008/02/chinese_zodiac2.jpg