Digital Edition - October 29, 2007

Page 1

1

Beer + ideas = telecom company company

Holy gourds!

‘Self-taught geniuses’ create that offers

Pumpkin mania runs rampant at the

Waterford Pumpkin

A

festival.

learning

CSI promotes MQUNTFORD

By LEANNE

Bean

you want

If

look

do some good

to

make

in

sure

it

at

was

There are now 20 organizations in 20 countries that do the same

trade coffee.

thing, said

there

Oct. 16 by Peter Cameron, account executive of Planet Bean Coffee,

various co-ops and farms to check out the products and make sure

helps farmers and their

people are getting paid a decent

Internationally,

make

cocoa, sugar,

wine,

ers,

this

fee

and cotton.

we

“Historically, if

look

sure the products are ecolog-

is

creatures including

the

at

is

ically

sports balls, spices

fruit,

trade coffee

fair

grown, meaning that the cofgrown in the shade of tropical forests, which protects habitat for

quinoa, cut flow-

rice,

— No. 22

39th Year

www.conestogac.on.ca/spoke

he said. According to the Planet Bean website, the FLO also checks to

price,

by ensuring that they are paid a decent price for their products such as coffee, tea, does

life.

Labelling Organizations International (FLO), which goes to

families achieve a better standard It

and

the

Fairtrade

of living.

predictions on love

Cameron.

According to a brochure handed out at the Conestoga Students Inc. (CSI) annual general meeting on

fair trade

journalism students

fair trade.

could be as simple as buying a cup of Planet Bean’s fair it

for

by auditors who the books and

get audited

actually

the world,

newsroom

Conestoga College, Kitchener, Ont.

§

calls.

Looking into the future Psychic Dan Valkos gives students

25th annual

onday, October 29, 2007

cheap long-distance

songbirds.

many

migrato-

means

also

(Photo by Leanne Mountford)

the

history of the trading relationships,

ry

we wouldn’t have

farmers and drinkers of the coffee are not exposed to harmful chemi-

The CSI board

cals.

attended the CSI annual general meeting with Peter Cameron from Planet Bean Coffee. Cameron, who is in the middle of the back row, is promoting justice ‘one cup at a time.’

coffee, sugar, tea

those products

and

all

for

slavery,"

if

wasn't

it

Cameron.

said

mean, if you go back that what happened. And now

“I

wage

slavery because the people are not getting the return they need." About 50 years ago in Europe, a

Fair trade

lot of groups started working with groups in Africa to try to create bet-

alternative trade organiza-

opened tions,

They

relationships.

trading

ter

he said.

Bean

Planet

opened

this

of Conestoga's

which

Coffee,

year

in the

Sanctuary

Doon campus,

is

trade certified. According to

fair

is

making

a

huge

dif-

Dinning, vice-president of student affairs,

a CSI annual general meeting and he congratulated them on an excellent relationship and for the positive revenue they are generating.

health clinics and roads, he said. Cameron likes to use the slogan,

the

“Promoting justice one cup at a time." For more information about Planet Bean Coffee and fair trade, visit their website at www.planet-

all

beancoffee.com

year

In other business, the relationship

between CSI and the college was discussed. President John Tibbits

proof that co-operatives like Planet

said this

was

his first time attending

CSI received

its

old familiar faces in security

In previous years there has been only one staff member who could

parked

illegally.

are

ticket vehicles

Barber-Collins.

However, Anderson said usually only one or two people will be designated to write tickets at any one

They are responsible for Waterloo, Guelph and Kitchener campuses as well as the Conestoga Residence

time.

for licensed events on

campus held

and Conference Centre, said John Anderson, a college security repre-

by Conestoga Students

Inc.,

The

main security

staff is also the

but they

are in contact with police about alco-

hol consumption on and off campus.

sentative.

“This company

is

a step in the

right direction," he said,

adding

it

summer, which

He

stated,

“These

material respects, the financial position of the organization as of

April 30,

2007 and the

operations and

its

results of

its

cash flows for the accordance with

said the licensed events at the

school so far this year have been attended and they have had

“They are honing

skills

for the

Anderson.

The new staff is trained at all three campuses and they are rotated

officers

asked

all

which means

trained this

how

the trouble with alcohol

how

to confine

becoming

bylaw

year

all

of

it

“I

don’t think there

during

in a

on campus

Anderson!

ordinator, an awareness co-ordinator

maximize the space. “I’m also happy to announce

co-ordinator. Andy Staveley, food service direc-

tinue to

that

our other business ventures such as our massage therapy and Shooters photo studio are up and running and serving students better than ever.”

Stanciu also added that the CSI

and a Speak

Up

or Shut

Up elections

for Chartwells at Conestoga College, introduced himself at the meeting and spoke about a food tor

service

ed

committee

in association

that is being start-

with CSI. This will

board of directors has become more

gift

issues

of

such as

likes,

life

who were first-time donors. Residence life co-ordinator Ryan Connell planned the blood drive in honour of Walker, a Conestoga College student who died in January 2006. He had wished to donate blood but could not due to his illness. According to Canadian Blood Services, every donation helps three people in need of blood. This year’s drive obtained enough blood for approx-

people

imately 78 patients. Connell said he was happy with the turnout. “At one point we had to turn a few people away because there weren’t enough beds for all of those

with the amount of people

is

any place

hours,”

said

we were very pleased who were willing to come

Walker’s parents, Anne and Richard Walker, attended the drive. His niece, Amanda Ross, was also pres(Photo by Marcia Love)

ent.

The Walkers have been donating blood

for over

30

years.

said she has donated approximately of blood, while her husband has donated

Anne Walker 618

learning institution

business

Stanciu also said the Sanctuary is operational and they will con-

now

Conestoga students gave the gift of life at the William Walker Memorial Blood Drive on Oct. 17. Twenty-six people donated blood at the drive, held for the third year at Conestoga residence, including 1

to an area so

classes are not disrupted.

for alcohol

through them. are also

is

he feels about

the Sanctuary possibly

is

local

They

think

licensed during class time, he said

higher level security positions.

future,” said

When

such

titles

CSI

said the audit confirmed that

out and give selflessly.”

I

a positive thing,” said Anderson.

a base for future

job

concerns and ideas for the future.

events) by vehicle which

is

in

community engagement co-

food-related

staff.

law enforcement and

a

a focus for their term on the board.

willing to donate,” he said. “But

this

as

Each one of them has been assigned

only a few incidences with students. “Few people attended (licensed

in

These have resulted

Stanciu, president of CSI,

well

careers

student funds dur-

accepted

sionalism, customer service, safety and the education and training of the

Most meaning

managed

ing the 2006-2007 fiscal period.

provide an opportunity for students and college personnel to sit down twice a semester and talk about

accounting principles.”

Roxy

properly

actively involved in the college environment this year than ever before.

ended in generally Canadian

has increased the levels of profes-

of them are on a career path

left,

Christopher Graves, back row, on right, Mike and president John tibbits, middle row, second from

Bv MARCIA LOVE

the security staff can write tickets.

because year this gone Conestoga College has contracted the jobs out to a new company

auditor’s report in

financial statements present fairly, in

in right direction’

The

GM

Students give the

security ‘a step

By JENN SPRACH

along with CSI

ference in the communities where these products are grown or made. It helps with building schools,

Cameron, this means a TransFair Canada symbol can be found on fair trade products. The symbol is

New

of directors,

right,

“It’s about finally, us as consumers, paying what the product is really worth," said Cameron.

far, that’s it’s

It

litres

approximately 608

litres.

The next residence blood 8,

Anne and Richard Walker hold a photo of their son William at the blood drive held in his honour at the Conestoga residence Oct. 17.

drive will be held on April

2008. Connell said he hopes the residence will hold a blood

drive once every semester.

For more information or to donate clinic, visit

www.blood.ca or

call

at the nearest

1-888-2-donate.

blood


Page 2

News

— SPOKE, October 29, 2007

Now

Free

deep thoughts

should lure students

tuition

By JOHN LINLEY

that

...with Random

Conestoga College

questions answered by

random students

trades will soon be able to receive

entrants to the apprenticeship sys-

part of their education for free.

tem with job readiness

viding

tuition costs for those admitted to

pre-apprenticeship

the

Tinkerbell,

programs

1

an

it’s

original but cute

costume.” Rebecca Schmidt, first-year

ECE

“A

tiger,

because

trades.

liai-

The

on

Feb.

5,

2008

where students

ing,

ventilating,

conditioning,

air

and trim, framing, exterior finishes and structures. rigging and building science Carpentry will also have an cidfl interior finishing

week work placement. Both programs will also -try to improve basic skills in communications, computer literacy, safety procedures and welding. Gilmore said these programs will help to improve the skills of poten-

at

apprentices.

tial

of classroom

Region.

training and will improving skills with basic electricity and motive power systems like brakes, fluid power, fuel, engines and drive trains.

candidates will proceed to enter the

focus on

carpentry or truck and coach industry and the apprenticeship system."

“The truck and coach technician and the general carpentry preare initiatives apprenticeship important to our region as many

college will assist the student in finding an eight-week work place-

ising candidates through the initial

begins on Jan. 7, 2008 at the Waterloo campus, and will also

she said.

Those wishing to apply to these programs are encouraged to attend one of the information sessions. The truck and coach sessions run on Oct. 30, Nov. 6 and Dec. 4 at the Guelph campus. The carpentry sessions run on

The general carpentry program

Nov. 13 and 27 campus.

accept 24 students. It

at

the Waterloo

All sessions begin at 5 p.m.

weeks of classroom

has 27

an excellent avenue to

is

enter into the trades and successful

ment.

she

apprenticeship,”

of

"This

After the in-school training, the

companies are facing critical skill shortages and they indicate that pre-apprenticeship programs are an ideal avenue to fast-track prom-

ECE

going as a

Are you feeling a little stressed? Are mid-terms and life getting you

holding

to

loss or gain, increased negativity,

notice the feeling of your muscles

trouble sleeping, feelings of help-

down? Counselling

relaxing.

lessness and depression.

Guided imagery has participants use their minds to find a comfort-

said you’re

services recog-

nizes this time of year

bumblebee because it’s an awesome costume that no one has.”

and

first-year

1

"We know,

ways

breathing,

at

relaxation

one thing

muscle

(PMR) and guided

imagery. The

new

second-year

PMR

The sessions run

if

to

both

Wednesday

attending a relaxation session) and

personal

I

semester and

for the

the

The

because Queen is awesome and so are

know another person who would

effects

it

has affected her

moustaches.” Matt

Stortz,

fourth-year

management studies

It's

bring.

Bernard said people who are anxious get sick more often.

people and

so easy to get carried away with the excitement

Here are some warning signals

to look (or:

Your partner may be abusive

he or she:

Wants

to

Becomes

if

know where you

are and

very angry about

trivial

who you

of

a

some

new

in

relationship.

all

times

things, like not being ready

on time

or

wearing

the “wrong" clothes Criticizes your friends

as a

Has

traditional ideas

and asks you

to stop seeing

them

about hurting you. hurting your friends or commiting suicide

if

construction worker it’s

you don't

obey

Has ever

hit

or decide to leave.

a hot

costume.” Shannon

Ver/naas,

first-year

recreation

you, no matter

how

sorry afterwards

If you recognize these behaviours in your partner, you may be in a dangerous relationship. Counsellors are available in the Counselling Office, Doon Campus, Room 1 A 103, 748-5220 ext 3360, Guelph Campus, Admin. Office, 824-9390 ext. 148 or Waterloo Campus, Room 1C04, 885-0300 ext. 224. Information on community support is available through your Counselling Office.

and leisure Sponsored by the

Smile Conestoga, you could be our next respondent!

Women's Resource Group

her

“I’ve seen the benefits in other

of the early signs of abuse.

are with at

in

and she has seen the increased relaxation can life

be too.”

Often, this exhilaration prevents us from detecting

and

sessions. Bernard said

abuse

early signs of

come

Monday

myself." she said.

WHEN DATING TURNS DANGEROUS “Freddy Mercury,

whole half

she decided to start the sessions

because

interested

be

all

needed. Students can

hour

(in

would

go

utes but can

ability to

definitely needs to relax. “I

feel

have limited spots so students are The encouraged to arrive early. sessions usually last 15 to 20 min-

function normally. Practical nursing student Dina Pandzic said she

your

tensing

involves

sleep and your

Bernard

said.

busy,”

to another without taking

social life,

inhaling

toms of panic.

radio hroadt 'idsting

are

relaxed,

more productive,

and are happier. "It’s impossible to be relaxed and anxious at the same time,” she

Stress affects your schoolwork,

to the

and deeply by breathing through your nose until you tdl your lungs to capacity, holding for a moment and then slowly exhaling. The deep breathing helps in reducing anxiety or early symp-

Colin Schertzberg,

students

.you’re

better

place,

a break.”

slowly

everywhere.”

When

Shawna Bernard, a counsellor the college. “A lot of us go from

said

to relax

supposed

home.

ation sessions offer three different

— deep

are

such as a beach, a forest or a place in your

at

campus this semester. Deep breathing involves

Jehovah Witness because you see them

you

relaxing

able,

noon in the Room. 2A121, the relax-

and Wednesday

relaxation sessions are

as a

difficult

helping out by offering free

is

progressive office administration

is

drop-in relaxation sessions. Held every Monday at 1 :30 a.m. Spiritual

JiUian Grant,

Some warning signs of stress and burnout are chronic fatigue, weight

muscles and then relaxing them in succession. After tensing and

GRANT

By KAYLA

“I’m

because

work

Free relaxation sessions help students destress

first-year

“I’m going

will

skills in basic electricity, heat-

on

Conestoga's Guelph campus, and will be accepting 24 students. The program will have 23 weeks

These programs provide training

“I’m going

and coach program

truck

starts

said.

Brittany Huffman,

requirement for most

so, a

training

government is campus, funding the tuition-free programs to help address the need for skilled workers within Waterloo

stages

they’re fierce.”

do

to

for both trades.

said the

because

and

They also provide the students with the opportunity to get their Grade 2 equivalency if they need

funding to cover the

the

skills

trade readiness experience.

pro-

is

son for the school of trades and apprenticeships at the Guelph

as

would work-

have already gained in the They provide potential place.

Brenda Gilmore, employer

“I’m going

lack the experience

registered apprentices

Those students wishing to enter the carpentry or truck and coach

The Ontario government

What’s your Halloween costume going to be this year?

who

for those


News

Region must Employment numbers within

By HOLLY FEATHERSTONE

fc

Despite a vast palette of arts and )lture-based events, including the

the

overall fortitude of culture in the

of course, economy.

and,

imperatives were assessed in a tan-

Vital

dem

according to the latest Signs report issued Oct. 2,

by

effort

Waterloo Community Foundation and the Cambridge & North Dumfries Community Foundation

cern regarding the arts population,

to

the rate

is

of employment within the cultural sector, which has waned from 1.4 per cent in 2005 to just below one

per cent

last

measure quality of

DeGroot said justify some of

the

artists

year despite a popula-

Martin DeGroot, executive direcWaterloo Regional Arts Council, said although the region tor of the

systems

he said.

“It’s

addressing, said DeGroot.

witnessing

Simon Dowrick, manager of the Artworks show and sale, held Oct. 27-28 at Bingemans, can attest to the need for more public awareness on behalf of emerging artists.

from local artisans, is a great avenue of exposure for artisans who do not otherwise have a store

“If (regional) residents realized

year, the artisans can continue to

grants

“Because of the prosperity of the

numbers preworkforce

region,” he said, “(there’s) a diffi-

culty

space

securing

in

(for

artists).”

DeGroot said such a trend will cause many debut artists to become embroiled in the burdens of finance and

In order to prevent this, he said

cultivate their talents.

uates.

In addition, the

cils.

said the report does not

“The (population) in arts and cul-

greater emphasis

“We

have a

lot

Dowrick

of advantages,”

said this year the

are

helping

us

and what our values

said the show,

“Because the event

work other jobs (enough of

is

a)

is

only once a

until

they

network

to

have go it

alone,” he said.

Dowrick

show

said as long as artists

continue to hone their creativity to

opposed to mass market cus-

target specific buyers as

select artisans’ booth fees through

toms, the region’s

conforming

VIP silent auction. show allows arti-

sans free reign to discuss

which

applications

increased

contributed to developing the arts industry by reimbursing the cost of at a

identify

or gallery to exhibit their work.

buying local Canadian products would encourage a healthier community, they’d change their buying habits,” he said.

flee the region.

in

Dowrick

worth

possibilities

are

funds raised

emerging artists. need to develop strategies to recruit and retain artists,” he said.

culture,”

local

asserting their talents.

recruitment strategies specially aimed toward post-secondary grad-

“We

the

of infrastructure allocated to initiatives hinders artists from

thousands of independent artists either established or attempting to

for

ventures

stand for.”

while the population flourishes in addition to an overall increase in yearly fiscal grants given to arts organizations in the region by provincial and federal arts coun-

DeGroot

piece that

(arts)

who we

mittees to help develop incentives

needed com-

is

lasting

benefits of applying for arts council

necessarily take into account the

more communication

a

ucts and increased education of the

arts

between the arts and business

presence,

artistic

“It’s

helps people connect themselves to

non-profit

co-operative

developers,

must be placed on the value and potential of young artists by developing confidence through increased marketing and

has a vigorous

for

important

sented in the report, particularly

tion influx.

Credit

facilities to establish

seeking

preservation of local culture.

(financial) situations."

is

and inspirations with cus-

tomers, an asset intrinsic to the

for the exporting of local art prod-

to

difficult

the declining cultural

said the arts populace

ideas

said

the

businesses. However, high living and rental costs paired with a lack

life.

is

it

in

blossoming with young, neophyte

Kitchener-

the

which assigned the arts and culture gamut a grade of C. The primary focal point of conaccording to the report,

DeGroot

Such

reviving,

DeGroot. “We have a young and vibrant arts community and we need to look for ways to alleviate

few

larger than the

he said.

arts,”

areas other alongside including environment, education

region

recent Oktoberfest celebrations, the regional arts canvas is in need of

much

is

hundred people employed

— Page 3

2007

29,

morale

build arts

ture

tend to be indicative of the

arts

SPOKE, October

to

artists will

not

flounder.

The Vital Signs

their

at

report can be read

www.wrvitalsigns.com.

‘Self-taught geniuses’

cheap long distance

offer By HIEN DINH

Imagine this. You’re 37 years old and you own one of the most successful

phone

companies

in

Canada.

Jody

cial first.”

Schnarr and John Stix, two best friends from high school, who own and run Worldline, out of an office

Schnarr

That’s

for

reality

the

downtown

in

self-taught

Onlinetel Worldline. tance deal

in

company

started

who

scribers

and

has been with

Worldline for seven years. Schnarr, president and

graduated

Worldline,

CEO

from

of the

University of Toronto with a degree in business. He is the technical

behind the company and travels all around the world.

brains

Stix, executive vice-president of

Worldline,

is

responsible for the

marketing aspects of the company. “They (John and Jody) are big thinkers. It’s

one thing

to

have a

long-dis-

its

August 2004. The

geniuses,” said marketing director

Chris Laurin,

with

zero sub-

employees,”

five

Laurin said. “Now, just three years they have 130,000 sublater, scribers and over 100 employees.”

Worldline offers long-distance calling to flat-rate

anywhere

in

Canada for a

of $3.95 a month.

It

also

offers long-distance calling to any-

where

Canada, the U.S. and 24

in

international countries for a flat-

of $13.95. Customers can register up to two numbers (home or cellphone) and

rate

people that can guide you through the regulations,”

there is a one-time $10 activation fee for new users to access Worldline’s network. “So a student can call her moth-

said Laurin.

er in Vancouver, talk

few beers and say, ‘let’s start a telecom company’ — it’s another thing to hire the right

“It’s pretty I

1

to

don’t understand half

company

.

amazing

me because of how this

bill,

Schnarr and Stix always had a vision of doing Voice-over-IntemetProtocol (VoIP), which removes distance in long-distance calls, he said.

to count.

“So everything (becomes) a local call and (because) there are no long-

scribers are in

distance charges,

we

can say things

ads like zero cents per minute. “We just charge a flat-rate. It’s an

in the

unusual pricing system." Laurin said Schnarr and Stix have been in the telecom industry for over 15 years.

“(Before Worldline) they started a

company

called Onlinetel

where

she’s

“We add

there’s

no minutes

about 200

new

sub-

scribers everyday,” said Laurin.

“Currently

Basically,

CLEC,

all

of Worldline’s subCanada. Sixty per

“Worldline

people up there. Their (Rogers’) janitor bill

every major

The

three

Canada, he

“A

lot

CLECs

exchange

carriers

Canada. The other two

Rogers Communications

Inc.

said.

of people try to become but it costs hundreds of

person dealing with the regulatory from Bell Canada, you will never

become a CLEC,” said Laurin. “There are companies bigger

who have tried and failed to become CLECs so it’s really incredible that this small company became (a) CLEC because now we

than us

are the provider.”

Worldline will be launching their subscriber line) (digital

DSL

bundles soon. They are launching their new idea

Internet

IPTV

affordable dialup Internet service

in

are right under

thousands of dollars and takes several years. If you don’t have the right

watch

local

city.”

CLECs

Bell Canada, the only incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC) in

vision)

(CLECs)

one building costs month and

rent for a

they have 20-storey buildings in

hoping to expand to the U.S., starting in New York and Miami, said Laurin. Schnarr and Stix have also launched 295.ca, Canada’s most $2.95 per month. Worldline is one of three compet-

in

more than our

across the country.” is

as

can be so low,” said Laurin. “Our head office is right here in Kitchener and we only have 12

called

The company

same boat

in the

is

access bandwidth - only our cost base is so low, therefore our retail

40 per cent are spread

are

a

We are charged the same to

Rogers.

the other

project.

is

band-

is cheap. CLECs also provide bandwidths to the thousands of other phone carriers who aren’t

cent are in

itive

company

width

also

at

a

if

their cost to purchase

Ontario and Quebec and

did a promotion for Labatt Breweries called the Labatt’s Blue Line. That was their first major

they

until

blue in the face and never pay more than $3.95 a month,” said Laurin.

“There’s no

operates.”

and Videotron.

CLECs. and Stix then sold and started in 2001

“Worldline launched

Kitchener.

“They are basically

'

“It was (also) Canada’s first voice network (VoIP) ever, ahead of Bell and everybody else. The promotion included free calling to anywhere in Ontario but you had to listen to a 20-second Labatt’s Blue commer-

(Internet protocol tele-

Sexiest

which allows subscribers to television through their

Internet connection without having to buy cable. Worldline is also

Tri

Costumes

City Locations:

Kitchener Kitchener

30 King

service via the Internet, like the

Waterloo

already popular program Skype.

Cambridge

7 King St. N 561 Hespeler Rd.

planning on

For

more

doing

home phone

information

If

signing

up,

Connect when asked.

say

E

519.593.2303 519.895.1228 51 9.886.4500 519.624.9492

on

Worldline or to sign up, go to www.worldline.ca or call 519-489-

4459.

St.

lOManitouDr.

Spoke

www.stagshop.com


Commentary

— SPOKE, October 29, 2007

Page 4

Statutory holiday really

Day

Family Destruction Shortly after his re-election. Premier Dalton

give everyone the day off

McGuinty proclaimed

No.

his

McGuinty decided

will

holiday designated for families.

stat

said the holiday is-a “small thing" in the big picture but

The premier

McGunity

will be important to Ontarians.

it

month

in the

Annually, starting Feb. 18. 2008, the third be just that, a

^TT

job would be to provide Ontarians

1

named Family Day. Monday

with a statutory holiday he

to

February.

in

said he thinks

it

a

is

VouR Dad

erful recognition of his party’s priorities.

As

far as

can remember, Sundays were supposed

1

IS WCRV^\vl6]

be considered

to

Sd££ y

t^\

pow-

Ovt -U’.

family days, days for spending time together, not shopping or working, but spending quality time with loved ones. Now, Sunday is just con-

Fo«2,

sidered another day of the week, not necessarily a time to relax or

tt'Atl.

"me

extra mcme/

reflect. Is

complete day

really necessary to designate a

it

Premier really think

this

day will be spent the way

to this?

it

Does

the

intended? Has

is

he thought of the countless consequences his actions will bring to small businesses?

This answer is no. Nothing comes for free and McGuinty people will be paid out of the pockets of other people.

s gift to

the

Businesspeople and taxpayers will pay the bill for this one. Many will resent Family Day as an occasion where a day's salary must be paid without a day's labour being done or a day s worth of

employers

Why

doesn't

McGuinty

working class families

by reducing taxes? This way, average not have to work so much and thus, will

start

will

have more time together. Ontarians must work so living

is

many hours

outrageous. And,

be able to take

at their

jobs because the cost of

they weren’t taxed so much, they would

if

a bigger paycheque, which in turn would result

home

in their schedules for quality time

and vacations.

more room McGuinty said he can't think of a better way for his government to get back to work than to give families a little more of what they value

in

above

all else,

own

they will designate their

Each family has others, while

example.

its

some

Some

own

like to

agenda.

Some

have their children

The National Post

is

come up

work

like to drive nicer cars than

seven different a

little

name

activities. All

One

reader has

Murray

Steve

restaurants,

movie theatres and

resorts

out of

this.

can easily gain business on

this

opportunity

Even

of McGuinty’s Family

so, provincially, the cost

Day

will carry a

hefty price tag indeed. Economists have already estimated the

iday will cost the Ontario In a

economy between $1.5

billion

new

and $2

hol-

billion.

province worried about productivity and decreasing manufac-

turing jobs, such an

economic

won't be a knockout for many

hit will

carry a punch. Hopefully

on Oct.

lots

That

10.

it

translates to

4.4 million voters out of a possible

is

I

have to ask, what the

wrong with those of you

you to You picked

drop

for

in

Why are you so Why is so hard

didn’t vote?

NDP,

it

a pretty horrible time to

irt

some programs

million of those people voted, the

the third-highest tuition fees in the

NDP

country, but we’re also seeing fewer

would win

in a landslide.

we

Instead

are

with

stuck

McGuinty, whose first task new term is to impose a new tory

Family Day,

seems shield

in

February.

We

also have the worst

institutions.

statu-

professor-student ratio

called

tentatively

holiday,

students enrolling in post-secondary

in his

That

try.

And on

top of that,

gent people simply cannot afford to

to

attend

also a great

way

to

undermining the basic goal of the

it is.

the

It’s

he’s going to

fact

do

post-secondary

Reaching Higher

Many

initiative.

pointed to the increase

mum

having

2003 election platform

to return

to office.

Once again I’m

left

asking myself

the question I’ve pondered for the

or seven years:

every person

who

what

if

said they'd vote

And

to

make

sure this point hits

home, think about this: in 2004, McGuinty's Liberals enacted a tuition freeze, as part of a campaign

promise

and

thanks

to

intense pressure from Ontario students.

Only two years

later,

he

lift-

ed the freeze, breaking his word.

institutions,

proponents of the plan

province of gang crime.

is still

intelli-

him

health-care system, or to rid our

who

coun-

in the

many

like a nice thing for

for his second straight majority

trouble fulfilling his “promises” from

in

Students in Ontario already have

if all

nothing to improve our crumbling

government. Congratulations, you’ve

his

and

Ontario, fees went up $1,300.

four

do, and

box?

a ballot in a

year,

McGuinty was voted

past six

small businesses.

eligible

voters turned out to cast their bal-

allowed a premier

day.

we

party? I’m willing to bet

at

Economically,

paid an average of $190 more this vote would

our voices heard.

be lazy. Dalton

some winners

course, there will be

Ontario colleges and universities

but thought their be a waste, actually voted for that

who

contact

Opinion

have to make a change and have

than Family Day, which they

day Family Destruction Day. Anyone with

the

should

in turn pay for more more classrooms and more student aid. Most students at

So, what do nearly half of us do?

only

as 36

teachers,

toughening on crime, and so on. the

much

which would

McNanney

non-existent

seemingly

against voting?

named

Alex

high

like

plan,

per cent over the next four years,

unacceptable health

fees,

a

care,

heck

any of

smurray@nationalpost.com.

Of

issues,

various

tuition

its

to see if

consider lame.

suggestions

increasing tuition by as

8.4 million.

more.

currently running a contest

with a better

I'm not baffled, I’m appalled.

Only 52.6 per cent of

than one property, a cottage for in

gone, and I'm baffled. Actually, no,

So many Ontarians complain

proposed

which

Higher

about

Reaching

This was part of the

Another election has come and

Ignore

time together.

family day?

own more

these luxuries require a family to

readers can

is

making businesses suffer by shutting them down for yet why doesn't McGuinty let families decide for themselves

Instead of

another day.

when

which Dalton thinks

me

Election apathy baffles

goods or services being produced or sold. and a half to It will be a day when employers have to pay time employees whose presence is required on that day to run the business.

wage back

in

in the

2004

mini-

as a bene-

for students. Yeah, raising the

fit

minimum wage supposed

to

a whole 60 cents

offset

thousands

is

ol

dollars of additional debt students find themselves in?

Thank you Ontario for making endure four more years of the Liberals. The stupidity never ends.

me

Spoke Letters are

welcome

Spoke welcomes editor. Letters

letters to the

contacted

No unsigned

of the writer. Writers will

letter

for publication.

Address correspondence to: Spoke, 299 Doon Valley Room 1C29, Kitchener, Ont.,

N2G 4M4

Photo Editors: Leanne Mountford, Vanessa

Butler

Faculty Supervisor and Adviser: Christina Jonas

500 words.

reserves the right to edit any

Editor,

be

Advertising Manager: Jenn Sprach Spoke Online Editor: Alex McNanney Production Manager: Holly Featherstone Circulation Manager: Sarah Jaynes

be published.

Letters should be no longer than

The

name

for verification.

letters will

published and produced weekly by the journalism students of Conestoga College

Editor: Christopher Mills

should be signed and include the

and telephone number

Spoke

is

Spoke's address is 299 Doon Valley Dr., Room 1C29, Kitchener, Ontario, N2G 4M4. Phone: 519-748-5220, ext. 3691, 3692, 3693, 3694 Fax: 519-748-3534 E-mail: spoke@conestogac.on.ca Website: www.conestogac.on.ca/spoke

Dr.,

The views and opinions expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily reflect the views of Conestoga College. Spoke shall not be liable for any damages arising out of errors in advertising beyond the amount paid for the space. Letters to the editor are subject to acceptance or rejection and should be clearly written or typed; a MS Word file would be helpful. Letters must not contain any libellous statements.


.

Commentary

How

procrastination New legislation has flaws,

inconsistencies pace and not hitting their brakes

There are many new driving laws our roadways due to Bill

here on Sunday night writ-

sit

I

my

ing

story and the irony hits me.

week

I've

Kayla Grant

happened

own

to

of us at

all

some

it

the one fault people willing-

confess

We're

to.

being procrastinators

guilty of

all

at

one time or

another.

happens because sometimes

we underestimate how long

a

we we have something more

project will take or because feel

important to do. Sometimes it's as simple as waiting for the right

Opinion

it

feels like school

of those are on expressways, high-

about the amount of time you'll need. You can't write an eight-page essay in a night, let realistic

over the limit) and repeat offenders could receive up to a 10-year sus-

decided by the courts.

if

average,

of Bill 203.

who do

leaves

me wondering

way

another

take the most

the task that will

time. That

way you complete without

block

the

time

a

This device

basically a breath-

is

alyzer hooked up to your car. disable the car

if

you

It

will

are intoxicat-

ed.

crunch.

The

act also includes

new

flash-

ing blue lights for police vehicles

habits.

is

a time

to

By beating

procrastination,

you are making yourself a more valuable and reliable employee.

to increase visibility.

While I agree with most of the act, one section in particular bothers me. It is the one about stunt driving. Now, it’s not that this is a bad idea, but rather

thought out

I

wonder how well

it is.

people are being charged with speeding 50 km/h over the limit. I’m assuming a majority If

enough

km/h over

the limit

themselves.

This just proves the limits posted

minimum

currently should be the

to

and not the maximum.

follow them?

with the hardest task or

In general,

before

not have their lights on

driving at 40

if this is

government

for the

limits

Especially since I’ve seen police

a matter of safety or just

really

act also includes increased

re-

creating laws, such as this section

driving east on

slow lane is usually running at 120 km/h and the fast lane is moving at around 140 km/h. It

logically

when

the 401 to Toronto in mid-day, the

the speed limit.

start

done for

the research

On

to

evaluate our speed

tion interlock devices.

When ments,

to

it.

an immediate seven-day suspension and anyone caught stunt driving (which is 50 kilometres an hour

we need

First,

series roads.

limits,

exams, procrastination can be a dangerous enemy, so here are some tips on

all

aggressive

ple are going at least 10

develop good work

alone get

and

too;

not just speeding.

well, police are able to issue

The

These things cause accidents

Opinion

$10,000 for

and allows offenders to get there licence back after installing igni-

working on your assign-

College

Be

fines rang-

to

ways and 400

pension

is

lane or not checking their

way.

ing.

beating

As

me

annoys

blind spots.

to

make money.

up in December and need to start thinking about study-

comes

racers

that

are driving too slow, in the

wrong

penalties for drinking and driving

students will

it

maximum

$1,000

who

do the research the old-fashioned

has just started, exams are coming

When

from $200

fines ranging

street

do research, avoid those sites as much as possible. If you do find that you somehow wandered onto one such site, then set your watch for 10 minutes. If you can't trust yourself to get back to work after the 10 minutes, then maybe you should head off to the library and

biggest

mood. Even though

Jenn Sprach

act includes increased mini-

ing from

procrastination.

yourself. It is

Another thing

drivers.

on poor time management; blame it on Facebook, but the fact is, the only one to blame is

It

that the police never charge people

mum

an urgent deadline due to

Blame

ly

203, the Safer Roads for a Safer Ontario Act, which came into

$2,000, and

point,

our

every two seconds.

The

ment. It's

hitting

effect Sept. 30.

been "researching" procrastination and now I've come to the crunch time of an assignAll

— Page 5

well thought out?

on

start

2007

29,

new road laws

Ontario’s

to get

a head

SPOKE, October

on most highways peoI

think

our speed limits are outdated. Many of them were posted more than 10 years ago and a lot has

changed in terms of driving habits and car safety. What I find most annoying and dangerous are people who cause traffic problems in the first place. You know, the ones who cut traffic

someone

off in the fast lane to pass

don’t follow the speed

If they

km/h over that maybe

doing 100 km/h while they themselves are going 102 km/h. This just leads to people tailgating and passing on the right, which

becomes much more dangerous then them moving at one steady

how come

They

they expect us to

also need to enforce laws

for people

who are when

driving in the

they

passing lane

not

are

passing.

We

need to take a hint from our Quebec and post minimum and maximum speed limits. We cannot address only a part of the cause of accidents and expect everything to be perfect. We must

friends in

all of them for the roads to be a safe place to drive. For more information about the Safer Roads for a Safer Ontario Act, visit: www.mto.gov.on. ca/engish/about/bi 11203 .htm

address truly

1

it.

Set reasonable expectations for yourself. If your essay

eight weeks, break

it

due in steps and

is

into

due dates for each of those

set

steps.

Procrastination

often

happens

You should also plan a specific when you're going to work on an assignment. That way you prepare your mindset and are ready to work. By scheduling work times with a start and an end

because an assignment seems too large to tackle, but by breaking it

time, you will better avoid distrac-

seem more to com-

Smaller tasks can be done in a shorter amount of time and

down you make

it

manageable and easier plete.

Be realistic about the amount of time you’ll need. You can’t write an

in

If

you find

that

you

large

blocks of time, break your

work

into smaller bits.

for

20

minutes then take a breather for 10 to 15 minutes, then work another

By breaking

it

into blocks you'll

relieve any frustration

arise.

Beware of

web

is

annoying.

a

the Internet.

While the

a great place to get infor-

mation and do research, it also goes hand-in-hand with distrac-

Reward yourself for completing an assignment before or on a due date, and come up with consequences for not meeting dead-

people start working on their project only to be pulled

Many

MSN or e-mails, by Facebook. What starts out as a quick check can turn into hours

away

wasted.

When you go

There are hundreds of websites on the Internet that give tips and

on the Internet to

We know and

smoking

we

health, it is

is

Just because

smoking

our drinking water. I know 1 like to have a smoke, but

ered dirty doesn't

consid-

is

mean we

should

act like pigs.

We

are living in a society that

are contributing to the

is

we

filth.

Throwing cigarette butts everywhere is disgusting. The side of the road, parking lots and the ground around the school is

don't throw

department also

Use

has information on how to beat it and councillors are available to

and

time management

A

enjoy new

your car doesn’t have one, go and buy one. smoke butt being thrown out

if

window causes more

College is a time to experiences but it is also the time to

litter.

develop good work habits. By beat-

Canada,

ing procrastination, you are making yourself a valuable and reliable

employee.

out the window.

the ashtray inside your car

to the dollar store

the

skills.

it

your ashtray on the ground

is full

If in

don't

dump

parking

in the

lot

of the school or anywhere else. There is always a garbage around

somewhere ashes

to put those butts

doesn't take

It

few

and

in.

steps

to

much

throw

to

out

walk a

some

garbage.

need be, keep a bag in your car your garbage and put it in there. Walking through a pile ot ashes and butts is gross, especially on a wet day when it sticks to your shoes and ashes are all over the bottom of your pants. Even I don't like when smokers If

for

not a giant ashtray.

tion. life

website

These butts have chemicals in that are soaking into the ground and eventually going into

a dirty habit.

Let’s not add

Free's

them

bad for our

fuel to their fire.

Smoke

world.

should probably quit

When you’re driving down the road and you are done your smoke,

The student

Living

estimates 4.5 trillion smoke butts are littered every year around the

is

exercises to help beat procrastina-

help you learn

tion.

ing to non-smokers ridicule us

trying to help the planet and yet

work.

lines.

20 minutes. able to # be that may

having a title page without an essay? Get into the habit of being proactive. Why do assignments at the time crunch causes stress and stress can make your college experience hell. can also affect other course It

can't sit for

Work

Doon campus, listen up. I know as a smoker myself listen-

minute?

for

Smokers of Conestoga College’s

require less preparation, so plan to do them near the end of an assignment. What’s the point of

Doing projects under

a night.

to

tions.

last

eight-page essay

smokers clean up their act

Time

time for

than just

According to Natural Resources in 2001 (the latest statistics available) a total of 21 fires burned

show some courtesy. On campus there are many recep-

do

that so

tacles,

smoking

especially

in

areas, so there

designated is

no need

to

don't like to drink butt-tainted

I

water.

Smokers are disgusted by the few smoking areas we have left and we need to step up and do something about it by keeping them clean. When you are done your cigarette, take a few seconds and put it an ashtray.

in

smoke in the nonsmoking areas inside doorways, Also, don't

dump your

ashes

in

the garbage

and please, when you're driving, think before you flick your butt. Our forests and water are in

enough

trouble, let's not help the

process.

know

I

smoking

rights

are

something every smoker wants, but I am with the non-smokers on this.

24.3 hectares because of people’s

throw the butts all over the ground. Believe me. the cleaning staff at the college does not need the extra

careless disposal of cigarette butts.

work.

to

If we clean up our non-smokers won't try

become

extinct.

act

maybe

to force us


Page 6

— SPOKE, October 29, 2007

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Feature

SPOKE, October

29,

2007

— Page 7

Halloween came early

to

Waterford, Ont. Pumpkins were

on display

for the 25th annual Pumpkinfest, held Oct. 20. Far left, the pumpkin pyramid

towers over attendants in the centre of town. Left, children

enjoyed a haunted pumpkin patch. Top, giant to

_

be judged.

pumpkins wait


Student Life

— SPOKE, October 29, 2007

Page 8

Girls’ night

out can be inexpensive

Finding time to relax and watch a good chick-flick with some girl-

go out and enjoy the town can sometimes be hard to do. Going to school, working and all the other responsibilities you have friends or

leaves

little

I

girls’

“The most popular night is Tuesday night, where most people order pounds and pounds of chick-

$3.99 plus taxes for a week or the store has two deals where you can rent three movies for $8.99 or six

en wings,” said Franklin. After a delicious meal,

movies for $14.99.

head over

night out,”

said Jordan Hass, a first-year gen-

and science student. and I really need to go out for a date soon to really

movies.

catch up.”

nights

health

“My

girlfriends

Dinner and a movie is generally the fundamental girls’ night out. But, being a college student

means

On

Crabby Joe’s

is

a hot spot

for

local students.

the flow of cash can be tight. That

does not mean you have to nix your plans. Instead, take advantage of

college and university students on

some

local

that

offer

said,

On Monday

nights domestic bot-

a regular night admission for

$6.50 and on Tuesday the admission is $4.20, is

according to their website. If this is still too expensive, you

love

ribs for

renting movies because

I

“I

can curl

paint

my

do

nails,

facials

my

love to

“I

and watch

friends.”

my

love adding margaritas to

“I

Nicole

said

nights,”

girls’

Macfarlane, a first-year police foundations student. “The drinks add to our fun together.” A different spin on a girl’s night could be hiring a psychic to come

dark

grey sleeveless vest and sports large metal beads around her neck, which she affectionately calls her “pearls.”

But what is so special about Vanessa Strickland? Nothing. Aside from her closely cropped hair, which catches the eye for a moment, there is nothing remarkable about her physical appearance.

But looks can be deceiving, and

one

listens to her,

it

becomes

is nothing ordinary about Strickland, president of the

clear that there

Conestoga Pride club. Outspoken and passionate, she walks around the classroom and gestures emphatically as she speaks.

“We know

they are out there,”

she said. “They are just afraid to

come It’s

very important for people

support,

coming

And

in

community to have social especially when they are

the

portive of

Conestoga Pride club

is

So even friends the

you’re not gay, but have are, you should support

if

who

community of lesbians,

gays, bi-

sexuals, transgenders, transsexuals,

those

main mission of

the

is

“People want to have a good time and they believe my abilities will enhance their present and future lives with good news and the excitement the future holds for them,” said Phillips. Alicia Stepaniuk, a second-year marketing student, said, “You need to spoil girlfriends and yourself

every once and a while. Money should not be an issue when you are having a great time together.”

way

the

is

...

student said she

was

my

raised in a het-

me and any “But

it

queer

was

still

kind of confusing.” it is very imporqueer community to be

Strickland said

who

think

important for us to

that

we

are different,

OK,” she said. Growing up, people get that’s

all

kinds

of messages that being queer is not the right way to be, she added. get the impression that

not alright

Adult Recreational Center 185 King St. S Waterloo

www.thefathershouse.ca purposstrutbrealitytiumourlunwardsavi satislactionlBarninghepeprayeradoraiii ncreativitycararBsteralionandarstandiru peacejoytuturebeljeuiogdestinyGoduis

onualueslaughterpraver training Vo urslE nhgracenationsjoytulgentlenessToabilii

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little

if

moulds

we

don't

fit

it’s

into these

that society has creat-

ed for us,” she said. And at a time when young people are still finding themselves, that

can create a “It’s really

of anxiety. hard to figure out

think

important for

it’s

us to

proud that

feel

we

are different.” Vanessa Strickland, president Another

of Conestoga Pride

common

misconception

people have about the queer

community is that it is deviant. “And that is completely false, queer people are normal, regular people that lead normal lives,” she said. “We don’t lead those unortho-

dox

lifestyles that

people think

we

In

addition to offering support,

the Pride club

is

also a source of

on queer-friendly information events in Kitchener- Waterloo and allows first-year students -unfamiliar

with the area to get to

know

the

region better.

As

for activities, they range

movies

to

game

from

nights to going to

bars as a group. "It varies depending on who we have coming and what we want to

do," said Strickland.

lot

who

you are when you see all these stereotypical images in the media that don’t represent you." she said.

“But then there arc no alternatives, and you’re left wondering: so where do go from here?” One of the main misconceptions that people have is the “oh. that’s gross” kind of attitude, said 1

Strickland. “I

Another issue that gets brought up often is the question of AIDS. "Eve heard a lot of people use the argument that if you’re gay, you're going to get AIDS,” she said. “But you can be straight and still get AIDS.”

do.”

they are.

it’s

proud

“We

of

kind of stuff anyways.”

that

family was very sup-

of

issues,” she said.

and

lot

that society is

erosexual household.

feel

it

kind of ridiculous, since a

the

supposed to work,” said Strickland. The second-year biotechnology

proud of

to

diversity

and acceptance. “We’re bombarded with attitudes from childhood that being hetero-

“But

it’s

here,

heterosexuals fool around with that

“I

To promote

Pride club?

sexual

$65 per per-

questioning.

still

What

queers and

intersexes,

two-spirits,

“I

CHURCH?

a social

It is

cause.

its

tant for the

out, said Strickland.

either.

support group for the queer community and anyone else who is sup-

portive

out.”

the queer

community

I

son.

Jenn Moore, a first-year police

bian

as

psychic

Tarot cards, photometry, phychometry, tea leaves and energy cleaning are the physic abilities

not just limited to the gay and les-

By WEI-LON LEE tight black jeans, a

a

Psychic Roz’s Consultant on Waterloo Street in Waterloo. “My husband and travel to the client’s house and he

Conestoga Pride club is they’re queer, get used She wears

Phillips, at

Phillips performs for

chick-flicks with

said,

Rosalyn

consultant

individual.”

police foundations student

by renting one. Niki Douglas, an employee at Blockbuster Video on Weber Street Kitchener,

“Parties are a lot of fun to do," said

have private sessions with each

Nicole Macfarkme,

foundations student, said,

in

sion.

describes everyone’s auras while

The

to our fun

and your friends can enjoy a movie in the comfort of your own home

in

$4

add

drinks

up in blankets and watch the movies with all my best friends.” Renting new releases for two

“Crabby Joe’s

nights.

girls’

inexpensive

offer half price fajitas for $7.49, 1

my

to

at

$ 5 are on Thursday nights, martinis are sold on Friday

love adding margaritas

“I

East

students.

Stephanie Franklin, a waitress Crabby Joe’s on Hespeler Road

nights with the deals.”

offers

house and hold a group ses-

to the

I

theatre to

tles are $2.75, Tuesday nights have 29 cent wings, Wednesday nights

daily specials that are perfect for

Cambridge,

time

together.”

an adult

seems to be extremely popular with

restaurants

movie

is

The Cineplex Odeon Fairway Centre, on Fairway Road in Kitchener,

eral

to the

it

Sunday

see a chick-flick.

time for fun.

have had a

nights at Blockbuster costs $5.39 plus taxes, favourite releases are

to

has been such a long time

“It

..since

nights.

nights and kids eat free on

By KERRY REED

think a lot of that has to

do

with the whole anal sex issue, but

There

arc

many community-

related events that are available to

Conestoga students,- and Conestoga Pride can connect students with these events, she said.

For more

information

on

the

club, contact Vanessa Strickland at

pride @conestogac. on .ca.

You can

also find the Conestoga Pride club

search Just Facebook. on Conestoga Pride under group search, and click on the Conestoga Pride logo.


News

SPOKE, October

29,

2007

— Page 9

Older generation keeps art of collecting alive MARCIA LOVE

Brenner said he doesn't have as people trading in their comics anymore. He said the most valuable ones in

many

a pastime

It’s

believe

which some may

long forgotten, but hobby

is

shops

throughout Waterloo are striving

Kitchener-

would be worth $ 50. “People would rather sell their

the store

keep the

to

on eBay where they could possibly get more money for

of collecting alive. With new forms of entertainment such as the Internet. Play Station and

collection

art

iPod, the idea of

owning a

it,”

1

1965, has several thousand coins.

years old. store

was

first

the late 1970s, and

owned

it

established

McAndrew

has

His store now has between five and 10 million stamps. He said young people today are

busy with computers and don't have the attention span for collecting that children did a decade ago.

Despite their disinterest

he said his sales have first

in

stamps,

tripled since

he

took over the business.

“It's

who are McAndrew said.

the older people

more interested,” “The ones who are more serious

about collecting are people with a higher income

who can

afford to

keep up their collection.”

He has

most valuable item he store is a $5,000 US sai-

said the

in the

boat stamp. Interest

in

(Photo by Marcia Love)

in

for 14 years.

comic book trading

has also declined.

he said.

Mike Drandzyk has worked at the Kitchener Coin Shop since 972 and is now the owner. The store, which first opened in

collection

seems like a thing of the past. John McAndrew, owner of RJM Stamps in Waterloo, has been collecting stamps since he was eight

The

1

John McAndrew, owner of RJM Stamps in Waterloo, holds a 1 943 Canadian aircraft stamp. John Brenner founded Lookin’ for Heroes in Kitchener 18 years ago.

The store has between 50,000 and 60,000 comic books. Brenner said people have now rediscovered comic books because movies based on comics have cremore interest. Most of his customers are men between the ages of 8 and 30. ated

1

He

said collectible

comics are

sought, but people are

ed

in

more

still

interest-

reading the books for pleasure.

“Collection really died about 10

years ago. Less than five per cent

of comics sold are to collectors now. People are buying them now for the graphics and literature.”

Drandzyk said his customers can range from eight-year-olds to 89year-olds.

The amount of business

he receives depends on what is happening at the time to attract people. “There’s always new themes, new coins, new reasons,” he said. “More recently there was the millennium and Olympic coins.” Currently, the most valuable coin in the store is

a $3,000 1948 silver

dollar.

Drandzyk said a collector’s commitment to collecting items depends on what he is really interested in. “If you collect coins, there’s a reason you do that,” he said. “Unless that reason goes away, whether you do it a lot or a little, you’ll still continue to collect something. People who have left their collections for 10 or 15 years

will all

tion out

of a sudden dig the collecand start all over again.”

(Photo by Kerry Reed)

All in

the family

Steven Maiato, 15, and brother Domenic Maiato, 13, enjoy helping their dad sell fruit and vegetables at the St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market and Flea Market. It is open from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Thursdays and Saturdays year-round. The market also runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays until December.

TTENTION ALL MATURE STUDENTS

Thursday Nov. 1

1

am

-

1

2pm

or

1

Meeting Room

2pm -

st

1

-

2A1

1

1

pm 1

uQj Come

join us for

refreshments, meet other

and share ideas on how to enhance your experience at Conestoga

students


8

1

Entertainment

— SPOKE, October 29, 2007

Page 10

Students’ glimpse into future Week of October

2007

29,

and money

tells of love, life /iA

Aries March

21

September 23 October 22

-

April 19

By

-

SARAH JAYNES

2000

Dozens of students

up to from psy-

Your

to

tle

your

why

After mid-terms,

can

nature

impulsive

benefit.

not be a

lit-

impulsive and treat yourself to

Your easy-going personality you through the stress of mid-terms. You can also help will help

friends

a balance between

find

Dan

chic

who came

Valkos,

that

lined

learn about their future

sometimes work

radio psychic

1

know of

to run for parlia'"

ment,” he said.

Valkos loves the work he does, when he is able to connect with students and give them a reading that makes them happy. “I love working with the students

to

especially

Conestoga on Oct. 16. According to Valkos, most of the students asked him about their love

celebrating the end of mid-terms

lives,

for awhile.

and preparing

lege, their future financial success

and giving them

and when they might lose

lives,”

April 20

-

May

20

good

traits,

mid-terms

why

Your imagination comes

into

but since the stress of

play

when

starting to decrease,

how

to use a free night to cele-

is

not stray from those

traits

and

trying to figure out

brate the end of mid-terms.

Gemini 21

Sagittarius November 22 December 21

June 2

-

try

Psychic Dan Valkos his crystals,

with a fun night out with friends.

Use your energetic personality

and use your energetic personality

to

energize your friends after the stress of

to celebrate!

mid-terms.

Valkos also does private readings, house calls and presentations at hundreds of places which is why he feels his resume is one of the most

)

Cancer June 22

-

Breathe, the stress of testing

gone.

Go

Capricorn

July 22

and have some much-needed fun.

December 22

*«®i

january 19

ft

Let loose and have fun!

is

out with friends, relax

%

-

Go

most of the now.

the

free time

January 20 February 1

have been given the

-

Your independence helps while

I

should have studied more.

I

can’t

My

as top

”1

couldn’t ask for a different

future for myself,” he said.

Worry about what others are doing: know

Everyone seems

No

Everyone’s finished but

to

one else looks

like

this stuff but

such a wreck

me—

I

me.

— what a

Worry about negative consequences: •

I’ll

never get the job

watch a movie.

to

mingle with classmates and

I’ll

never be able to handle college studies.

I’ll

have to ace everything else

bit.

loser!

must be dumb.

time

relax a

title

I have to get an “A”. I’m going to mess up and look stupid.

studying for mid-terms, but the is

margin for error,” he said. When asked what his plans for the future are he said he plans on doing what he does best until he is

remember a thing; this always happens to me. mind goes blank... I’m not cut out for this.

testing

I

per cent accuracy with a 3 per cent

Test Anxiety

Use your exuberant nature once mid-terms commence. Take your friends out or invite them over to

it is

have learned to trust my and remember that no psychic can ever be 100 per cent personally run 85 to 95 accurate.

Worry about performance: •

What

the course, the program.

if I fail; I’ll fail I

.

.I’ll

never make anything of myself!

want.

in the

course— how can

I

do

that?

Worry about bodily reactions:

Virgo

Pisces

August 23 September 22

February 19

March 20

Bringing order during chaos is what you do best. Now that midterms are almost done, you can

your friends relax after weeks of studying and trying to help

Your intuition will help you tune into what others need after a long week of tests and projects during mid-terms and beyond.

get projects finished.

I

I’m sweating

feel sick

Here

I

it

I’ll

comes

feel like

all

never get through

this.

over.

again.

My hands are shaking; my head aches.

I’m going to get

sick.

Maybe

I

Normal people don’t do

this.

should leave.

of the above worries increase anxiety and actually perpetuate more worry and gives one the sense of losing control. However, as much as anxiety feels out of control, it is in fact, something that we can learn to overcome. There are many effective strategies we can use which will help us

Any

reduce our negative thought patterns, reduce the physiological anxiety response, and develop more effective behaviors to avoid falling into the anxiety cycle. What can you do? There are many things that you can do to overcome your battle with test anxiety. •

Make

Here are a few on-campus resources: an appointment with a counsellor in Counselling Services to leam

some

effective test

anxiety reduction strategies;

Franca Maio

is

a second-year

journalism student holding in the

palm of her hand.

Inquire about a Test Anxiety group and/or a Relaxation group for help with the physiological

symptoms in Counselling Services; Read Edmund Bourne’s Anxiety and Phobia Workbook

fate

A Message from Counselling

is

instincts

tests. In fact, a little anxiety increases your and can actually enhance your performance. Anxiety however, can cross the line from being a positive energy to becoming a distressing drain. Often such anxiety has a strong worry component. Do any of these thoughts sound familiar?

you have

almost done, so

believe only

Most students experience some anxiety before

Make

1 Aquarius Jg

1

phonies” he said.

alertness

(MMH

most psychics are good,

out

with friends to a movie and dinner or enjoy a day of shopping.

commu-

be a psychic, the only difference that he has been doing it longer.

done.

plished since 1969. “I

his

“1

“I’m obnoxious and I’m a smarhe said. He has taught workshops, published books and has his own TV show on Rogers television to name a few of the things he has accom-

COUNSELLOR’S CORNER:

p

psy-

tass,”

1

Be open to new ideas thrown your way once mid-tenns are done

among Canadian

also plays a big role in his success.

over 26 colleges for the past 9 years; this year was his 14th visit to Conestoga.

in

Valkos believes that everyone can

Valkos feels that his personality

at

confident

of the psychic

five per cent are

chics.

psychic research and has

in

been doing readings Celebrate the end of mid-terms

“I feel

questions. impressive

rest

is

he also looks highly

honest and ethical.

look,” he

1

abilities

nity.

sits with

which help him the answers to students’

find

joked when he described his early encounters with his psychic ability that occurred almost 40 years ago. He originally became an investigator

their

I

on the (Photo by Sarah Jaynes)

Valkos said he originally became aware of his psychic abilities in older than

on

insight

always would never lie but and put a positive spin on

Although he

own

selves.”

lot

my

he said.

things.”

have intuition and are all in tune with the people around us,” he said. “We just need to listen to the still sound and voice inside ourall

“I'm a

May

honest and

1969.

do something impulsive.

*

is

listens to his inner voice.

and stable are

practical

their vir-

“I

Valkos said that he

“We

Being

education, careers after col-

ginity.

Scorpio

Taurus

in

the only psychic^

something you’ve had your eye on

to study for finals.

Canada and

in

became

I

Services, 1A103.

in the

LRC.


— Sports Stand

New

‘Pat,’

England’s

Condors

not the best yet

Condors took on

they stack up against the true

greats in the history of

American

football.

Being unbeaten success, so

team

to

a sure sign of

is

let's start

with the only

go through a season unde-

feated, the

1972 Miami Dolphins.

They went 14-0 in the regular season and then marched through the playoffs en route to a Super Bowl win. The season was two games shorter back then, but they are the measuring stick.

The

still

Patriots

of this year have yet to go undefeated or win the Super Bowl, so the jury

is still

out.

Another good barometer of a team’s greatness is wins. That award goes to the 1985 Bears, who an

set

Da

NFL

Bears,

Mike

record with 15 wins.

featured

1985,

circa

William “The Refrigerator’’ Perry and good of “Sweetness” Walter Payton. Who could forget their magical Super Singletary,

Bowl Shuffle? Or

Falcons

who

better yet,

could forget the hurting they laid on the rest of the league, ending with a 45-10 drubbing of the Patriots in the NFL Championship game? No one, that's who. Speaking of dominance, the 1998 Denver Broncos would like

The Condors The

into

the

Davis, the Broncos

won

their first

a sea-

son.

of the

immortal John Madden, a huge proponent of offensive linemen -

men in the trenches” - and the running game said the Patriots do not need a running game because “the

they are playing so well, something

he never thought he’d

say.

And

for

anyone that’s ever listened to Madden, we never thought we’d hear him say it either, which says a heck of a lot about how good this team

behind are the 14-2 San

arguably the best quarterback and

wide receiver of all time in Joe Montana and Jerry Rice, respectively. They went 14-2 in the regular season, before winning three playoff games by an average of 33 points, capped off with a very lopsided 55-10 win over Denver in the Super Bowl. And last but not least, rounding out

top

this

five

are

1991

the

Washington Redskins, who also went 14-2, with a demoralizing passing attack and stingy defence, outscoring opponents by a disgusting 261 points.

That’s just

filthy,

folks.

So how do up?

I’ll

this year’s Pats stack

make no

secret,

much contempt

for the

and

(and

egotistical

overrated)

Bill

I

have

arrogant

somewhat

Belicheck,

but

I

must give credit where it’s due. And so far, this Patriots team looks simply awesome. They have been destroying opponents to the tune of 40 points per game. Tom Brady and Randy Moss have been conjuring up images of Montana and Rice, as they’ve connected for 732 yards and 10 TDs through the first seven games of the season. Brady is on pace for an astronomical 61 touch-

down

passes,

which would shatter

the current record of 49.

He

is

leaving them in

critical

who needed

West

the

game

for

just

one

make the post-season. The Falcons only gave up one

shot in the

first half.

Unfortunately

was to powerhouse Carmine Carnochan who gave the Condors early hope with a goal 10 minutes into the game. However, the Falcon’s Amanda Ruberto answered back just minutes later for

them,

it

when Conestoga’s slow defence gave her a clear shot on net. Throughout the scoreless second the

evenly-matched

teams

despite his negative qualities

protests of

great coach.

The

fact that

caught cheating earlier raised

some

is

a

he was

in the

questions, but

I

year think

most people accept that Belicheck is just that good at what he does. Just seven

games

into the season,

(Photo by Charlotte Prong Parkhttt)

point to

swooped down on each other and collided several times, amid shoddy

officiating dur-

ing the intensely physical game.

“A couple of

calls didn’t

go our

way; sara rom ivouzounas, Fanshawe’s assistant coach. “We should have had a penalty shot.” Falcons’ head coach Martin

team already has a 4.5-game lead in their division, and has already outscored opponents by

Conestoga’s Carmine Carnochan speeds past Fanshawe’s Kristina Melhuish. Carnochan scored the only Conestoga goal the team’s last regular season game. Painter said that while he has a

in

soccer before.”

He

strong midfield, they played a slop-

said

it’s

difficult

for those

py second half. “We had to do a better job neutralizing their key players,” he said, specifically Carnochan and the dynamic Justine

players to

Campos. Conestoga

year with an even stronger team.

coach

head

but with a shallow pool of players to

choose from, they never had

much of ttmy

/

gins t ricaou t

.

we

week and work on

basic soccer and

Krajcar

He

hopes

to

return

next

said the college needs to build

a soccer culture, but

it's

difficult

do when the women’s team went several years without winning a single game. “We have competitive players (at t rie school) who don t come out,” he said dejectedly as he followed his players off the field in to

a chance. t

out four nights a

fitness skills.

Aldo

Krajcar said this year’s team was an improvement over last year’s,

come

nave

12 rookies out of 15 players,” he

“We have some players who’ve never played competitive said.

the gathering dusk.

his

SPOKECONNECT

159 points. there any

Dallas, and they're

with Miami,

in

a

history.

Unlimited Long Distance

in

Canada

for

in

$3.95 per month!

division

who

much far

was a

It

Fanshawe,

half

is.

to

ties,

The Patriots also have the aforementioned Bill Belicheck, who

ion.

Not

tie.

brought the one win, three

second-last place

in

offs.

On last week’s edition Monday Night Football,

could enter discussion as the worst team in NFL

Francisco 49ers of 1989, featuring

game

1-1

division and locked out of the play-

in

games, finishing 14-2 for the season and going on to win the Super Bowl in convincing fash13

regular

reach 4,800 passing yards

only one top- 10 pass defence

way

finished

Condor’s record losses and three

legs of 2,000-yard rusher Terrell

their

playoffs

the Fanshawe women’s action

averaging 300 passing yards per is on pace to become just the fourth quarterback to

game and

Behind the arm of hall-of-famer John Elway and the

stampede

discussion.

OCAA

in

season play with yet another

So what are we missing? Are drawbacks to this juggernaut? The answer is yes. The Patriots have had a very easy schedule thus far. They’ve faced

to

— Page 11

Oct. 17.

fight it? Let's

indulge those gun-jumpers and see

how

2007

The birds of prey battled it out on Conestoga’s soccer field when the

the halfway point of the season. |when we can’t even tell who the best team in THIS year's NFL is. people want to crown the Pats as So I the best team of all time.

why

make

to

fail

29,

By CHARLOTTE PRONG PARKHILL

»4s the 2007 version of the New England Patriots the best NFL football team ever assembled? At

finally figured,

SPOKE, October

The road

is

about to get

tougher.

Eight of their last nine games are outdoors in the northeastern U.S.

That means a lot of cold weather and snow to deal with. And the lone game that isn’t outdoors? That's right

-

what could be a

in

Indianapolis in

battle of 8-0 teams.

As for top- 10 ranked pass defences? They’ll face four: Washington, New York, Pittsburgh and Indianapolis, currently ranked No. 1. The bottom line is that the Patriots have been phenomenal so far, but they’ve faced six of their weakest opponents, and a dysfunctional San Diego Chargers team. With all of the tough teams they have yet to face, and the elements they'll be forced to battle, the New England Patriots will not keep up their current pace. It would be exciting to see, but

it’s

o<

just not realistic.

The living members of those 1972 Dolphins can get their champagne ready, because Pats will NOT go undefeated this season. They

will finish 14-2 (with likely

and Giants), and barring a playoff match-up with one of New England’s poisons or the Denver Broncos

per minute *

losses to the Colts

Indianapolis Colts ly

add

-

their fourth

they will like-

NFL

title

in

seven years.

And now having said that, please me while I go wash this taste out of my mouth.

*

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Page 12

— SPOKE, October 29, 2007


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