Spring Edition | April 2015
MacNeill MacNeill Idol Recap Future Transmissions Costa Rica Trip Pi Day Raven Athletics
4 5 6 6 7
Reviews Anime Review Anime Review Raven Readers’ Report TV Review Tech Review
8 9 10 11 13
Entertainment Canucks’ Corner Opinion How To Guides Wang’s Trivia Tiny’s Trivia Jelly Doughnut Recipe Spring Horoscopes Ask Irani April Fools’ Jokes
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THE RAVEN REVIEW
Contributors Journalists David Yang Erica Caalaman Giovanna Gowmez Hanah Dhanani Irene Wong Josh Ralla Kevin Liu Martin Dy Mona Salaad Tina Kuan Yuiki Shirohana
Editor-In-Chief David Yang Teacher Sponsor Ms. Phillips Print Designer Josh Ralla
Editors David Yang Hanah Dhanani Josh Ralla Katsumi Kurosaki Kyle Ching Mona Salaad Yuiki Shirohana
Cover Designers Josh Ralla Tina Kuan
Message From The Editor Here is our 3rd edition of the year, Ravens! Thank you to all the readers for your tremendous support to the Raven Review, as we take our publication and coverage into a new era of social media. A big thanks to every member who’ve worked hard to contribute to this edition. Most importantly, we’d like to thank our sponsor teacher, Ms. Phillips for her commitment this edition.
Keep In Touch To stay up to date on the latest MacNeill news, Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter! If you’d like to join our team or have any content to submit, send us an email!
Going Digital This and future issues of The Raven Review will now be available online! You can find us on issuu.com, iBooks on iTunes and Google Play Books.
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MACNEILL NEWS
MacNeill Idol BY HANAH DHANANI
C
an you hear the voices of MacNeill? Of course you can’t, not since MacNeill Idol ended in February! But what is Macneill Idol anyway? We have it every year, but what’s the point of it? MacNeill idol is only the beginning of a city-wide singing competition. After auditions, semi-finals and finals, the lucky winner gets the move on and compete in RichCity Idol. Whoever wins this elite tournament gains recognition throughout the community and perhaps even further. Scholarships are also awarded to musically talented youth in the community who want to take their musical abilities to the next level in post-secondary. Our competition started off with auditions from dozens of students across the school, each boosting their own unique talent confined into a song. Although we have much talent at our school, the search for MacNeill Idol had to be narrowed down to only ten semi-finalists! Our semi-inalists were: Jason Chung, Andrea Alonzo, Sagika Siva, Kenberly Lovidad, Jade Ongcol, Alvin Onia, Justine de Guzman, Jamie Lam, Aayisha Ali and Kirstin Zhang. This year at MacNeill Idol, things were done a little differently. For the first time in our school’s history, we not only had finals, but semi-finals as well. Semi-finals were held on Monday and Tuesday, allowing five contestants to present each day. During the semi-final the audience was blown away with spectacular performances like Kenberly Lovidad’s work of art “Rolling in The Deep” By Adele, or Jason Chung’s somber performance of “I’m not the only one” by Sam Smith. The finals on Thursday were even more spectacular, with the entire gym packed to the brim, teachers and students alike observing the show. Out of our ten semi-finalists, only four finalists, Jade Ongol, Kirstin Zhang, Alvin Onia and Justine de Guzman, were chosen by a panel of teacher judges to compete in the finals. Although all of our contestants performed tremendously, there could only be one winner. The spectacular Kirstin Zhang in grade ten won this year’s MacNeill Idol. She graced the stage by singing a song in her native Mandarin, getting bonus marks for creativity! The Raven Review was lucky enough to get an exclusive interview with Kirstin giving MacNeill an insight into her success.
How does it feel to be the winner of MacNeill Idol? [I’m] excited and happy. I feel like everybody knows me, I feel popular. What drove you to choose the song you chose? I chose that song because it represents the Chinese students in MacNeill. Also, I picked my song last minute so I didn’t really have a lot of time to pick any other song. How do you feel about representing MacNeil at RichCity Idol? I’m nervous because it’s a huge stage with lots of people! I feel like I can’t represent the whole school and I’m scared of making any mistakes. Do you think you will do well in RichCity Idol? I’m not sure…I know I’ll do my best though! Congratulations to all the MacNeill Idol contestants, and to those who tried out. And good luck, Kirstin. MacNeill is rooting for you!
SPRING EDITION | 4
MACNEILL NEWS
Future Transmissions BY DENNISE LEUNG
A
fter 6 months of hard work, the showing of MacNeill’s Theatre Production has left many emotions in the hearts of the audience, cast, and crew of the drama group. Some are happy, some sad, and some bittersweet. This year’s production was called Future Transmissions, a play about 8 separate and comedic scenes, all of which were directed by Jamie Lam (Gr. 12). There were many stressful moments during the long months spent preparing for the play, but all in all, the blood, sweat, and tears the actors put in paid off with an entertaining show. A mini Q-and-A session with Jamie shows how much the production means to her during her last year of high-school.
Q: It’s your last year being involved in the theatre production, in this case, directing a play. How do you feel about it? A: Kind of bittersweet. It was really stressful, but now that it’s almost over, I’m kind of sad to see it go. Especially since once I step into the real world, I’m not going to have as much control. It’s going to be a lot tougher, a lot more fast-paced. Perhaps, even more stressful. But I had a lot of fun directing this year and I hope everyone had a lot of fun acting and yeah… Since it’s my last year… Q: I heard that Future Transmissions isn’t the only play you wanted to direct- is there another play you wanted to do as well? A: For my last year in high-school, I actually wanted to direct my own play, but I wasn’t able to finish it on time, so I went with what Ms. Mullens wanted to do. But I think it would be very cool to direct a musical.
Top Left: Holly Wong (12), Giovanna Gowmez (8); Top Right: Nicholas Lau (12) Bottom Left: John Deasy (10); Middle Left: Keenan Gonzalez (8), Ashleigh Nazareth (12); Middle Right: David Yang (11), Kyle Ching (11); Far Right: Alex Choinski (11);
5 | THE RAVEN REVIEW
MACNEILL NEWS
Pi Day
M
BY ERICA CAALAMAN
arch 14th, also known as Pi Day, is the day to celebrate the first three digits of Pi (3.14). 2015’s Pi Day is very special because it includes two more digits of Pi, which is now 3.1415. But if we include the time down to the fraction of a second, 9:26:53.58 am/pm, we would have 3.14159265358 in total. This year, instead of celebrating Pi Day with the yearly tradition of pie-ing the faces of teachers and at MacNeill, we all celebrated Pi Day by competing with each other on a trivia site Kahoot, hosted by Student Council. People gathered around a screen in the lounge to answer facts about anything related to pi(e) in general. About sixty students participated in the event, either working by themselves or with
friends. In the end, after ten trivia questions, Student Council awarded the top five competitors with a free slice of pie.
A great turn out at StuCo’s Pi or No Pie event
Costa Rica Trip BY DAVID YANG
F
ollowing a full year of planning and preparation, MacNeill’s Costa Rica Humanitarian Trip departed for San Jose, Costa Rica on March 11th. Thirteen members of the trip in Grades 11 and 12, accompanied by Ms. Walker and Mr. McDowell, embarked on their journey of volunteer and humanitarian work. Their goal? To provide assistance to the underdeveloped community of LeCarpio near the capital city, and a nearby school. The Costa Rica Humanitarian Foundation and the MacNeill group worked diligently over the course of four days to improve the fundamental infrastructures in the community, including parks, recreation and housing. The adventurous students then moved to the Caribbean coast, where they explored the beautiful The students going to Costa Rica pose for a photo at YVR rainforests of Tortuguero. This part of trip educated the students with environmental awareness, and the importance of conservation. Throughout this life-changing experience, the students not only succeeded in developing independence, but they also established character and learned about becoming who they are. The thirteen members of this trip faced many challenges and problems prior to and during the trip, but one byone they’ve overcome these obstacles with maturity and willpower. The group has proudly represented MacNeill internationally over the course of the twelve days, as they’ve put their class and etiquette on full display in the community projects and during their travels. The two sponsor teachers of the trip, Ms. Walker and Mr. McDowell were extremely proud of this group and their efforts throughout the planning and the duration of this trip. Pura Vida, Ravens!
SPRING EDITION | 6
RAVEN ATHLETICS
Spring Season Preview
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BY JOSH RALLA
olling into third term also means the beginning of the spring sports season. At MacNeill, that means the start of track competition, the juvenile boys’ turn for volleyball, the girls’ round at soccer, and the return of the badminton, tennis and ultimate teams, all of which seem to show very promising performance in preparation for the upcoming season. One of MacNeill’s track coaches, Mr. F. Chiang, says that this year’s track team shows lots of potential. The return of experienced athletes from the previous season is likely to enhance this year’s team. “It should be a good year for us. Our seniors are quite a strong team. We had some stand-outs in the grade nines last year as well,” Chiang says. He also wishes for more participation from the younger grades, particularly the grade eights. Chiang believes that the girl’s events will be notably strong this time. “Girls’ javelin is usually really good for us. I think that will probably be our stand out. Our grade nine girls relay team should be pretty good,” he tells us. The juvenile boys’ volleyball team is another team to keep an eye on. Coach Nelstrop is very optimistic for this season’s performance. “I think that it’s going to be an excellent season,” Nelstrop says. “The boys are athletic and we will do very well”. When asked about the team’s advantage this year, he says “They’re tall, very tall … we [also] have some good athletes”. One of the juvenile boys, in particular, is very eager for the approaching season. “I feel like the upcoming season will be really fun because you get to compete with [the same schools] again, because every year … you could see if you improved or not,” he says. He also hopes to bond further with the team this year. “[I have] one thing to say to y’all: Practise safe sets.” On the senior badminton team, Coach Tiffany Cheng is confident with her team this year, especially with the return of several players. “This year’s team seems pretty good… a lot of the players played on the senior team last year,” she says. Meanwhile on the junior team, grade ten Sophia Lin says that she is “excited, but nervous at the same time” for this year’s season. She also wishes for the team to finish in the top two, especially at V&D’s. After a great run last year, Coach B. Chiang continues to have high hopes for MacNeill’s ultimate teams. “Both teams are going to be very competitive,” Chiang reports. “The level of interest, especially in the 7 | THE RAVEN REVIEW
The Junior Badminton team poses for a photo.
younger grades this year, seems to be high compared to previous years. So the future of the program in the longer term seems to be pretty good”. The number of returning players this time around is expected to improve MacNeill’s chances in the season. “We have a lot more returning players this year compared to last year, which is always going to make a difference when you talk about a game of experience.” Chiang encourages all ultimate players to practice throwing at any chance they get, and to work on ‘reading’ the disc. “I know the biggest mistake people make is [when they simply] chase the frisbee, versus going to where it’s going to be, and that’s using your brain”.
Wilson Wong jumps for the disc on the senior ultimate team.
ANIME REVIEW
Ansatsu Kyoushitsu ( Assassination Classroom)
N
BY YUIKI SHIROHANA
icknamed “The Misfits”, Kinugigaoka Junior High School’s Class 3-E is a just a regular class… Minus the fact that they’re trying to kill their teacher. Their teacher, Korosensei (Which was derived from the word “korosenai” which means “unkillable”), is the universe’s most powerful creature who threatens to destroy the Earth after already destroying part of the moon, leaving it in its eternal crescent shape. One day, he lands on Earth, striking up a deal with the government: In exchange for delaying the destruction of the Earth, Class 3-E of Kinugigaoka Junior High School has the chance to kill him before the class graduates in a year. In addition to regular classes, Koro-sensei, along with another teacher named Tadaomi Karasuma, teaches the students the way of assassination. But even with the reward of ¥100 million for killing Koro-sensei, he’s impossible to kill! The fact that he’s an excellent teacher is definitely not helping as well.
Positive: It’s an original anime, for sure. Combine the comedy and the cute moments and you’ve got yourself this anime! Negative: AnsaKyou moves in a really weird pace. Somedays, it’s at one place, and the next day, it’s in a totally different place. Genre: Action, Comedy, Supernatural Episodes: 22 Rating: 4.5/5
SPRING EDITION | 8
ANIME REVIEW
Cory In The House BY SAYDEW LO AND JORGE WONG
T
his spin-off of the hit anime series “That’s So Raven” follows the adventures of Cory Baxter, a young entrepreneur as he traverses the intricacies of American politics. The story takes place in Washington, DC after Cory moves in with the president. Cory strategically befriends Newton Livingston and Meena Paroom at school in order to form a band to gain public notoriety and shift political ideologies. As Cory begins to transform American politics, he throws society and his loved ones into conflicting moral dilemmas. Cory must overcome the destructive nature of politics before too many acts of betrayal dissolve his humanity. This work of art is superb to say the least. As a conservative Christian, the thought of a social science-fiction anime completely turned me off, but after playing Cory in the House DS, I decided to give this anime a try. I was hooked from the first episode. There are no “filler” points – the plot and its development are apparent right away. The tension between the protagonist’s love interests are conveyed beautifully through the hand– drawn animation. The precision and attention to detail is Mr. President, would you mind some electric guitar? remarkable. The animation rivals Miyazaki films and in many ways transcends the limits of animation. Combined with Cory’s inner monologue, the viewer is able to relate with the protagonist and understand him. The pacing of plot events is immaculate. From beginning to end Cory in the House is a heart-wrenching and emotional experience. The actions of the protagonist and his interactions with those around him prompt the viewer to reflect on their own life. You sympathize not just with Cory, but with the entire cast of characters. Cory in the House revitalizes anime as a whole. It breathes new life into an otherwise dead medium. As Evangelion revolutionized the mecha genre, Cory in the House surpasses the preconceived limits imposed on the genre. Cory in the House is a gift to humanity and deserves the praise it garners from every corner of the world. Rating:
Happy April Fools’, Ravens!
11/10
Author of:
Visiting Author
Eileen Cook April 10, 2015 Ask your English teacher or a librarian for more info! 9 | THE RAVEN REVIEW
RAVEN READERS REPORT
More Than This BY THE RAVEN READERS
More Than This - By Patrick Ness Discussion Date: February 10, 2015 Discussion Host: Lauren Elviss Members Present: May Ng, Lauren Elviss, Helen Hu, Ridaa Kanani, Irene Wong, Ms. Jaramillo, Manolya Sag, Ms. Phillips. The Story: Seth is smashed into rocks by waves near his California home. Then he wakes in his childhood house in deserted England. What has happened to him? Is this an afterlife? An alternate life? Seth must confront his past and his present to figure out what is real – and what is not. Food: Goldfish crackers, seaweed (Seth dies at sea); water bottles (from the looted food store); canned spaghetti (we didn’t eat it cold!) What We Liked: »» The writing was very good – engaging, detailed, compelling »» The main character was gay; this book is distinctive in that it’s not about being gay. That’s just part of who he is. »» The climate change has clearly struck, and created an environmental apocalypse »» The Driver is not malevolent; he is doing his job. He’s similar to the Terminator character, not sentient. His programming drives him. He’s creepily like the robot Borg villains. »» The story about the younger brother was revealed enticingly bit by bit. »» It was interesting to see how bad things got for Seth. We gradually understand why his mother doesn’t love him. »» It’s also interesting that technically, the brother doesn’t exist. »» Seth’s mother expected too much from him. She projected her own guilt on Seth. »» It’s a very plot-driven book. You can’t tell someone else the story. You have to go through the stages. It’s experiential. »» Characters: We all loved Regine, a well-developed character who is a quintessential pack leader and hardcore survivor. »» It’s disturbing to experience her death over and over. »» Tomasz is also a great character. His Polish accent is quaint. Regine is so protective and fierce. He is unbelievably brave. »» This book plays with reality in a twisted way.
Not So Much: »» The Driver is a scary character. »» The ending is a cop-out. Sometimes unresolved endings are good; we didn’t like this one. »» When the driver is destroyed, who will maintain the system? »» The programming required to keep the world going is pretty elaborate. Is it possible in this setting? What Was Interesting: »» What happened to the prisoners? »» Why would anyone buy a house close to a prison? »» Connections with the Matrix, the Terminator and other alternate reality stories.
Rating: 4.5/5 NEXT: The Secret Under My Skin By Janet McNaughton The Story: Blay Raytee has no family, no birthday, no proper name, and almost no memories. Her home is in a “model social welfare project” in the island prefecture of Terra Nova where she mines an old landfill for reusable material. But Blay’s world changes forever when she is chosen to help a powerful young bioindicator. Date: March 10, 2015 Place: Library Couches Time: Lunch Host: TBA
SPRING EDITION | 10
TECH REVIEW
Windows 10 Review BY JOSH RALLA
Note: This is a review of the Windows Technical Preview Build 9926. The software is still in beta and is expected to change before the final release – after the publication of this article.
The Windows 10 Technical Preview running on my late 2013 MacBook Pro
A
fter the atrocity of Windows 8, Microsoft is back in the game with their latest operating system: Windows 10. With a series of demonstrations and beta programs, we now have a very good understanding of the new OS. Windows 10 was initially unveiled in September 2014 and developers were allowed to download and install the Windows Technical Preview. The preview runs until April 2015, when Microsoft is expected to release even more details about the OS. I’ve installed Windows Technical Preview, Build 9926 on my 2013 MacBook Pro (yes, that’s possible) and first impressions are pretty good. Return of a Classic The most notable addition to Windows is the return of the Start Menu. Many were outraged when it was removed in Windows 8, but the developers down in Redmond have merged the classic Start Menu with the Windows 8 Live Tiles. You can now have an applications list on the left while still having access to quick information with the Live Tiles on the right. On desktop machines, the start menu now lives in the bottom left corner, while on tablets, they still take up the whole screen for a more touch-friendly interface. I find this a huge improvement over the Windows 8 Start Screen, which was completely unfit for use with a mouse and keyboard. The new interface isn’t as obtrusive and makes Windows feel like more of a desktop environment. 11 | THE RAVEN REVIEW
Good Riddance, Charms. Remember Charms? Charms were those annoying symbols that would appear when you put your mouse in the top or bottom right corners, where you could access search, share options and settings. Fortunately, they haven’t made an appearance in Windows 10. It’s been replaced by the Action Center, a central place to view all notifications and access quick toggles for brightness, wifi or airplane mode. Previously, there was no way to view past notifications; once it disappeared it was gone for good. But after borrowing some design cues from OS X’s Notification Center and similar interfaces on iOS and Android, it looks like Microsoft has finally made a decent manager for notifications. Hey, Cortana! Meet the first personal assistant on a desktop OS, Cortana. Microsoft Cortana has been on the Windows Phone for almost a year, following in the footsteps of iOS’s Siri and Android’s Google Now. In the Windows 10 taskbar, you’ll see a new integrated search bar, where you launch applications, search for certain files deep in your computer or search the web using Bing. It’s a great improvement over the search charm, and is even smarter at searching for exactly what you want.
Project Spartan, with an all new interface.
This. Is. Spartan! Microsoft’s current web browser, Internet Explorer, is the centre of jokes around the web, with its slow load times and constant crashes. This time around, they’ve developed something new. Project
TECH REVIEW Spartan is the codename of Microsoft’s latest web browser, which features a completely new interface and runs with a new rendering engine. With a few hints from Google Chrome, Spartan has a unified search field, and tabs in the title bar. The Spartan Browser also includes an integrated reading list and even more Cortana support. The new browser hasn’t appeared in the current build of Windows 10, so I haven’t had a chance to test it out for myself. But from what I’ve seen, it seems that Chrome and Firefox have some new competition. Settings for All Windows 8 had the most awkward setup for accessing your PC’s settings. There was the legacy Control Panel in addition to a new Metro Settings app. Some settings were configurable using both methods, while some could only be changed using one of them. Finding the correct settings app was frustrating. In Windows 10, Microsoft has finally merged the two setting controls into a unified Settings App. It’s much easier to navigate than the Control Panel and more organized than the previous Settings App.
One OS With Windows 8, Microsoft attempted and failed miserably at creating a single operating system for Desktops, Tablets and Phones. The resulting operating system with Live Tiles and Metro Apps appeared more tailored for tablets and phones with touchscreens, rather than large PCs using a keyboard and mouse. It looks like Windows 10 has solved that problem. Windows 10 creates dynamic environments; it changes the screen’s appearance for use on certain devices. On tablets for example, the Start Menu becomes the Start Screen, and apps will adapt to whatever screen size is in use. In addition to Desktops, Tablets and Phones, Windows 10 will also run on Xbox One. Microsoft’s aim at making a one-size-fits-all operating system is finally beginning to come to light. With Windows 8, we scoffed at their audacity to even try the concept. But with Windows 10, it appears they’ve finally gotten it right. Release and Price Further details on Windows 10 are expected at Microsoft’s BUILD conference in April, including the upcoming release date. What’s for sure however, is that it will be released this year, for free. For the first year after launch, Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 users will be able to update to Windows 10 for free. Windows 10 solves the problems that Windows 8.1 missed. It fixed those issues that everyone on the internet ranted about: the Start Screen, Metro Apps and even the fact Windows 8 didn’t launch to the desktop. Windows 10 is simply what Windows 8 should have been in the first place.
Windows 10 new Task View takes a lot of visual cues from OS X’s Mission Control.
Multitasking Virtual Desktops are great way desktop while maximizing productivity. Similar to Mission Control on OS X, Microsoft has finally introduced a task switcher: Task View allows you to view all your running applications and create and switch between virtual desktops. In addition, Metro apps finally run in resizable windows! In the past, Windows 8 Metro apps would run full screen, which made multitasking clunky and awkward. These two updates have greatly improved multitasking and allow users to keep their computers nice and organized. SPRING EDITION | 12
TV REVIEW
Agents of SHIELD BY IRENE WONG
W
e last saw Agent Phil Coulson in the Avengers, where Loki stabbed him through the heart, and his “death” was used to motivate the Avengers to work together. However it may seem his injury wasn’t as serious as the movie played it out because Agents of SHIELD centers around Coulson and his new team after the Avengers. Agents of SHIELD also includes various characters comic book fans may recognize, such as Mockingbird, Victoria Hand, Deathlok, and (spoilers) Daisy Johnson. Agents of SHIELD is definitely a show I would recommend with for superhero fans. The show starts out rather slow and a bit too focused on character development, which tends to make viewers here for the action lose interest. The show really picks up pace after Captain America: The Winter Solider (The show ties in directly with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, so events in the movies directly impact the show), when it is revealed that Hydra wasn’t actually defeated back during WW2 and SHIELD collapses. The shock of SHIELD falling is exactly the kick Agents of SHIELD need and the last bit of Season 1 and what we’ve seen so far of Season 2 has been amazing, with interesting plotlines they couldn’t delve into during Season 1 due to the inevitability of SHIELD’s downfall. The character development has been phenomenal, with some very dramatic reveals near the end of Season 1, but I find that most of the focus of the show is on Coulson and Skye, Coulson’s new protégée. While this is fine, other characters with just as, if not more complex back stories like Melinda May or characters slightly lacking development like Jemma Simmons, are often pushed to the side. Another Character I had issue with on the show was Victoria Hand. Victoria Hand was from the Marvel Comics and was known to be in a relationship with Isabelle, making her a lesbian. Unfortunately, in the show none of that is revealed, or even mentioned in a offhand comment, which is rather disappointing giving the lack of LGBTQ+ characters in modern media. However, I loved how they play out Leo Fitz’s brain damage, and actually acknowledge it instead of just erasing it or having the rest of the team prevent him from doing work they no longer deem him capable of. Instead, the only person actually holding him back at this point, is himself. As well I adored the way it ties in with the 13 | THE RAVEN REVIEW
Marvel Movies, because not all of them have as big an impact as The Winter Soldier. If you’ve ever wondered who deals with the ruined city after superheroes save it from supervillians, you’ll find your answer here. With the new plotlines introduced in the new season, Agents of SHIELD is starting to play a larger role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and despite the frustrations of the start of Season 1, it definitely pays off in the end. Positives: Action packed with many interesting characters and storylines, ties in nicely with the Marvel cinematic universe and Marvel comics Negatives: Start of show is rather slow; some characters are pushed aside for the development of other characters Rating: 3.5/5
VANCOUVER CANUCKS
Canucks Corner BY THE HOCKEY GUY
A
t the end of last season, if I were to say that the Canucks could make the playoffs in 2015, I was either a super optimist or another Raven Review member filled in for me. The fact that the Canucks are currently (as of March 25th) seeded second in the fierce Pacific Division is beyond my belief. The ‘Nucks have been consistent all season long, after experiencing the heartbreak of missing the playoffs last season. The Sedins have returned to their norm as elite point-producers this year, as they’re on pace for a 70+ points season. Radim Vrbata and Alex Burrows provided much needed secondary support behind the twins, relieving the pressure for offensive production. Many thought the departure of Ryan Kesler would leave a huge hole for the Canucks to fill, but so far Nick Bonino and Shawn Mattias have been solid, playing against strong second lines around the league. But perhaps the real surprise of this
Bo Horvat is one of this season’s amazing standouts
Eddie Lack and Jacob Markstrom have been instrumental in net while main goalie Ryan Miller is out with an injury.
season is the uprising of rookie Bo Horvat. The first round selection in the 2013 draft made the cut for the big leagues this season, and has so far exceeded expectations as a first-year rookie. Now, the expectation in Vancouver is for their team to continue their ways and cruise into the playoffs. With the Calgary Flames, LA Kings, and several other teams playing catchup behind them in standings, the Canucks will need to remain dominant for the last 10 games of the regular season. Eddie Lack has handled his starting gig well, playing as the starting goalie after Ryan Miller’s injury. With the rest of the roster intact and injury-free, the Canucks’ will continue their journey this season past the 82nd regular season.
REaDY Summit 2015 REaDY Summit is a fun, free, and inspiring youth led environmental conference. When: Where:
April 18, 2015 at 8:30am - 12:30pm Hugh Boyd Secondary
READYSUMMIT.CA SPRING EDITION | 14
OPINION
Should Wealthy Nations be Required to Share their Wealth Among Poorer Nations? BY MONA SALAAD
S
ome believe that strong economies, mainly first world countries, should aid the poorer nations in order to help their primary/ fundamental needs. Others believe that the government of a poorer nation should be responsible for their own issues and should not depend on the support of others financially. When looking at either end of the spectrum, both parties make relevant points and justifications supporting their ideas, and as for some making it hard to choose. As many may know, Canada is known for its participation in peace-keeping missions for the last century or so and has proven its point many times that the readiness to support other nations of the world only bring us closer together as a community. Globally, this keeps us together rather than apart. For some, helping others when needed most also seems like the only option that is morally satisfying. On the other hand, many feel as if the poorer economies might become solely dependent on the resources given to them by wealthier nations, leading them to subsequently not try to improve their situation independently.
15 | THE RAVEN REVIEW
People of the world, working together as one
I personally would have to agree with the first statement. Poor economies are lacking the fundamental needs in the fields of education and food. This should be a given to a human at birth, but unfortunately that is not the case. Lacking an education system for many, causes some harsh side effects such as increased criminal action, illiteracy, and starvation throughout a country. With the many risks being presented, I feel that the act of compassion offered to a needy nation is priceless.
HOW TO GUIDES
How To Improve Your Drawing Skills BY GIOVANNA GOWMEZ
2. Practise!
1. Find a style of drawing.
Try to find your style by looking at tutorials or copying other people’s styles. Do this until you have found the one you like and feel comfortable.
Draw the style over and over for a few months, or until you can draw it in a short period of time and it looks great!
3. Try to get out of your comfort zone.
When you feel comfortable with your drawing, try to explore. For example, if you focus on drawing women and finally feel satisfied with that level of skill, try drawing a guy!
How To Write A Great Plot Line BY GIOVANNA GOWMEZ
1. Get some main characters. 2. Kill them off.
SPRING EDITION | 16
TRIVIA
Wang's Trivia 1. When opposums play “possum”, they really just A) Close their eyes B) Stop moving C) Roll over and play dead D) Faint from panic and terror 2. Why are scientists so excited about the discovery of the jellyfish Turritopsis dohrnii? A) They taste great B) They are immortal C) They glow in the dark D) Did I mention they taste great? 3. Which animals hibernates the longest? A) Alpine marmot B) Brown bear C) Bats D) Snails Answers on Page 20!
Tiny's Trivia BY TINY TINA
1. Which of the following hasn’t been proven in space? A) White Holes B) Oort Clouds C) Centaurus A D) Exo Planets 2. What senses do humans not possess? A) Proprioception B) Equilibrioception C) Nociception D) Empathception 3. Which of the following is false? A) Sharks lay the biggest eggs in the world B) Beneath the Polar Bear’s transparent fur which because of the snow appears white they actually have brown skin C) Octopi have 3 hearts D) The black-necked cobra spits its venom into its victim’s nose, to inhibit their breathing. Answers on Page 20!
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RECIPE
Sweet Jelly Doughnuts BY TINY TINA Ingredients: »» 5 cups of All Purpose Flour, add more if dough is sticky »» 2 (7g) Envelopes of Yeast »» 1/3 cup of Granulated Sugar »» 1-1/2 cups of Whole Milk, warmed to about 115º »» 1/4 cup of Unsalted Butter, melted »» 1/4 cup of Shortening, melted »» 2 Eggs »» 3/4 tsp of Salt »» about 3/4 cup of Jelly of your choice »» 1 cup of Granulated Sugar for sprinkling Procedure: (Serves 12) 1. In a small bowl, add the warm milk and sprinkle over 1 tsp of sugar and the yeast. Allow the yeast to proof for about 5 minutes. 2. In a bowl, add the sugar, eggs, salt, melted butter and shortening. Cream well using a whisk or a hand held mixer. Add the yeast mixture and incorporate it in. 3. Add the flour, fold until the flour is incorporated, then continue to mix the dough for about 4 to 5 minutes by hand, or by mixer until the dough is nice and smooth. 4. Place the dough into a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap and place it somewhere warm to double in size (this can take about 2 to 3 hours). 5. Dump the dough onto a floured surface and punch it down. Roll it out to a 1/2 inch thickness. 6. Line a couple of baking sheets with parchment paper and sprinkle some flour on each one. 7. Using a 3.5” biscuit cutter, cut out your donuts, place them on your baking sheets, placing them a couple inches apart, cover them with a lint free towel and let them rise in a warm spot for about half an hour or until doubled again. 8. Add enough oil to a pot so it comes half way up the sides of the pot, allow it to come up to 350 degrees. 9. Once the donuts have risen, gently lower them into the hot oil and fry them for about 3 minutes on each side or until puffed and golden brown. Take them out of the hot oil and place them on a paper towel lined baking sheet to drain the excess oil. 10. Coat the hot donuts in the sugar and allow them to cool enough to handle. 11. Using a piping bag fitted with a plain round tip (about 1/4 inch round tip) squeeze about 1 Tbsp (or more) of your choice of preserve in each donut. Simply choose one side and stick the piping tip about half way in and squeeze out the preserves. 12. Enjoy while they’re warm!
SPRING EDITION | 18
HOROSCOPES
Spring Horoscopes BY MISS FORTUNE Aries (March 21 - April 19) Be aware on April Fool’s Day! There may be surprises lurking around the corners or behind your back but may your day be filled with funny pranks and hilarious jokes! Make sure to lighten up today so make someone smile or laugh because it will brighten up their day in no time! Taurus (April 20 - May 20) Be careful Taurus! For Loki or Hermes may “curse” you with pranks or very punny jokes. You may never know what’s coming at you so be extra cautious when going to class, hanging out with friends or even opening your locker. Even if you get mad at your friends for pulling pranks or saying terrible jokes to you, make sure just to laugh it off since April Fool’s Day is all about laughing it off. Gemini (May 21 - June 20) Make someone laugh today by saying a funny joke or doing something funny but be careful because the person may or may not get upset with what you’re doing so make sure to apologize if you accidentally make the person upset in some way. Have no fear though! Be the Prank King/Queen today and create safe yet funny pranks or a hilarious joke that will be the talk of the century! Cancer (June 21 – July 22) You seem like April Fool’s Day is just going to be a regular day except with very weird jokes and possible pranks that may or may not affect you. If you want to treat it as a normal day, it’s okay. Not everyone likes jokes and other silly stuff but that doesn’t mean that you can’t laugh with friends so lighten up and laugh! Leo (July 23 – August 22) It’s your time to shine and be the best prankster that you can be. Be unique and find ways to make people laugh by planning out the perfect prank or coming up with a humorous joke that will make everyone want to laugh and cry at the same time. Just remember to stay safe with the jokes or pranks because they may cost some friendships or relationships with other people. Virgo (August 23 – September 22) Get creative and do something silly to make someone laugh today for April Fool’s! Whether it’s a funny joke, a silly face or even a hilarious prank, just make sure that they smile and don’t get mad afterwards or else there might be some problems later on. Libra (September 23 – October 22) Make sure not to be manipulative this April Fool’s because it might end up turning into a bad situation, but if you do plan to be an evil mastermind with an April Fool’s worthy prank, then make sure it’s something to laugh back at. Be very cautious, Libra, because a prank may have people laughing but be wary of other people’s feelings… Or else it may cost something very important, like a friendship or a grade on a school project. Scorpio (October 23 – November 21) Feel like you’re up for a pranking spree this year on April Fool’s? Then this year is definitely the year to show off your genius mastermind and prank your friends but before you do any of that, make sure that your prank is safe and that your friends are comfortable with that element of surprise. Otherwise, karma will bite you on the behind if things go terribly wrong. Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21) Be optimistic this month and help spread the laughter! Help give someone a smile by smiling with them or telling them funny jokes and laughing with them. Don’t be a pessimist this April Fool’s so find new ways to cheer people up and boost that positive attitude of yours! Just remember that if people don’t need cheering up or just want some space, make sure to give that person the space they need.
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HOROSCOPES Capricorn (December 22 – January 19) Be very cautious, Capricorn. I sense that some prank may affect you or your close friends or family. Make sure to keep an eye out on things and watch your back! I can’t tell whether it’s a good or bad thing that’s coming your way. But be on the lookout for anything weird or prank worthy. Aquarius (January 20 – February 18) Be smart about detecting pranks this April Fool’s, Aquarius! If you spot the prank before they set it into motion, you’ll have the upper arm and get back at whoever is pulling a prank on you. Make sure you don’t go overboard and maniacally laugh at your possible prank plan. Pisces (February 19 – March 20) Be imaginative this April Fool’s and be the most creative prankster/comedian that ever lived! Create pranks that will blow people’s minds or make up a funny joke that will have everyone rolling and laughing on the floor! Get creative and let that imaginative mind of yours go wild this month!
MACNEILL’S TEACHERS What’s your favorite joke? Knock knock Who’s there? No one No one who? ...
Ask Irani
What’s better: humor or intelligence? Intelligent humor. What’s the best prank you’ve ever pulled? There’s a sign in Mrs. Padmanabhan’s room that says “We Love Math”. A few years ago a few other teachers and I changed the letters into “Wet Ham”. What was your first childhood pet? A mosquito with no wings.
TRIVIA ANSWERS Look at Trivia on page 17 before reading the answers! Wang’s Trivia 1. D) It is an involuntary reaction. The opposums aren’t pretending to pass out - they really do and have no control over it! 2. B) Lots of species glow in the dark so that’s not particularly exciting. Jellyfish do taste great with the right combination of spices but this species is the only one known to man to grow from a young polyp, to a sexually mature adult medusa and still be able to revert back to its immature polyp stage again before restarting the entire cycle. Don’t know what a polyp or medusa is? Take Bio 11! 3. D) Marmots can last up to 8 months, brown bears 3 months, and bats up to a year but only when in captivity (2-3 months is more usual in the wild). But snails don’t actually hibernate (when it’s cold). Instead, they “aestivate” when it’s too hot and dry, which pretty much looks like the same thing as hibernation. How long can they last? Up to 3 years! Tiny’s Trivia 1. A) Opposite of black holes! In theory they exist but, haven’t been proven yet! 2. D) Empathy + ception isn’t a real thing 3. D) They actually spit venom into the eyes, to cause blindness.
SPRING EDITION | 20
APRIL FOOLS’ JOKES How did the nucleus escape prison? Through the cell wall!
How do you organize a space party? You planet!
How many tickles does it take to make an octopus laugh? TEN-tickles!
What does a Maple Leafs fan do when they win the Stanley Cup? He turns off his Playstation.
What did Sandhu say to his students? Sandhu your work!
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I’m glad I know sign language; It comes in handy
My friend’s bakery burned down last night, now his business is toast!
Why do M&M’s go to school? To become smarties!
If MacNeill was school for pirates what would it be called? A RRRRRRR MacNeill!
Here’s a joke: Your bullying skills. Stop bullying 2k15!
APRIL FOOLS’ JOKES
I can’t believe the price of honey; its quite a stinger on the old cash hive!
Why do bicycles fall over? Because they’re too tired!
Why didn’t the skeleton cross the road? He didn’t have the guts.
My homework is like pi: never ending.
What did the baby corn say to his momma corn? Where’s pop corn?
Why is there a gate around cemeteries? Because people are dying to get in!
What do you get when you cross a joke with a rhetorical question?
“Someone said you sound like an owl…” “Who?”
“You’re blocking the view!” “I am the view.”
What do you call a bear with no teeth? A gummy bear!
Why can’t Napoleon sit on a swing? Because he’s dead.
What do kangaroos and zucchinis have in common? Neither can ride a bike.
Whenever my dad takes me to the military museum, I remember to tank him.
Why was the circle fat? Because he had too much pi!
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APRIL FOOLS’ JOKES Why did the lumberjack enjoy his new computer? He enjoys logging in!
Why did the lunch lady fall in love with the janitor? Because he swept her off her feet!
Student: Would you punish me for something I didn’t do? Teacher: No of course not! Student: Great, because I didn’t do my homework!
What did Canada say when America asked for their poutine? You can have Nunavut!
Why did the chicken cross the road? To help fight the fire.
Why are there no casinos in Africa? There are too many cheetahs!
A neutron walks into a bar and asks for a drink, when he goes to pay for it the bartender says “For you, no charge!”
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My life.
The divers had to be careful because the octopi were heavily armed!
Knock Knock Who’s there? King Tut. King Tut who? King Tut-key Fried Chicken!
What do you call cheese that’s not yours? Nacho cheese!
Why did the lion cross the road? To get a free roast chicken.
Why did the banker quit his job? He lost interest!
What did the traffic light say when it turned red? You’d be red too if you had to change in front of everyone!
APRIL FOOLS’ JOKES What did the duck say when she bought lipstick? Put it on my bill!
What’s invisible and smells like bananas? Monkey farts.
What kind of jokes does Wisconsin like? Cheesy ones!
Have you heard of the guy who lost his left side? He’s all right now!
Don’t trust atoms; they make up everything.
What is Michelle Obama’s favourite vegetable? Barackoli!
What do you call a sleeping dinosaur? A tyranosnoreous rex!
What did Obama say when his wife said “no”? This is an Obamination!
Me: Uptown Funk, you up? Kid named Uptown Funk: Yes, mom. Me: Go back to bed.
Apparently in London, someone is stabbed every fifty two seconds… Poor guy...
What did Obama say when his wife left him home alone? I’m Obama-self!
Whats brown and sticky? A stick!
On a display of “I love only you” Valentine cards: “Now available in multi-packs.”
How do you find Will Smith in the snow? You look for the fresh prints.
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APRIL FOOLS’ JOKES I took the shell off my racing snail, thinking it would make him run faster. If anything, it made him more sluggish.
Parallel lines have so much in common. It’s a shame they’ll never meet.
What did the pirate say when he turned 80? Aye Matey
After learning that my laptop wasn’t waterproof, I was shocked!
I told my wife she was drawing her eyebrows too high. She looked surprised.
Want to hear a word I just made up? Plagiarism
Someone stole my Microsoft Office and they’re gonna pay. You have my Word.
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Neon walks into a bar and orders a drink. The bartender says “Sorry, we don’t serve noble gases here.” Neon doesn’t react.
Say the punch line first. How do you ruin a joke?
A senior citizen called her husband during his drive home, “Herman, I just heard on the news that there’s a car going the wrong way on Interstate 90, Please be careful!” Herman said, “It’s not just one car. There’s hundreds of them!”
I got caught taking a pee in the local swimming pool. The lifeguard yelled at me so loud, I nearly fell in.
How long does it take to eat a tire? A goodyear!
My wife accused me of being immature. I told her to get out of my fort.