February 3, 2010
Harper Looks East
Ellen Asiedu
Bhangra. Bollywood. Stephen Harper. One of these things is not like the other right? Well, not exactly. They all belong together, and will soon be closer than before.
Like the younger brother who runs after his older siblings as they make their way through the sticky and uncertain intricacies of international markets, Canada is finally catching up to the United States and Australia in terms of partnerships with the East. Asia has established itself as one of the most powerful continents in the world, and presents countless expansion opportunities in the business sector. The global recession of the past few years has been a wakeup call for Canadian businessmen and investors. The understanding is that they cannot rely on America for stability, because when America falls down, it all falls down. So Canadian economists and financiers have been looking for ways to diversify trade and decrease dependence on the US.
Last month, Prime Minister Stephen Harper travelled to India for the beginning of a series of intercontinental business meetings in Asia. There he met with Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, and discussed the expansion of import/export markets between the two countries. India has agreed to work towards a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement that will boost imports and increase trade revenue from $5 billion to $15 billion over the next 5 years.
Another issue resolved during the trip was the case of India’s increasing nuclear energy sector. Nuclear-anything is a touchy subject, but when one of the largest countries in Asia makes it known that a portion of their national budget is being thrown into that sector, it might be time to get on board. And though our country halted all nuclear trade with India in 1974 over fears that Canadian materials were being used to create weapons, Canada seems ready to resume nuclear trade.
But money and trade market agreements aren’t the only reasons why Harper’s visit to India is being hailed as an overall success. Harper’s Conservatives have not been drawing in as many Indo-Canadians votes as the Liberal Party, and this trip was the perfect opportunity to show Indo-Canadians that the Conservatives have their concerns in mind and are ready to form new partnerships. Harper also scored a hat trick with the trip as the G-20 summit approaches this summer in Ontario. Prime Minister Harper will now have a wider perspective to offer other world leaders than ever before.
Copenhagen: A Two-faced Conference
Robby Muff
From December 7 to 18, 2009, the United Nations held the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, the capital and largest city of Denmark. The 192 nation conference was intended to be a stepping stone towards a better environmental future for our planet.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, whose country is the fourth largest greenhouse gas emitter, attended the conference.
“Together these 105 leaders represent 82 per cent of mankind, 89 per cent of the world’s GDP and 80 per cent of the world’s current emissions,” he said. “If this group of assembled leaders can agree, then their decisions can change the course of the planet.”
The Climate Change Conference was hosted in Copenhagen, Denmark for a few reasons.
It is recognized as one of the most environmentally friendly cities in the world. Copenhagen has a large offshore wind farm that produces about 4% of the city’s energy, 40% of all citizens will bicycle to and from work by 2012, many years of major investments in sewage treatment has improved its water quality, CO2 emissions will be reduced by 20% by the end of 2015, and it is the capital in the world where organic food has the largest market share.
The conference, however, was hypocritical about its intentions on raising international awareness on the topic of environmental protection.
There were 15,000 delegates and officials, 5,000 journalists and 98 world leaders who attended the event. Why so many people for a conference? Why do 15,000 “officials” need to be present for a meeting involving 192 countries? One thing was for sure; all the top hotels were fully booked at £650 per night.
Limo companies competed ferociously to rent their limos to the people attending the conference. In total, there were over 1,200 limos rented, most of which had to be driven hundreds of miles from Germany and Sweden.
If these representatives were there to combat climate change, why do they need to ride around in fancy limos?
The total number of electric cars or hybrids among the 1,200 limos? Five. There are no hybrids in Denmark because of the extreme taxes.
The airport saw 140 extra private jets during the peak period alone. That is not including all the regular planes flying to regional airports or to Sweden, to park, then the return flights to Copenhagen to pick up their VIP passengers.
While all these important people were at this big meeting, something had to get done to stop climate change- why waste money and emissions? Everyone attending was in agreement that something must get accomplished.
Nevertheless, conflicting interests got in the way of compromise. The Chinese didn’t want supervisors in their country, the Europeans didn’t want to increase CO2 reduction goals, the Americans didn’t want to go too far on any deal, and the Africans wanted more money, but were not being clear on how it would be spent. It seemed as if the conference reached a complete stand-still.
Besides the fact that the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen was a huge political circus, there was some progress.
In order not to leave completely empty-handed, a few countries united on a meager agreement.
Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, urged richer nations to contribute to a multi-billion dollar fund to help poorer countries cope with global warming which will become operational in January, 2010.
Under the accord, developed countries will finance a 10 billion-dollars-a-year, three-year program to fund developing nations’ projects to deal with drought, floods and other impacts of climate change, and to develop clean energy.
In addition, President Obama’s decision to stay later in Copenhagen may signal some sort of agreement between America and China, two of the world’s largest nations. This is vital in order for any real global action to take place.
Layers of Standards on the AMA Stage
Mike Vichnitchkine
Former idol contender, and semi-openly gay poprock star Adam Lambert kisses a guy on TV. The world watches, with open mouths and narrow minds.
During his stage performance at the 2009 American Music Awards . Lambert mimed oral sex with a male backup dancer and kissed his male keyboardist. The natural reaction of hundreds watching was to phone CBS, the network broadcasting the award show, and file complaints against the singer. I really can’t understand why someone would go through the effort of phoning in and professing their disagreement, instead of just changing the channel or, heaven forbid, turning off the television.
But, why does the public oppose when two guys kiss on their television screens? It’s not as if worse hasn’t been aired. Flip to any of a variety of primetime shows and you will regularly find scenes far more graphic than a homosexual kiss, or obviously feigned sex. Some scripts of shows like Two and a Half Men and Desperate Housewives are practically pornographic. If you can appreciate the mind-blowing stupidity of people going out of their way to complain about two people kissing on a TV show they don’t have to watch, join the club.
But while a few of the more prude viewers scoffed at Lambert’s antics, it appears as though the public is actually loosening up. CBS received only 1500 complaints after this latest incident. Back in 2003, when Madonna and Britney Spears famously kissed during the MTV Video Music Awards, thousands upon thousands of people called in to express their outrage that something so positively filthy could have made its way onto their televisions. But, of course, this may just be because fewer people were watching Lambert at the time.
Now, we unearth the next layer of hypocrisy and discrimination. When CBS aired the 2003 Music Video Awards, the Madonna-Spears kiss was broadcast, free of censorship. However, when they showed the American Music Awards, the network decided to blur out the kiss. As one Mackenzie student says, “It’s really no big deal, people are just overreacting. If guys can kiss girls, why can’t they kiss guys too?” Another says, “The fact that he’s a guy disturbs people, but it’s not different from what [Madonna and Spears] did.” So, what’s the hierarchy now? A man and woman kissing is perfectly fine, lesbians are okay (but just barely) and gay men are outright not fit for broadcast? People are people, and mouths are mouths! What does it matter who’s kissing whom? TV networks like CBS need to reach an ultimatum. They should choose either to censor everybody or nobody at all.
Senior Girls’ Volleyball Team Serving Many Teams a Loss
Alex Wiseman
With so many Mackenzie teams doing so well this year, you’d think there couldn’t possibly be room for one more success story, but the senior girls’ volleyball team is ready to steal the spotlight. They’ve been turning many heads with an impressive 4-0 record, but they still have a whole season ahead of them. Under the guidance of their coach, Ms. Brunner, they’re ready to make our school proud.
Volleyball, a sport that requires hand-eye coordination, power, and a lot of skill, is a whole lot more difficult than it looks. Possibly the hardest aspect of volleyball is communicating with your teammates and making sure that everybody knows their role.
Kayla Cayabyab, a member of this year’s team, thinks that this is possibly her team’s greatest strength. “We talk a lot on court and are very supportive of each other. If things aren’t going so well, we communicate and get back in the game.”
However, you can’t survive on communication alone. As Kayla noted, her team also has a lot of skill and has already beat some tough competitors in the league, including the always difficult Northview and Newtonbrook teams. And if you have any doubts about this team’s talent, all you have to do is go watch them practise in the gym to see what I mean.
And now that the winter break is behind them, the senior girls’ volleyball team is ready to pick up just where they left off and aren’t planning on slowing down any time soon. They have a couple of tournaments coming up, so be sure not to miss any of the action as your senior girls’ volleyball team prepares to climb into the playoffs. Go MAC!
Talented Local Athlete brought into the Limelight
Carolyne Wang
She was only 19 when she was chosen for Canada’s first official Women’s World Championships. She played in three Winter Olympic Games and seven World Championships, and is a member of Canada’s National Women’s hockey team. She has won countless medals. She is Vicky Sunohara, a talented hockey player and athlete living in our very own city.
“Hockey has really been my life!” she wrote in an email correspondence with the Lyon. “Since my Dad introduced me to it when I was one and a half years old… I have loved it… It has taken me places I would never have gone to and I have made so many great friends throughout my career. I can’t imagine my life without it.”
Vicky has participated in many championships and is a member of Canada’s National Women’s hockey team. She has also been running hockey camps in Whitby for ten years now. “I teach young girls and have a great bunch of instructors helping me out,” she writes.
With the birth of twin boys, however, Vicky has now put everything, including hockey, on hold, giving all her time and attention to the new additions to her family. “My twins are keeping my fiancé and I so busy that we have no time for things we used to take for granted. We seldom have three meals and don’t get nearly enough sleep.”
When asked if she misses time on the ice, she writes, “Yes, I miss it but I couldn’t be happier with my sons Jarrett and Dreydan!” Vicky says she will continue coaching and playing recreational hockey soon, and adds, “I can’t wait to teach the game to my two little boys!”
Those who were at Nathan Philips Square on December 17, 2009, would have seen Vicky carrying the Olympic torch and lighting the Olympic Flame. When asked about this experience beforehand, she wrote, “I am very honoured and excited! I am a little sad that I am not playing anymore especially with the Olympics in Canada but I now feel that I am a part of the Olympics by having this great honour of carrying the torch in Toronto.”
On a final note, when asked for her advice to aspiring athletes, Vicky says: “Play any sport that you like that is fun for you. Whether or not you make it to be a professional or an Olympian you will learn so much and have such great experiences…It takes a lot of hard work and discipline to become the best you can be but that is a great goal to aspire to. Be the best you can be and have fun!”
Then and Now – Teams, Clubs and Events
Nikki Khranovsbaya
Today, our school is known not only by Mackenzie students, but by students across the TDSB, for its competitive sports teams, events, assemblies, and most importantly our abundance of student-run clubs.
Perhaps somewhat surprisingly—it has almost always been that way.
When the school opened in 1960, dozens of clubs were immediately initiated. Some of the first and most popular included Model United Nations, geography, chess and debating clubs. There were many choices for arts students as well. These included camera and drama clubs, an orchestra and a band. Later, the musical aspect of the school was extended to include a general choir, a jazz choir, and two bands—all running at the same time! Many students organized their own groups, selecting and playing the music at school dances.
Sport teams have always been popular, including soccer, basketball, and football. Yet, one thing is different—from the very beginning, the school had an organized cheerleading team. There has been interest since in organizing a cheerleading squad…history might serve as a good argument for restarting the team!
Mackenzie was, and still is, a school that likes to have fun. Even back in the day, students loved organizing plays and performed funny skits to show off their talents. Students even collaborated with teachers to create “alternative days”. On such days there were no classes, only guest speakers in different rooms, giving the students their choice of lectures!
Today’s Mackenzie students have definitely been keeping up school spirit…hopefully 2010 will be even bigger and better than past years with events, clubs, and student participation!
The Guinea Pig Diaries
Grant Goldberg
Ever wonder what it’s like to outsource your life? Yes, you heard me right – outsource it! Throw all your daily tasks and tribulations at someone halfway around the world. What about disguising yourself as a movie star and going to the Academy Awards, where no one Would be able to tell the difference between you and the hottest movie star? Well, someone has actually completed these unconventional tasks!
From the New York Times’ bestselling author A.J. Jacobs comes the hilarious and outrageous stories of his life as a human guinea pig. The Guinea Pig Diaries is a collection of experiments that Jacobs “tested” on himself over a four year time period. These experiments range in subjects and obscurity from following his wife’s every order and whim to trying to “unitask” and not be distracted by anyone or anything.
Successful or unsuccessful, these tasks were highly informative and entertaining. Not only does he describe in detail how they work but also how they changed his and his family’s life after the experiments were completed. For example, it was amazing to see the reaction of his family and friends to his “Radical Honesty Experiment” where Jacobs carried on for one month with absolutely no filter on his true thoughts and feelings.
I think this book is great for someone who wants a quick read over the holidays (something I definitely did) and someone who enjoys a good, hilarious non-fiction book. This book is short, sweet and gets to the point. However, I would have appreciated to read a bit more detail about how and why he designed his experiments the way he did, as well as more detail about their outcomes. The Guinea Pig Diaries is a great book to use for a book report or essay, and I suggest this for anyone attending high school. I personally can’t wait for A.J. Jacobs’ next book about one of his other crazy experiments!
January 1, 2010
Also, more authors!
Once again, Ksenia’s book review has caught the eye of the reveiwee’s author. In the December issue, Ksenia read and reviewed Animals by Don LePan. Mr LePan had a few things to say about it, and you can read Ksenia’s review, and Mr LePan’s comment right HERE.
Hope everybody has a roaring new year!
It’s 2010! Who knows what that means?
That’s right, the January issue is coming up!
And don’t forget, it’s the beginning of a new month, a new year, a new decade of awesome, awesome, awesome Mackenzie!
Happy New Year, everyone!
December 11, 2009
Issue Two Point Oh!
‘Tis the season for some awesome news. Enjoy!
While we’re at it, don’t forget to visit the wonderfully green blog of Zack Bernholtz, detailing his stay in Copenhagen for that green conference the whole world’s abuzz about. Zack is an executive member of SWITCH, Mackenzie’s Solar and Wind Initiative Towards Change. (Hooray for those solar panels!)
And don’t forget to visit the updated Games Page for some funfunfun! (or you can check your answers, if you already did ’em)
Happy reading, and a happy holidays to all. (:
Yorkdale Partnership Creates New Opportunities for Students at Mac
Andrew Koo
Academic excellence, dedicated students, and strong community involvement has always allowed Mackenzie to maintain a high reputation amongst Toronto secondary schools. Recently, it has been our newly-founded partnerships within the community that have increased our notoriety in the TDSB.
Mackenzie’s partnership with nearby Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, a medical science and health care institution for the elderly, has allowed students to volunteer at their facility, offering opportunities for “experiential learning” since 2004. The partnership’s tremendous success has prompted teachers
and administrative staff to reach out to form a second affiliation in the community—with Yorkdale Shopping Centre.
“We wanted to create a partnership with Yorkdale because of their expertise in business, media, and retail,” said Ms. Green. Along with Ms. Martin-Jordache and Ms. Graham, Ms. Green met with senior executives at the shopping centre last year.
They worked on building a strong proposal that would benefit both Yorkdale and students at Mackenzie. Yorkdale’s service connections, as well as their guest speakers and experts will be able to enrich students with knowledge of the professional business world and provide opportunities to learn about the real-life realms of marketing and retail. The partnership is exclusive to our school.
In return, Yorkdale will be able to reach out to students, take note of their input and pinpoint the markets that appeal most to them. With teenagers being the most influential demographic of today’s consumer world, students at Mackenzie provide insight into a valuable focus group.
Ms. Graham’s grade twelve Business Leadership course put students to work on a project that incorporated Yorkdale’s Facebook page and allowed them to design a “virtual gift” of their choice. By analyzing demographics and measuring objectives, students apply skills they learn in the class and from Yorkdale experts to achieve a compatible product. Yorkdale can then study the students’ products and incorporate their ideas to build a more impactful market for teenagers. As an added benefit, the group that tallied the most virtual sales from their gift received a generous cash donation from Yorkdale that would be passed onto the charity of the group’s choice.
“They’ve taught us presentation techniques and how to apply business and communication skills to work on a project successfully,” grade twelve business student Justin Lam said.
In addition to this project, Yorkdale has provided real life case studies for students to solve—involving several facets of the operation of the mall—such as their food court, retail stores, and budgeting. Students present ideas in a “boardroom” style meeting.
“It’s creative and makes it more exciting than a normal project,” said grade 12 student Jason Blum. “It’s just like a real world activity that we wouldn’t get to do outside of school.”
Despite the apparent benefits of the program, it’s crucial to keep in mind that Mackenzie students are included the partnership as an emergent demographic that Yorkdale will be able adjust their marketing strategies toward.
“We were very upfront about [maintaining a collaborative partnership], making sure students are thought of as a focus group,” Ms. Graham noted. “We made sure Yorkdale had no intent of using them as consumers.”
Besides integrating professional business activities into business curriculum, the partnership plans assistance from Yorkdale in several other in-school initiatives. Environmental projects have been suggested in hopes of driving toward a greener community. Additional co-operative education opportunities and job shadowing in both retail and management will be available to students studying in co-op and career programs.
The annual Mackenzie fashion show is also looking to be an even bigger, popular hit this year. Connections have been established to provide clothes and gifts to enhance the experience. In addition, Mackenzie Fashion Council student representatives will have the chance to speak with experts from some of Yorkdale’s retail outlets, and learn about the business components of fashion and retail.
So far, the partnership has been blossoming. Results have been positive among Yorkdale managers, Mackenzie staff, and students. Both sides are enthusiastic about the vast potential of the partnership, and regularly-scheduled meetings allow for new ideas to be brainstormed. “We definitely would like to renew the partnership (annually),” Ms. Green said. “The challenge is sustainability; to make sure the partnership can continue to thrive and be strong.”
Ms. Graham is looking to expand the awareness further into
the school. A Yorkdale Executive Club will be formed soon, composing of students that will act as liaisons between Yorkdale and
students at Mackenzie.
Our school is already a well-known destination for students looking for a secondary school education specializing in science, mathematics, in computers. With our recent success in DECA competitions, and now a promising partnership with Yorkdale Shopping Centre, it is very possible that we will emerge as a strong high school for students interested in the business realm of post-secondary education and careers.
“I hope (that it does),” Ms. Graham said, with a laugh.
Anger and Protest at Northern Secondary
Jonathan Li
On October 2nd, 2009, one particular video on Youtube sparked an explosion of controversy and anger across the student population in Toronto. A cellphone video recorded by a student at Northern Secondary School clearly showed a police officer roughly arresting a student in the populated school hallway for no apparent reason. Even as a fierce battle raged amongst the comments on the video, another heated debate occurred just outside Northern. Cameras flashed, reporters clamoured, students chanted, and megaphones blared. A student protest, led by Max Naylor and Willie Wilson, was underway. Both students launched their campaign to represent the hundreds of student voices that they felt hadn’t been fairly represented.
Northern have never been more uncomfortable in their school than today,” Explains Max Naylor, 16. “Having an officer carrying a sidearm walking in their halls does not send any message but that something illegal or immoral has occurred at the school.”
This division and fear created by the police presence is the last thing students need, Naylor stressed in the interview I had with him. But what about those who say that police in school halls may deter crime?
“Well, of course having a police officer will decrease crime,” replies Naylor. “By that logic, why don’t we have an officer to every student?…Well, we wouldn’t do that because that wouldn’t contribute anything to the school environment but fear.”
Naylor’s argument is a sound one, and many students at Mackenzie may identify with it. In fact, Mac has had its own officer presence at times this year. While many of us at Mac claim that we feel much safer with an officer in the school, we also admit it’s not very comfortable passing one by in the halls. In support of policing the hallways, statistics in favour of SRO’s (Student Relations Officers) are very strong: Schools with SRO’s have seen an irrefutable drop in crime.
What many people are asking, though, is why the incident occurred in the first place. Was it a bad SRO placement? An overly-aggressive officer? A rebellious student? Or a simple misunderstanding? One thing the protesters vow to do is to find that reason, and prevent similar problems in the future.
“We asked in the protest for a public consultation on the issue. Let every stakeholder present their view. Let every student, parent, teacher, SRO, and principal sit down at the same table and ask questions,” Says Naylor. “We have been talking to Trustee Matlow and Superintendent Smith about these things…At some point the ball for meaningful discussion is in their court.”
Meanwhile, even as you read these final lines, the view count of the Youtube video depicting this incident approaches 50,000 views. What we know for sure is that when the ball of this controversial issue comes into the TDSB’s court, there will be no shortage of spectators.
Mixed Reviews on Mixed Schools
Mithula Loganathan
Chris Spence, the Toronto District School Board’s new Education Director recently proposed a “Male Leadership Academy” to target male underachievement. If implemented, the academy would be Toronto’s only gender-specific public school. Spence plans to start this initiative at an elementary level, due to the urgent need for “boy friendly classrooms”. Though many students could benefit from a constant same-sex mentor, and gender-based institutions would provide a certain level of comfort for some students, it is arguable to whether single-sex schools are the route to increasing academic success.
Glenmerry Elementary School (Trail, B.C), recently added a single-sex education program, where grade seven classes were split based on gender. Since the initiative, test score’s of male student’s have noticeably increased. As for the girls, no significant change was observed. Nevertheless, Mac Gregory, chair of the Kootney-Columbia District School Board praised the program, rendering it a great success. While Glenmerry did see improvement in the boys’ academic standings, a handful of schools in the United States have also tried gender-segregated curriculums, only to revert back to the mixed school system.
Fisherville Junior High School (Bathurst and Steeles) gives grade 7 and 8 students the option of gender focused classes, as opposed to a traditional co-ed setting. The program piloted in 2004, with the program description declaring its hopes to “build on students’ strengths and diversity, and to promote the best academic performance for all students”. With this type of separation, another question arises: will this division hinder the students’ ability to interact with the opposite sex?
“Not really”, states Christina Li, former participant in the all-girls class at Fisherville and current grade 12 student at Mackenzie. While Christina found the experience had little affect on her learning progress and almost no effect on her academic results, the gender-focused medium did provide a comfortable environment for “girl talk”. The separation did cause a few of Li’s peers to develop a strong desire for attention from the opposite sex; though other factors may have lead to this as well.
While there is some evidence of single-sex initiatives noticeably affecting the success of students, there is far from enough information to conclude that mixed-sex schools cause academic standings to fall. Regardless gender-focused programs, a rising interest of male-female interactions are to be expected following puberty, but these relations cannot be blamed for poor results in school.
Sleep @ Mac to help HIV/AIDS in Africa
Masha Gorelik
This winter, our grade eleven and twelve students will be given the chance to have a sleepover with William Lyon Mackenzie, and a bunch of their friends right here at Mac!
Participants will have the opportunity to spend a whole night with their friends in the school gym. Sleep @ Mac will be taking place on the night of December 10th, from 7 pm to 7 am, and all grade elevens’s and twelves’s are invited to participate. Why is Mackenzie hosting this event and how much does it cost? The purpose of the sleepover is to raise at least $60 per person for the Stephen Lewis Foundation, which supports community-based organizations that battle against HIV/AIDS in Africa. During the sleepover, Mackenzie students will be rocking out to loud music, chatting with each other and playing video games (can’t forget Guitar Hero!).
“Overall, it was fun. I got to do this guy’s nails bright pink,” said a grade twelve student who attended the event last year, “and we played a lot of rock band. People put benches on those roller-things, sat on them, and pushed them around school. It was fun, but I found that there really wasn’t any ‘raising awareness’ or education during the actual night.”
According to SAC, there will be a guest speaker from the Stephen Lewis Foundation coming before the event for certain grade eleven and twelve home forms. Make sure to take part in this important event that can have a great impact on those suffering in Africa!
Mackenzie and Baycrest—The Perfect Combo
Anamika Ohri
When I look back at grade nine, I remember how scared I was to start high school, a place where I didn’t know many people. There were a lot of questions in my mind. How am I going to get my volunteer hours? How am I going to find my classes? Those, along with all the other questions that come along with the nervous freshman were dancing in my head. Even though I was not successful at getting all my questions answered, I got one of my big questions answered: one way that I was going to complete my volunteer hours. Baycrest!
Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care is a hospital that provides care for the aged. Proudly, Mackenzie has formed a partnership with Baycrest, Baycrest-Mackenzie Liaison. This partnership gives Mackenzie students a chance to volunteer at Baycrest. The committee of Baycrest-Mackenzie Liaison raises awareness for Baycrest not just in the school but also in the community. They help student with the application process, making it easier for them to become volunteers at Baycrest.
Baycrest offers many volunteer opportunities during various events such as Bingo Games, concerts and more. Vlad Popa, one of the execs of the Baycrest-Mackenzie Liaison remembers volunteering at Baycrest. “I was volunteering in the Mountainview/Oceanside club, where we basically take the elderly on trips around Toronto… it’s a lot of fun and I’ve learned a lot from the people there. Several of the elders told me stories about their family and their youth and it was very interesting.”
On the other hand, Tal Milman, the president of the partnership remembers “throwing pizza parties for past and present volunteers.”
The committee of Baycrest-Mackenzie Liaison encourages all Mackenzie students to make use of the partnership, and become involved at Baycrest. For more information, feel free to visit http://www.freewebs.com/baycrest-mackenzie/, or speak with Mme Martin-Jordache or any one from the Baycrest-Mackenzie Liaison.
A Day in the Life of…Head Caretaker Mr. King
Sivani Vijayakumar
This month, you may seen me striding around the school, hands bound in blue gloves, picking up garbage, tidying the cafeteria after lunch, and cleaning door handles. No, I wasn’t crazy…I didn’t lose a bet. I was actually experiencing a day in the life of Mr.King, our head caretaker.
According to the TDSB Caretaking Handbook, “The Head Caretaker is responsible for keeping the school building and grounds clean, attractive, comfortable, healthy and safe, in accordance with current standards and priorities.”
The description is simple enough, but the job isn’t that easy.
Mr. King’s day typically starts off early in the morning, unlocking doors, and turning on all the school’s lights. Inside the caretakers’ office there are about 7-10 logbooks that Mr.King has to fill out—some everyday, some once a month, and some quarterly—documenting school maintenance and safety. These checks may take hours, especially in a school as big as ours. He will also check his email to see if the principal or vice principals have sent requests or instructions, and to handle supply orders.
After the students have left the halls for first period, he then begins to disinfect each door handle and railing. As he makes his way around the school, he occasionally stops briefly to talk to teachers about recent repairs to their classrooms, or to tradesmen working in various areas of the school.
After lunch, Mr.King and his other caretaker staff clean the cafeteria, change garbage and recycling bin bags, clean up the staff room, and sweep the kitchen. While helping him in his daily routine, Mr. King tells me how his schedule is often interrupted, as every few minutes he is paged about a problem around the school. I’ve discovered that all the caretakers are environmentally conscious, trying to do everything they can to keep the school community as green as possible.
When asking Mr.King about his job he said it “comes by experience” and that there are “techniques to everything”. After being put to work to fully experience the life of the head caretaker, I can attest to this. By the end of the day my arms feel like Jell-O, my feet are aching, while Mr. King—despite admitting to being tired as well—seems at ease.
Life’s not easy as the head caretaker of a secondary school, but someone has to do the job. At Mac, that someone is dedicated Mr.King, and we’re lucky to have him.
MacBlogs for You
Grant Goldberg
Blogging. Millions do it. From celebrities such as Ashton Kutcher on Twitter, to CBC’s Rick Mercer on the Google-based self blogging site Blogspot, to the less famous among us, many are putting their thoughts and opinions on politics, sports, entertainment, and life in general out into cyberspace for all to see. Mackenzie students have also joined the trend, such as amateur bloggers Jonathan Li and Daphne Feng.
Jonathan Li is a veteran blogger, blogging his view on sports since he was 14 years old. Now, after three years of blogging, Jonathan has acquired a large fan base that enjoys reading his take on Toronto sports. “My blog is for sports fans who are looking for a unique take”, Li says. He believes that blogging is important because it means readers are “a click away from your opinion, and it really connects everybody. Just look at Twitter, which is a sort of mini-blog. People like that stuff.” Li believes that for a successful blog you need three key ingredients to build readership by having “a memorable title, writing style, and of course, an opinion.”
Daphne Feng is also a veteran blogger whose colourful blog is a forum for photography and art. Daphne’s blog is not about opinion or sports, but about her life as a teen growing up in an ever-changing world. She is targeting “people who like the same type of music I do, people who are interested in things I post. I tag each of my blog entries so people with similar interests can find me through the Tumblr directory.” And she has done a good job of it, as 184 users on her blog server are following her daily and weekly posts of photos, graphics and tidbits of information from the mind of a teen. Daphne says, “If you’re interested in expressing your opinions, hearing other people’s opinions, and meeting new people, then yes, start a blog. And if you have a bit of free time on your hands.”
You can check Daphne’s blog out at http://daphnemarionette.tumblr.com, and Jonathan’s at http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/nblbmtat/213801.
Hot Trends for the Cold Winter Months
Shohi Prajapati
It’s that time of year; temperatures are getting colder and colder, making us wish more and more for the middle of July. But fear not, this winter season’s hot new trends are sure to warm up the bitter cold months.
The Perfecto jacket is like a leather (or, more commonly, faux-leather) motorcycle jacket with an asymmetrical cut, and the zipper off to the side. Military jackets are back too, for both sexes, à la Michael Jackson and Sergeant Pepper.
Designers like Marc Jacobs and Jean Paul Gaultier love ankle boots with heavy metal accessories—too bad for us Canadians that the ice and snow are just around the corner, because these boots have amazing, mile-high heels. Try your best not to fall down.
Bring out your wild side with a hint of tiger, leopard, zebra, and other animal prints. Designers DSquared² and Blumarine have recently showcased leopard on their runways. British celebrities Sienna Miller and Kate Moss have both jumped on this fun style. But like any trend, it doesn’t come without a word of caution; never even consider a full animal print outfit. Limit it to one key piece, and don’t mix two different prints. Do you want to look like your fashion impaired grandmother? One Mackenzie student says that he does not want you to look like his fashion impaired grandmother, either.
As you’ve probably noticed, street fashion is taking a turn for the 80s! So, raid your parents’ closets, and bring out the humongous shoulder pads, the crazy neons, and the leotards—but no mullets. Once again, the eighties theme is subtle, don’t go for a full neon outfit. Retinas will be damaged, and lawsuits will follow.
On the more casual side of things, with the cold comes the perfect opportunity to pair a comfy knit sweater with a great pair of jeans. So, rather than complain about the cold, the snow, and the bitter wind, rejoice over new trends and fashions! Happy pre-, post-, and pretty much all the time Christmas shopping!
Toronto’s Hidden Small-Town
Daphne Feng
In the west end of Toronto lays a small community, west of Yonge Street, bordered by Bloor and Dundas. Streets are lined with small businesses, cafes, and boutiques. I immediately notice a community vibe here—a kind of small town in the big city.
It’s a bit on the windy side today, but many cyclists can still be spotted pedaling alongside traffic. The rectangular flag attached to a streetlight reads “The JUNCTION” – the downtown neighborhood I’m exploring today.
The name comes from the junction of four railway lines built in the 1800’s. As the city of Toronto grew, the former city of West Toronto was annexed, and The Junction was formed.
Home to many Maltese-Canadians, the community is also known as Little Malta. St. Paul the Apostle Maltese church–Toronto’s only Maltese church—was funded and constructed by The Junction’s Maltese-Canadian community in the 1920s.
One place to sample some delicious Mediterranean cuisine is at the Malta Bake Shop. One step inside the restaurant and you’re hit with the smell of fresh baked goods. The servers tell me that pastizzi, a pastry stuffed with ricotta cheese and peas, is the favorite among their customers. Pastizzis are one of Malta’s most popular culinary exports, and they’re extremely delectable, so it’s to easy see why.
To explore the Junction yourself, take the Bloor subway to Dundas West station, and walk north on Dundas street from there. The Malta Bake Shop is located 3256 Dundas Street West, a few steps east of Gilmour avenue.
Toronto Lights up this Holiday Season
Anat Kabanovski
For over 40 years, Toronto has launched the holiday season with a month-long series of free events at Nathan Phillips Square and around Toronto. As one of Canada’s leading festivals, the famous Cavalcade of Lights is a must-see show with an energizing boost to the holiday spirit.
The annual festival kicks off on November 28 at 7:00 pm with the first lighting of Toronto’s official Christmas tree: a real tree over 50 feet tall which will be decorated with over 300,000 LED efficient lights. The show also includes illumination of Nathan Phillips Square with more than 100,000 dazzling lights and a spectacular fireworks display at 8 in the evening, followed by an ice-skating party. The celebration includes live musical performances by numerous performers, including Steven Page, Matt Dusk, Keshia Chante, and Fritz Helder & the Phantoms.
A Fair Trade Market, featuring imported Christmas crafts, clothing, and accessories from around the world, will also be open on November 28 from 2:00pm to 10:00pm.
Mayor David Miller will light the tree on the official kick-off night along with designer David Gluckstein and a lead representative from Scotiabank, the event’s lead sponsor. Also, since this year marks Toronto’s 175th anniversary, everyone who attends the event will receive a holiday postcard with a 175 stamp as a special take home gift.
The Cavalcade of Lights continues Saturday nights throughout December starting at 7:00pm. Beyond Nathan Phillips Square, the festival also features lighting displays throughout several Toronto neighborhoods and tourist attractions. On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, the hop-on-hop-off festival bus travels around participating lit-up neighborhoods, allowing passengers to tour all areas with lighting displays. So, make sure to attend and show off your festive spirit at one of the best and memorable Christmas events in Toronto!
Divided We Stand, the Story of the Berlin Wall
Ellen Asiedu
Berlin. The story of a city—that housed a wall–that divided a country.
The story begins after the end of the Second World War, Germany was split into two regions: West Germany, which was ruled and supported by the Americans, the British and the French, and East Germany, governed by the Soviets. The West thrived with the help of the Americans while the East struggled with Communism. For twenty-eight years Berlin was a city with boundaries as clear as the 11 foot concrete-built, barbed wire-enforced wall that separated aunts from uncles, relative freedom from oppression, and homes from places of work. Guards patrolled the wall day and night, ready to shoot anyone who was trying to escape the to western side. Built in August 1961 to prevent East Germans from migrating to West Germany where there were better jobs and a higher standard of living, the Berlin Wall was an impassable roadblock in the minds and realities of East Germans. Between one hundred and twenty-five and one hundred and ninety-two Germans were killed trying to escape in the years following the construction of the wall.
Fast forward to November 9, 1989, where at a news conference, top East German official Gunter Schabowski mistakenly reports that free, state-supervised travel to the West would be allowed immediately. Border guards at the wall may have been confused as to why the travel ban was lifted, but nonetheless threw open the border gates. It was a beautiful mistake in the eyes of East Germans who flooded the wall, tearing it down with absolute fervour. People chipped and smashed away at the wall, eager to take down the barrier that stood between them and a better life.
A historic moment? Damn straight.
United perhaps, but not everybody is content. Twenty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, many East Germans are unhappy with the way things have turned out. They reminisce about a time when Communism made sure nobody had anything more than the next person and that there was food for all. This might be true, and like any situation, there are the positive aspects and the negative aspects. But in the end, the upsides–the fall of Communism, the unification of a city, the tearing down of an oppressive symbol–outweigh the downsides, which is always a good thing.
As Mr. Nemerofsky, head of Mackenzie’s History Department put it, “It was a huge event, (and) it helped to form the beginnings of the EU (European Union).”
H1N1: Excessive Paranoia
Robby Muff
It seems like the ongoing news is about the H1N1 flu going around. Everywhere you look you can’t escape the “H1N1 Crisis”: the outbreak, people lining up for hours, Health Canada, a shortage of vaccines, people are dying, panic, it’s spreading… The list goes on.
Simply, the public is too scared. The hysteria of this epidemic is way over the top. The media convinces people that this is a virus that is to be feared above all. Like usual, all they’re doing is making something bigger than it is.
The World Health Organization (WHO) sounded the alarms earlier this year.
“It really is all of humanity that is under threat,” Margaret Chan, director-general of the WHO, said April 29 at an emergency meeting in Geneva. She urged nations around the world to activate their pandemic-preparedness plans.
What an over-reaction.
A few weeks later, the WHO reported that the H1N1 strain has caused 60 deaths out of 7,520 confirmed cases. That’s a mortality rate of less than one per cent.
The seasonal flu has a death rate of less than 0.1 percent- it kills 250,000 to 500,000 people globally every year. H1N1’s mortality rate ranges from 0.007 to 0.045 percent. H1N1 is no more lethal than the seasonal flu. Why is there no huge ‘catastrophe’ alert about the regular seasonal flu that comes every year?
When the H1N1 turns into a pandemic on the level of the 1918 Spanish flu that killed 40 million people worldwide, that’s when people should start worrying. Sound the alarm when all of humanity is actually under threat.
Now in Canada, when lines are packed with people and there is a shortage of vaccines, people become terrorized. The media is scaring the people into thinking that this is a crisis at hand because a few people are dying. Public panic caused there to be an underestimation of the number of vaccines needed because everyone rushed to get their shot- all because of the useless media build-up.
We all just got to relax. Let’s face the facts:
– The people who are at high risk are children under five years old, women who are pregnant, and people with chronic conditions. Non-priority people can easily wait a few weeks when more vaccines come in.
– Middle aged and older Canadians already have some immunity to the H1N1 virus.
– More vaccines are coming.
-The H1N1 has killed fewer people over the past six months than the seasonal flu kills every six days.
As usual, you should remember the important tips to keep any flu away: wash your hands often, keep them away from your face, cough and sneeze into your arm, keep common surface areas clean, and stay home if you’re sick.
Maturing Pop Stars? Yeah Right!
Mike Vichnitchkine
The year is 1993. Three future pop stars are performing. Dressed in a dorky shirt, Justin Timberlake, aged 12, belts out the first few lines of “Fools Rush In”. Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears, themselves 12 and 11, respectively, come on stage. They provide backup and cut some ridiculous-looking dance moves. Who would expect that in ten years, Aguilera and Spears would be doing those same dance moves, nearly naked? Who could have said that the little kid with the bowl cut and the tucked-in shirt would ever even learn what sex was, let alone release an album about it? I doubt anybody really expected Spears to come out with a song like “…Baby One More Time” just months before turning 18.
The sugar-sweet goody-goodiness of the Mickey Mouse Club gang reminds me of today’s child stars. The pop stars of 10 years past and those of today, like Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers both exude the same cloying, candy-coated charm. The difference lies in the fact that today’s famous kids seem to be aware of sex. For now, some of them are maintaining a righteous stance toward it. Honestly, though? The Jonas’s abstinence pledges feel like scandals waiting to happen. Cyrus even appears to already be embracing what it really means to be a pop star. Her allegedly “artistic” photo shoot for Vanity Fair had her treading the line between obscenity and art. At the ’09 Teen Choice Awards, she actually did a pole-dance while performing her song, “Party in the U.S.A.”. She’s 16.
If anything, today’s pop stars seem to be ‘maturing’, so to speak, at a faster rate. One Mackenzie student has said that Cyrus is “changing too quickly.” While Spears released her single four years after her stint in the Mickey Mouse Club, Cyrus is still a role model to many young girls. This is just my opinion, but I don’t think that dressing, dancing, and acting provocatively is something that should be taught to every other tween in the country.
Another student provides an alternate perspective: “[Miley is] trying to get out of that demographic, so naturally she’s making more adult choices.” It’s true that Cyrus has to do something to break free of the child star role she’s so far filled. Is the way she’s acting now the right way to do it? Is dating a 20 year old model the right way for her to prove her maturity? Frankly, I think she can do a little better.
Mac’s wrestling team ready to take down the competition
Alex Wiseman
Every fall, wrestling teams from high schools across Ontario begin training hard to bring home the medals. However, you’d be hard-pressed to find a team as dedicated or as exceptionally talented as the one at Mackenzie this year. Although the wrestling team hasn’t played a match yet, they have high hopes for the season and are ready to impress.
Wrestling, one of the oldest martial arts, is a difficult sport to master because it requires both mental and physical intensity. With two great coaches, Mr. O’Brien and Coach Jamie (from the community), they expect to learn a lot and to just keep getting better. And with so many dedicated athletes on the team this year, how could they not?
Boris Spassov, a third year member of the team, spoke about why he thinks they are going to have a great season.
“Our team has been growing over the past couple of years, and veterans of the sport are constantly returning. Not only that, but the new guys are full of potential. It’s guaranteed that the team is going to win a dozen or so medals at our first tournament. I believe that this will be one of Mackenzie’s best seasons yet.”
Boris also pointed out that his team’s greatest strength is how well rounded they are. While they may not necessarily be the best at everything, their strength lies in being good at multiple aspects of the sport.
With that in mind, the first tournament of the year is taking place on November 27th, and the team could use your support. They will be out there competing hard, so be sure to look for opportunities to see your wrestling team in action, giving it their all. Go MAC!
Hotbox Host in the Hot Seat
Kayla Cayabyab
It’s 10 pm on a Tuesday night and I’m channel surfing, trying to find something entertaining to watch. I flip to channel 44, The Comedy Network, and here’s what I see: a swearing weatherman, a guy in an owl suit and several terrible commercials for Honey Nut Cheerios. These are a few of the many skits blended together to make an episode of Hotbox, Canadian comedy at it’s finest. The Lyon was able to talk to the show’s creator, head writer, star and Ontario native, Pat Thornton.
Among many appearances on shows such as Punched Up and The Jon Dore Television Show, Mr. Thornton recently participated in a 24-hour Comedy Stand-Up event for the Stephen Lewis Foundation, aimed to fight AIDS. He confessed to being scared at the beginning and was worried that it wouldn’t be interesting for people to watch. However, with help from several comedian friends he was able to come up with a great set and they “demolished” their fundraising goal.
Hotbox features a mélange of skits and sketches on some of the most random things (a favourite sketch involves a poorly disguised, crime-fighting Lobster superhero). We asked Mr. Thornton where these ideas come from, which he admitted was a difficult question to answer. “I’ve been writing comedy for a long time,” he states, “Once you’ve written everything, your brain is naturally going to write. It starts writing weirder and weirder things.” He also thanked his writing staff for many new and creative ideas. Colin Mochrie, Jon Dore and Sean Cullen are just a few comedians who have been guest stars on Hotbox.
The Lyon asked if Mr. Thornton was inspired by any of his own high school experiences and if any of them influenced his choice to enter comedy. “High school wasn’t the easiest for me” he replied, “I was fat and weird.” He learned that he could make friends by being funny. “I’m still doing that… and now it’s my job.”
He currently resides in Toronto, but many like Canadian comedians (Jim Carrey, Michael J. Fox and Trevor Boris to name a few), he has considered a move to America. “There’s only so far you can go in Canada” he says. His dream goal? “Shoot a TV show here and continue to live in my neighbourhood… but have it play in the States.”
For any of you Mackenzie jokers interested in becoming comedians, Mr. Thornton has some advice. “You need to be willing to do it a lot, for a long time, for no money and no glory, just because you love doing it.” He explained that comedy takes up your whole life. “It’s too hard to do unless you have fun doing it.”
His final words of advice? “Everybody should try to live their lives so they have maximum fun.”
So if you’re bored around 10 pm on a Tuesday night, flip to The Comedy Network to witness Lobsterman (not) fight crime and watch infomercials for Krahpi Sandwiches.
The Lyon 