spyglass — december 2010

8
N o other figure has captured the mind of the public as thoroughly and com- pletely as Santa Claus. It seems that almost every one of us, at some point in our child- hood, will fervently attest to his existence. Inevitably, we all come to the same realiza- tion in the end – that Santa does not ex- ist, those presents under the tree were put there by your sneaky parents, and there’s no such thing as flying reindeer, elves, and a magical toy factory in the North Pole. But are we casting Santa Claus out too soon? Could there be an infinitesimal chance that he actually exists? BY JOYCE TAN Keep the earth green. Please recycle. Brought to you by the RHHS Spyglass Team. HOLIDAY ISSUE TUESDAY DECEMBER 14, 2010 NEWSPAPER.RHHSWEB.COM T he holiday season brings us pine trees, fruitcake, and for some, a few extra pounds. But undoubt- edly, the parts that we eagerly await the most (other than quality family time) are the presents under the tree. Of course, the gifts are only as good as our gift-giving ideas. Without a source of inspiration, we’ll likely resort to some- thing hurried and mundane, such as the money-but-just-in-plastic-form gift card. To help you out, here’s some great ideas for inspiration, and horrible ideas for the laughs. Among the top worst gifts ever received would have to be the one given from a recently hired employee to his boss. Af- ter agonizing over gift ideas, the inex- perienced employee decided to create a homemade certificate stating that a city had been named after his boss, some- where in Asia. Another poor lady received a portable female toilet called the “Whizz Off” for Christmas, along with scented toilet paper. A homeowner was given a farting gnome for their garden, and yet another found a bag of grapes under the tree, complete with a “buy one get one free” sticker. Finally, one man received a set of festive musical boxer shorts, which played Christmas songs when a hidden button was pressed. After browsing through complaints of horrible gifts on the internet, it’s easy to get a general idea as to what not to give. For example, receiving self-improvement products (ex. diet pills, acne creams, etc.) can always be insulting, even if they were given with good intent. In addition, gifts that aren’t thoughtful should always be avoided (ex. giving a meat cookbook to a vegan, cookies to a diabetic, or earrings for someone without their ears pierced). On the other hand, the best gifts are those that are tailored to the receiver, rather than a “one size fits all” gift. For example, a beautiful, almost free gift to give could be a framed version of the receiver’s name, spelled out in photos. Another gift for a loved one could be a handmade “IOU” book with “I owe you” slips of things they’ll enjoy, such as a trip to the mall or the movies. If you’re look- ing for a laugh, a personalized stuffed animal ($70) or bobble head will give your friend a miniature cartoon version of themselves. For technology fans, the Xbox Kinect is sure to be the number one item on their wish list. However, the $140 price tag might make you think twice about giv- ing one. As a more affordable alternative, students can try the Griffin iKaraoke for iPod ($30), which connects to your au- dio system, removes the lead vocals in a song, and lets you be the star. Alterna- tively, a more eco-aware friend would ap- preciate a Sun Jar ($40) that charges in sunlight during the day, and then emits a soft glow at night, similar to having fire- flies in a jar. For friends who love gifts of clothing or beauty, students can consider the Mon- ster Bite hoodies ($30), complete with cute eyes and fangs around the hood. For around the same price, there are also headphone hoodies designed for conve- nience, where the drawstrings are fully functioning headphones. ere’s also the Stila Surprise and Shine, a makeup pal- ette that lets you record a personal mes- sage to your friends, for around $15. Although the process of picking the perfect gift for a loved one may leave you with headaches, you know that by the morning of December 25th, all the worry and anxiety will be worth the smiles you get. After all, those moments are what Christmas is all about. T his is the 21st century we’re living in, folks, and if there’s one thing we’re good at, it’s self-expression. All over the place, people are finding new ways to show off their personality and their indi- viduality, right up there at the top of the list is fashion. In our modern society, there are limitless options when it comes to the wardrobe, giving everybody the ability to personalize their outfits. In fact, the only thing that comes out on top of fashion when it comes to self-expression is our technology: all our iPods, PSPs, laptops, and the omniscient, omnipresent cell phones. Inside these little bits of plastic rest all our favourite songs, movies, games, and so on—everything that defines our tastes. Wouldn’t it be great if we could combine YOU GOT ME WHAT FOR CHRISTMAS? HOW THE HECK DOES HE DO IT? BY EDWARD WANG CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 TECHNO COUTURE BY SIENNA WARECKI CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 Santa’s secrets revealed on page 6.

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The holidays 2010 issue of the Spyglass student newspaper.

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Spyglass — December 2010

No other figure has captured the mind of the public as thoroughly and com-

pletely as Santa Claus. It seems that almost every one of us, at some point in our child-hood, will fervently attest to his existence. Inevitably, we all come to the same realiza-tion in the end – that Santa does not ex-ist, those presents under the tree were put there by your sneaky parents, and there’s no such thing as flying reindeer, elves, and a magical toy factory in the North Pole. But are we casting Santa Claus out too soon? Could there be an infinitesimal chance that he actually exists?

BY JOYCE TAN

Keep the earth green. Please recycle. Brought to you by the RHHS Spyglass Team.

HOLIDAY ISSUETUESDAY

DECEMBER 14, 2010NEWSPAPER.RHHSWEB.COM

The holiday season brings us pine trees, fruitcake, and for some, a few extra pounds. But undoubt-

edly, the parts that we eagerly await the most (other than quality family time) are the presents under the tree. Of course, the gifts are only as good as our gift-giving ideas. Without a source of inspiration, we’ll likely resort to some-

thing hurried and mundane, such as the money-but-just-in-plastic-form gift card. To help you out, here’s some great ideas for inspiration, and horrible ideas for the laughs. Among the top worst gifts ever received would have to be the one given from a recently hired employee to his boss. Af-ter agonizing over gift ideas, the inex-perienced employee decided to create a homemade certificate stating that a city had been named after his boss, some-where in Asia. Another poor lady received a portable female toilet called the “Whizz Off” for Christmas, along with scented toilet paper. A homeowner was given a farting gnome for their garden, and yet another found a bag of grapes under the tree, complete with a “buy one get one free” sticker. Finally, one man received a set of festive musical boxer shorts, which

played Christmas songs when a hidden button was pressed. After browsing through complaints of horrible gifts on the internet, it’s easy to get a general idea as to what not to give. For example, receiving self-improvement products (ex. diet pills, acne creams, etc.) can always be insulting, even if they were given with good intent. In addition, gifts

that aren’t thoughtful should always be avoided (ex. giving a meat cookbook to a vegan, cookies to a diabetic, or earrings for someone without their ears pierced). On the other hand, the best gifts are those that are tailored to the receiver, rather than a “one size fits all” gift. For example, a beautiful, almost free gift to give could be a framed version of the receiver’s name, spelled out in photos. Another gift for a loved one could be a handmade “IOU” book with “I owe you” slips of things they’ll enjoy, such as a trip to the mall or the movies. If you’re look-ing for a laugh, a personalized stuffed animal ($70) or bobble head will give your friend a miniature cartoon version of themselves. For technology fans, the Xbox Kinect is sure to be the number one item on their wish list. However, the $140 price tag

might make you think twice about giv-ing one. As a more affordable alternative, students can try the Griffin iKaraoke for iPod ($30), which connects to your au-dio system, removes the lead vocals in a song, and lets you be the star. Alterna-tively, a more eco-aware friend would ap-preciate a Sun Jar ($40) that charges in sunlight during the day, and then emits a

soft glow at night, similar to having fire-flies in a jar. For friends who love gifts of clothing or beauty, students can consider the Mon-ster Bite hoodies ($30), complete with cute eyes and fangs around the hood. For around the same price, there are also headphone hoodies designed for conve-nience, where the drawstrings are fully functioning headphones. There’s also the Stila Surprise and Shine, a makeup pal-ette that lets you record a personal mes-sage to your friends, for around $15. Although the process of picking the perfect gift for a loved one may leave you with headaches, you know that by the morning of December 25th, all the worry and anxiety will be worth the smiles you get. After all, those moments are what Christmas is all about.

This is the 21st century we’re living in, folks, and if there’s one thing we’re

good at, it’s self-expression. All over the place, people are finding new ways to show off their personality and their indi-viduality, right up there at the top of the list is fashion. In our modern society, there are limitless options when it comes to the wardrobe, giving everybody the ability to personalize their outfits. In fact, the only thing that comes out on top of fashion when it comes to self-expression is our technology: all our iPods, PSPs, laptops, and the omniscient, omnipresent cell phones. Inside these little bits of plastic rest all our favourite songs, movies, games, and so on—everything that defines our tastes. Wouldn’t it be great if we could combine

YOU GOT ME

WHATFOR CHRISTMAS?

HOW THE HECK DOES HE DO IT?BY EDWARD WANG

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

TECHNOCOUTURE

BY SIENNA WARECKI

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Santa’s secrets revealed on page 6.

Page 2: Spyglass — December 2010

BY TAE-HU KIM

“Liberal” arts, from the latin root Liber, meaning “free”, was the term used to describe the educa-tion given to “free” children of

the Roman Empire and other societies during the classical era, distinguishing them from the children of slaves who were mainly taught technical/vocational skills. Ironically, a liberal arts education is nowadays stereotypically viewed as unmarketable, while specialized degrees have been brought into favour.

Liberal arts degrees are usually offered at the undergraduate level, focusing on the development of general knowledge, with subjects such as English, Philosophy,

and other Humanities.

In contrast, spe-cialized degrees

focus on the profes-sional, technical, or vo-

cational. Prospective doctors have to spend quite a while in

graduate school studying medicine, and lawyers spend time in law school, focusing on a specific area of law usually after the first semester. However, special-ized degrees can also focus on mechan-ics, electrical work, and other fields that don’t require as long a tenure at a college or university.

Specialized degrees have the benefit of being marketable while also allow-ing variety within the field. Law stu-dents have various areas of law they can choose to study, physicists can choose to study the world on a macro or mi-cro scale, and engineers can apply their expertise to various areas ranging from electrical engineering to architecture and design. Choosing to focus on a gen-

eral topic area can be beneficial with the right mindset and dedication, allowing prospective freshmen more clarity when choosing universities and a more closely knit environment in terms of the field of study. For instance, music students tend to fit in better at schools like Juilliard than Caltech or MIT.

Furthermore, specialized degrees can be beneficial financially as many spe-cializations require shorter tenures at post-secondary institutions focused on their particular area of study – four year undergraduate degrees can be shortened to three years for some schools in the United States and Canada (although three-year degrees are being phased out in favour of four-year degrees in most universities in Ontario). Those with tight purses may consider a liberal arts education as too much of a luxury com-pared to the expediency of various tech-nical/vocational programs.

However, liberal arts degrees do have

distinct benefits. High school graduates may not necessarily know what they want to become, and making a rushed deci-sion can have disastrous consequences considering the cost of switching majors too late, which usually entails going back to university after graduation to earn another degree. Those with multiple in-terests can take a variety of courses and majors that need not be related for most schools. Liberal arts degrees can also be a stepping-stone for graduate school, with many philosophy and english majors go-ing into law. Emphasizing critical think-ing and a broad, general base for educa-tion, the liberal arts remain an alluring choice to many students interested in a post-secondary education.

While specialized education has broken free of its historical roots, being favoured by various prestigious institutions across North America and abroad, many stu-dents still seek education in the liberal arts for myriad reasons, with many uni-versities that continue to favour and em-phasize generalized education.

vs.

LIBERAL ARTS VS.SPECIALIZED EDUCATION

Find the value of the integra-tion` `int_0^(5)` `int_0^(7)int_0^12` x dx `dyd` `z.`

Some of us would loosely define math-ematics as the beautiful, harmoni-ous relationships between quantity,

structure, space and change. In sharp con-trast, others would view it very differently. To them, higher- level math is all about dealing with conceptually abstract, theo-retically complex issues that render pro-found confusion and frustration that no other subject can ever cause to their young minds. Does this sound familiar to you? Not a surprise. For many years, Richmond Hill High School has offered students an opportunity to deepen their knowledge of mathematics, challenging their intel-lect through a set of courses varying in depth and difficulty. The results of such efforts are interesting—to say the least. The endeavour to master our math skills has ended up putting students into one of the following four categories: students are completely indifferent about math; they detest it greatly; students genuinely enjoy the task of solving intricate mathemati-cal puzzles and equations; or, they have developed a fear of it altogether. What is troublesome is that the number of math-o-phobic students, namely those who have

developed an intense fear of math, is grad-ually increasing. Do not worry—we now have good news to share with you if you happen to be a math-o-phobic. Scientists in Europe have just discovered a technique to take the fear away from your baffled mind.

A group of Scientists at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom claim to have found a new method of curing math-o-phobic through a procedure called the “Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation” (TDCS). The process involves passing an electric current through the brain for only fifteen minutes. Given that electricity helps neurons fire faster, the electric shock would enable students to accumulate and learn information much faster after the procedure. Scientists argue that sending an electric current through the skull into the brain’s parietal lobe, where numbers are processed, would improve one’s ability to excel in mathematics. Don’t get excited yet. The university cautions that their theory would not hold any water until thorough studies and clinical experiments are done. The good news is that Oxford has already started conducting experi-ments on volunteer patients. The results yielded from these trials are even more ex-citing. Every participant demonstrated an

improved ability to perform certain math tasks after a stream of barely perceptible electric current was sent into their brains. Oddly enough, the participants showed that they had retained their remarkably high performance level after returning to the centre six months later for a follow-up, leading the Scientists to further strength-en their belief that they found a way to temporarily increase a person’s capability of solving complex math problems. The results appear to have generated a great deal of excitement among a vast number of high school and university students who are keen on improving their math skills through this electric shock therapy.

As is customary, the success of such a project widens the horizon for concrete possibilities in the near future. Oxford claims that its next goal is to create a new electronic device capable of sending elec-tric current into the brain to significantly enhance one’s number processing skills.

These encouraging findings also open up the possibility that electric current can potentially become the basis for creating cures for other psychological or intellec-tual problems in the future. What is still unknown is the cost of getting such a de-vice when it hits the shelves of the stores across the world. Should it be accessible to all the students, including those whose brains may still be in the delicate process of becoming mature?

While the electric shock technology clearly needs to be further developed and tested before any such treatment can be made available to the public, the find-ings of Oxford offer a sense of real hope to millions of students who shy away from math because of their deep-rooted fear of drowning under the complex puzzles of mathematics. For many of them, Oxford University’s TDCS treatment could quite possibly be the theorem that Pythagorean always wanted to find.

Scientists are studying whether passing an electric current through the head could help students learn better.

Keep the earth green. Please recycle. Brought to you by the RHHS Spyglass Team.

2 \\ HOLIDAY ISSUE

BY RUHAMA QUADIR NOT FOR LONG!Math-o-Phobic?

Page 3: Spyglass — December 2010

Have you always loved to read and to write? Did you pen any-thing as a child?

MacHale: I hated to write when I was a kid. So in school, rather than write reports I would make videos. Of course, I didn’t real-ize that to make the videos I was always writ-ing. So I guess I didn’t hate it as much as I thought I did.

Mass: Yes, I’ve always, always loved to read and to write stories. Reading is fun, writing is hard, but it’s really satisfying too!Kerr: I wrote lots of stories. I started when I was 10. My first story was called The Vanish-ing Airplane.

Horvath: I have always written. I used to play with cans and jars of spice in our kitch-en cabinet when I was about five and make intricate villages and characters and stories. I just hadn’t learned how to print yet. After that, instead of moving cans around I wrote things down.

Dunbar: The writing thing took me by sur-prise, actually… I used to be an illustrator; because I was always good at art, it seemed obvious that this was what I was meant to do. Yet that took me down a bit of a dead end, to be honest; finding a way to express my ideas through words was incredibly lib-erating.

Grant: I’ve always told stories. I don’t think I always wrote. I was, I guess, a creative kid. Always drawing, making things, telling jokes. That led me to Art College to do graphic de-sign. I realized the design side wasn’t my real

forte. I was more an “ideas person.” I went back to university, finished a Bachelor’s de-gree and a teaching certificate and then tried my luck as an advertising copywriter. That led to television scriptwriting which lead to my first novel (The Puppet Wrangler). I guess you could say that I just sort of drifted into writing. That said, I’m very happy my little makeshift raft landed on this particular deserted island.

What has been the best part of writing?

Kerr: The routine.

Zusak: The thing I like most was just those moments when you write a small image or have one thing in the book that you didn’t know you were going to write that day. Those moments make a whole book worth it.

Mass: I had a lot of fun writing Leap Day; it wasn’t as hard as I would have thought. For some reason, it just flowed. Other books have to be put on the page kicking and screaming! In my own life, getting to know other au-thors and realizing that we all struggle with our work have made me feel a lot better.

What inspires your writing?

Dunbar: My mother wrote a bit. She was very talented too, but she didn’t really try to make a go of it. I think in a way I am trying to compensate for what she never managed to do… Then there was Bernard Stone, to whose memory I dedicate Toonhead. He was a wonderful bookseller, small press publisher

and writer, and inspired many people… I am also often inspired by film; my publisher’s al-ways describing my writing as ‘cinematic,’ which I take as a compliment… when I write a scene, I have a very clear mental image, and I want to get that down on paper.

Horvath: I usually have some sort of idea I am interested in when I sit down. Or at least a character or a voice.

Bauer: Each day I look for things that give me joy, challenges I can take on, and people I can share them with. I don’t always find them, but I never stop looking.

What other authors or books do you enjoy?

Horvath: Bill Bryson. I read Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert and I read it four times; I liked it so much. She’s terrific. I read lots of non-fiction. I like Robertson Davies and Louisa May Alcott and Edward Eager and Ann Lamott.

Kerr: Aladdin of course. I like non-fiction. My favourite novel is Great Expectations by Charles Dickens.

Mass: I recently read the book Kiki Strike: Inside the Shadow City by Kirsten Miller. Kiki seems like an interesting person to be!

Do you have any advice for young writers?

Grant: Lots! But it’s all pretty boring. (Most advice probably is.)

1) The first thing you have to do is write… sit down and write every day, or every week-day, or every Saturday – whatever. Don’t be afraid/ashamed if a lot of it is bad… I’ve found that the really bad stuff is closer to the really good stuff than all the boring blah-blah stuff in the middle.2) Exercise. Seriously. I think one of the best things for the brain is a good run around the block. You come back with more energy, less buzzy thoughts just hanging around getting in the way and often some great new ideas.3) Finish what you start… even if that means just bashing out and ending. It might turn out to be complete garbage, wonderful, a great start to something else, or a good les-son on what can go wrong. If you leave it half done, you’ll never know. If you’re like me, you’ll also feel guilty about it. So finish it, put it away for a while and then, when-ever you’re ready, take another look at it. You might be surprised!4) Save TV for a little mindless treat at the end of the day. Television can really say your creative energy. Get your writing done first. Veg out for a while when you’re done.

What advice do you have for young people in general?

Bauer: The best advice I have ever received and can ever give to someone else is that laughter is the best medicine. No matter how dark the situation, if you can find the humour in it, the world gets a little brighter.Horvath: I am a working author, meaning I can make a living from it and that is a huge luxury. I hope you all find something you love to do passionately and get to do your whole life. It is a great blessing.

vs.

The WritePersepctive

THE PUPPET WRANGLER (VOYA “BEST BOOK OF 2004”)

EVERYTHING ON A WAFFLE (NEWBERY HONOR BOOK)

PENDRAGON SERIES (#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER)

A MANGO-SHAPED SPACE (2004 SCHNEIDER FAMILY BOOK AWARD)

PINK CHAMELEON (LONGLISTED, DONCASTER BOOK AWARD)

CHILDREN OF THE LAMP SERIES (NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER)

HOPE WAS HERE (NEWBERY HONOR BOOK)

THE BOOK THIEF (2007 ALA BEST BOOK FOR YOUNG ADULTS)

Dearly beloved – we gather here today to celebrate the life of National Novel Writing Month and commemorate its passing. Although its life was brief, those precious thirty days our friend NaNoWriMo spent among us enriched the Novembers of thousands of peo-

ple, laymen and authors alike. In memoriam, I have asked eight distinguished Young Adult fiction novelists to share with us their eulogies and thoughts on how they keep the spirit of writing alive.

These respective interviews, conducted via e-mail, have been condensed and edited.

Vicki Grant Polly Horvath D. J. MacHale Wendy Mass

Fiona Dunbar Phillip (P.B.) Kerr Joan Bauer Markus Zusak

BY SILKEN CHAN

Keep the earth green. Please recycle. Brought to you by the RHHS Spyglass Team.

HOLIDAY ISSUE // 3

Page 4: Spyglass — December 2010

1. Timmerman 2. Liptop 3. Bolton 4. Shim 5. Axelrod 6. Eschle 7. John 8. Cheng 9. MacKinlay 10. Kennedy

1. This question is delicious!

2. Time will pass, but will you?

3. No sick.

4. I’ve got some juicy questions for

you to chew on.

5. Looking at the world through

rose-coloured glasses.

6. Think easy before you think hard.

7. You miscreants, you ne’er-do-

wells, you jackanapes, you hooli

gans…what do you want from me?

8. Goooooood.

9. If there’s no potential for blood

shed, it’s not a sport; it’s just a

game.

10. (yelling) SPATAFORA!

BY JOYCE TAN

Puzzle

MacKinlayJohn

LiptonTimmerman

BoltonCheng

AxelrodKennedy

ShimEschle

Opt

ions

.

Answers.

MATCH THE TEACHER WITH THEIR FAMOUS SAYINGS!

CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE NEWS

THE HUG SHIRT

THE ORB

DIY HOODIES

TeacherBY TIMOTHY LEE

Keep the earth green. Please recycle. Brought to you by the RHHS Spyglass Team.

4 \\ HOLIDAY ISSUE

them together? If we could stick together stitches and circuit boards and have the end-all be-all of expressing individuality: electronic garments? Look no further. Since the century turned, science has been finding cooler and cooler ways to implement technology in clothing. Here are just a few of the things that are out there at the moment:

DIY HOODIES:

Thanks to a genius piece of circuitry called the LilyPad, built and sold by Ar-duino, we can now custom-engineer our hoodies pretty much however we want. The microcontroller pad interacts with LED lights, speakers, anything. There are people who have taken this little wonder and sewn it into their clothing to make their garments into turn signals for biking, GPS systems, heart monitors, sound systems… you name it. MIT stu-dents salivate over it. For the tech-savvy

Techno-couture: person who’s not afraid of a little DIY, this is definitely something worth looking into.

THE HUG SHIRT:

This particular garment by CuteCircuit was called one of the best inventions of the year back in 2006 by Time magazine, so you know it’s going to be a good one: the Hug Shirt is a garment that enables you to send hugs to people as far as continents away. For real. How does it work? When-ever you feel like sending those warm tin-glies to somebody, you simply wrap your arms around you. The fabric of the shirt measures the strength of the hug and the warmth of the fingertips, connects via Bluetooth to another Hug Shirt, worn by a friend or loved one, and boom! You’ve just sent a long-distance hug.

THE M-DRESS:

Also by CuteCircuit, the M-Dress is a

BY SIENNA WARECKI everything for the modern day fashionista

soft, slick black dress. Sophisticated, com-fortable… oh, and did I mention it’s also a mobile phone? That’s right; the M-Dress (short for Mobile Phone Dress) accepts a standard SIM card, effectively turning it into your cell phone on those days where you just don’t want to bring around a cell phone. When a call comes in, a motion sensor sewn into the dress allows the sim-ple motion of bringing your hand to your ear to open the call. When you’ve finished, bringing your hand back down closes the call.

THE ORB:

Don’t think the M-Dress is cool enough? Well check this out: the ORB, a pretty piece of technology by Hybra, is a cell phone too. Only it’s a ring. The little silver wonder even has a tiny screen that gives you caller ID. When a call comes in, you remove the ring from your finger, twist it, and place the now S-shaped headset onto

your ear. But that’s not all—instead of being a regular old transmitter, the ORB uses the latest in bone conduction tech-nology to let you hear sound. This means that your skull is essentially the speaker; people are talking to you through your bones. If that’s not nifty I don’t know what is.

And that’s only the tip of the electronic iceberg. People have made clothes that tell time, that make different sounds depending on how you move, that light up according to sounds, everything. And they haven’t even started yet. So for all the people out there who have an eye for an outfit and a taste for technology, your time has come. Look out over the com-ing years for sunglasses that give you X-ray vision and running shoes that make you fly. I’m kidding about that last part. Or am I?

For all those dreading the possibility of drinking eggnog this holiday season, try

out wassail as a hearty alternative from our friends over in Western England. Wassail (pronounced wossayl or wossal) is a holiday drink composed of cider and an assortment of spices. But the wassail cannot be con-sidered as just a holiday refreshment. The history of wassailing goes back hundreds of years to the Middle Ages. The term “wassail” comes from the Gaelic phrase “Waes Hael” which means “good health”. The actual tra-dition of wassailing was a ceremony which involved drinking to the health of the apple trees. Apple trees were sprinkled with wassail to ensure a good crop. Farmers would even bring out their shotguns and pots and pans to make incredible noise in order to raise the Sleeping Tree Spirit and to scare off demons. The best and biggest tree was selected to have pieces of toast soaked in wassail and placed in its branches as an offering. Then the group would go door to door singing wassail songs throughout the village which is where the tradition of Christmas carolling comes from. So for this holiday season, be sure to enjoy a cup of wassail with your friends at the party or whilst sitting cozily underneath a blanket on a snowy night. Happy Wassailing!

Ingredients1 gallon apple cider1 orange1 lemon4 cinnamon sticks1 tsp whole cloves1 1/2 tsp allspice1/2 tsp nutmeg

1. Slice up the orange and the lemon into very thin sections, then scatter them around the apple cider, swirling the liquid well.

2. Throw in the cinnamon sticks and cloves, then add the allspice. Let the mixture set for half an hour to allow the spices to diffuse throughout the drink.

3. Then place the liquid over a low flame and heat gradually. Simmer for an hour, then allow to cool for at least 10 minutes. Serve by pouring through a strainer, then top each cup with a bit of nutmeg.

The Tradition of Wassailing

Page 5: Spyglass — December 2010

Capitalistmas $

BY IMELDA LO

How can you not realize that you, as a member of our consumer-driven society, celebrate Capi-

talistmas? Every year, during Christmas break and especially on Boxing Day, do we not celebrate the birth of your God, the market, this season by “shopping till you drop?” Christmas as we celebrate it today is an exuberant display of capitalist productivity and a nonchalant joie de vivre; yet, all of these are labeled as “materialistic” by many individuals, especially of the Christian per-suasion, who see this capitalization and secularization of the yearly holiday as a “war” on the tradi-tional meaning of Christmas. The real meaning of the hol-iday, they say, is as-sorted Nativity tales, and altruism that “no one takes seriously anymore.” However, it is interesting to realize that without its pagan roots and later, the rise of capitalism and populism to cement its position as a popu-lar holiday, Christmas as a holiday would have never existed.

Christmas as we celebrate it today is mostly a 19th century American inven-tion. The freedom and prosperity brought by the post-Civil war society greatly boost-ed the growing nation’s morale and view of the future. As a result, Christmas, which was not an official holiday until 1870, be-came the leading outlet for the positivity of the era. Later, with the advent of the Industrial Revolution and capitalism, the tradition of Christmas shopping and par-tying began. This was when Christmas as a holiday became popular in the West.

Some of the most beloved Christmas

traditions actually have their roots in pa-gan traditions. Partying during Christmas was a leftover of an ancient Indo-Europe-an tradition, the celebration of the winter solstice, known as Yule to the

Germanic tribes, Choimus to the Kalash people of Pakistan, Shab-e Chelleh to the Persians, and Kračún to the pagan Slavs. To the old Indo-Europeans, the winter solstice was a sacred time when the days began to lengthen, indicating the Earth’s return to life. Many Christmas traditions, such as burning logs and decorating ever-green trees, are derived from the winter-solstice celebrations of Indo-European tradition which Europeans, as the direct descendants of this Western Eurasian me-ta-ethnicity, maintained until their subse-quent Christianization. Although the cele-

bration of winter solstice was later merged with the Christian tale of Christ’s birth, the festivity and traditions remained, even though they were suppressed by religious authorities from time to time.

As the old pagan traditions of the Eu-ropeans became eroded by Christian

culture, many sects began to abol-ish Christmas celebrations in

an attempt to wipe out the pagan connection and the

“worldliness” such tra-ditions espoused. The Puritans, for example, in their religious aus-terity, believed that there were better, purer things to do on December 25th than party-ing. Some Prot-estants even con-demned Christmas celebration as “rags

of the Beast (Sa-tan).” Before soon,

Christmas was not celebrated; rather, it

was merely observed as Christ’s birthday. As Cot-

ton Mather, an 18th century clergyman put it: “Can you in

your consciences think that our Holy Savior is honored by mirth?

Shall it be said that at the birth of our Savior…we take time…to do actions that have much more of hell than of heaven in them?”

Then came industrialization, urbaniza-tion, and major scientific breakthroughs, all resulting from the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century, leading to easier meth-ods of transportation, widespread publica-tion of books and magazines, development of creature comforts, and efficient mail de-livery. Of course, with that came the rise of entrepreneurs who understood that the way to make profits was to produce some-thing that could be sold to a mass market. As a result, for the first time, gift-giving was promoted as a major feature of Christ-mas. Early Christians, such as the Puritans, had denounced it as a “pagan practice,” but thanks to capitalism and the growing middle class, there was now enough wealth to make gift-giving possible. Santa Claus, as popularized by poet Clement Clarke Moore, became the de facto mascot of the holiday and soon replaced Christ as the central figure of the celebration. The fo-cus of the celebration no longer centered on religion and self-sacrifice. Pagan tradi-tions such as carols, decorations, and trees were then revived and greatly amplified by American capitalist culture as the product of reason, science, business and egoism, or just simply, the pursuit of worldly happi-ness and affirmation of life.

People can claim that the original intent of Christmas was to celebrate the birth of Christ, but the truth remains that the cel-ebration of Christmas itself is and always has been an amalgamation of secular, re-ligious, and plain marketing skills that happened to capture the attention of the masses.

BY QIAN SHI

By now, most of us are privy to the ever-changing, always-tumultuous

details of life, which seem to revolve around seasonal changes. Spring signals us to clean out our closets, summer cues us into hours of tanning and beach-side fun, while the autumn months shake us back into gear, as we (in vain) promise ourselves a school year of overachieve-ments and hard work. Yet, as the fore-cast shifts from sunny days to snowy roads and cloudy skies, certain people are confronted with a syndrome, called Seasonal Affective Disorder syndrome (S.A.D syndrome). Instead of the ge-neric snowman-themed holiday fanta-sies filling the void summer left behind, certain individuals will succumb to feel-ings of overwhelming depression, sleep problems, and eating disorders; so much for holiday cheer, right?

Animals, including humans, suffer from this occurrence; people living farther

away from the Equator are most com-monly affected, as well as women and adolescents. Symptoms usually occur from September to April. However, be-fore declaring yourself plagued by S.A.D syndrome, keep in mind that there is, in fact, a difference between feeling under the weather, S.A.D syndrome, and de-pression. S.A.D syndrome victims will tend to always feel sleepy and run-down (despite over-sleeping), overeating and indulge in carbs, become apathetic and irritable, feel lethargic, suffer from joint pain, behavioral problems, as well as depression, anxiety, misery, helplessness and that all-around feeling of brooding, pseudo-poetic melancholy. So, if you’re devastated because you lost your favou-rite silly-band, try not to misinterpret your tragic loss as S.A.D syndrome. This advice is also applied to individuals who suspect that they may actually be suffer-ing from depressing year-round; such suspicions should be reported to your doctor immediately.

CONTINUED ON P 6

THE UPS & (MOSTLY) DOWNS OF THE

Winter Blues

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HOLIDAY ISSUE // 5

Page 6: Spyglass — December 2010

HOLIDAY CHEER:

THE UPS AND DOWNS OF WINTER BLUES

BY QIAN SHI

6 \\ HOLIDAY ISSUE

to stop producing this melatonin. But on dull winter days, especially indoors, not enough light is received to trigger this waking up process. Light is also linked to serotonin, a neurotransmitter in the brain. One’s serotonin levels decrease when there is a lack of sunlight; the lack of serotonin in one’s system ultimately causes depres-sion. For this intimidating illness, there is but one cure - make sure to spend time outdoors with good, old Mr. Sun daily. Visiting a brightly-lit climate for thirty minutes a day should alleviate symptoms. In fact, any kind of like is sufficient to rid oneself of symptoms. Simply watch TV for a while, visit a well-lit mall, or partake in nonchalantly browsing through a lamp store. However, if you think you are suffer-ing from S.A.D, contact your doctor for advice, before trying to miraculously cure

The first nail in Santa’s coffin would be the immense logistical and temporal is-sues that surround his annual journey every Christmas Eve. There are about 2 billion children (individuals under 18) in the world. Assuming that only 40% of these children actually know who Santa is, Santa’s workload shrinks down to only 800 million children. If half of these children have been naughty vs. nice, Santa has to deliver presents to only 400 million chil-dren. If we also assume that every house-hold had an average of two children, Santa has to make 200 million stops to get all his presents to the children on time. Since Santa would logically take a route from east to west, Santa has 31 hours of Christ-mas to deliver thanks to the various time zones he passes and the rotation of the Earth. This means that he needs to make 1792.11 visits per second. He has less than 1/1000th of a second to park, hop out of the sleigh, jump down the chimney, fill the stockings, distribute the remaining pres-ents under the tree, eat whatever snacks have been left, get back up the chimney, get back into the sleigh and move on to the next house. Not to mention that he would accumulate over 1.006*1011 calories from all the cookies and milk that children leave out for him (which would explain his heft-iness). The distance that Santa has to travel would be astronomical, over 100 million miles in just 31 hours not counting bath-room breaks and stops for food. He would have to travel at least 896 miles per second, over 4300 times the speed of sound. For purposes of comparison, the fastest man-

made vehicle on earth, the Thrust SSC moves at a turtle-paced 0.21 miles per second - a conventional reindeer can run,

tops, 15 miles per hour. The mass of Santa’s sleigh is another in-teresting subject to consider. If the average

mass of one standard toy is assumed to be 1 kg, Santa’s sleigh would have to be able to carry at least 400 million kilograms, not

counting Santa (who is overweight him-self ). A conventional reindeer can pull no more than 160 kg on land and granted that

a “flying reindeer” could pull ten times the amount, at least 250000 reindeer would be required instead of the usual 9. This gigantic mass travelling through the air at 896 miles per second will no doubt cre-ate massive air resistance. It will heat up in the same way that a spacecraft re-entering Earth’s atmosphere will. The lead pair of reindeer will absorb more than 14 quintil-lion joules of energy. This first pair of rein-deer will combust instantaneously into flame, exposing the reindeer behind them which will explode in turn, leading into a chain reaction of combusting reindeer and eventually Santa himself. Santa will meet this fiery end only if he manages to survive the 4300000 pounds of force pinning him to the back of his seat when he accelerates. To explain how Santa manages to get around the whole exploding in the atmo-sphere problem, respected scientist Knut Jørgen Røed Oedegaard postulates: “Santa obviously has an ion-shield of charged particles, held together by a mag-netic field, surrounding his entire sleigh. This is how he solves the heat problem. There are many meteor showers in De-cember. Many astrophysicists, including apparently serious ‘celebrity’ astrophysi-cists, maintain that these lights in the sky are the result of dust particles that burn up as they enter our atmosphere. But this is nonsense, because they ignore the truth: That the lights are the result of Santa Claus moving out of and into the atmosphere as he travels around the globe delivering Christmas presents!”

Ion-shield indeed.

The winter blues certainly sound formi-dable, but why doesn’t S.A.D syndrome occur during the summer? Well, with the flip-flops and sunscreen that come with summertime, is plenty of sunlight- some-thing that the cold season lacks. The de-crease in sunlight during the cold season affect’s ones brain chemistry; although, it is unclear why some individuals suffer from S.A.D syndrome, while others are unaffected by the decrease of sunlight. Nerve centres in our brain controlling our daily rhythms and moods are stimulated by the amount of light entering the eyes. As night falls, the pineal gland starts to produce a substance called melatonin that tells our body clock it’s night time; bright light at daybreak is the signal for the gland

yourself. As the frigid Canadian weather starts to roll in, you may feel the need to con-template life alone, in a dark room, while strumming a sad tune on your guitar. You may feel the need to try your hand at mel-ancholy poetry, and perhaps paint your walls black. All-in-all, you shouldn’t be too concerned about how the cold season is unearthing your double-identity as a mis-understood poetic. But, if your cravings for Edgar Allen Poe turn into cravings for carbs; if your habit of brooding too much turns into a habit of sleeping too much; if a sudden sensation of lethargy inhibits you from contemplating the meaning of life from your bedroom window- you may be afflicted by S.A.D. syndrome. If so, seek help immediately, and work towards get-ting back to normal - whoever you are, whatever your normal is.

BY EDWARD WANGHOW THE HECK DOES HE DO IT?

Santa ClausCONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE NEWS

CONTINUED FROM P 5

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Page 7: Spyglass — December 2010

Take on a two-week creative project and express yourself! Try painting your room, creating a work of art, or making a video; it will feel great doing something for yourself and actually finishing it.

Make a gingerbread house or bake cookies from scratch with friends, or help make the Christmas dinner; it makes it just that much more satisfying when you finally get to eat what you make.

HOLIDAY ISSUE // 7

With all the food you’ll be eating over the Christmas season, it would be a good idea to balance it out with some physical activi-ty; set a new health regimen that you enjoy and stick to it. Whether this means going to the gym, skiing, snowboarding, danc-ing, or taking up yoga, just do it! The holidays are a great time to make some extra cash or to catch up on homework or assignments you may have been falling be-hind on. Use this time effectively, but make sure you also spend some time for your-self so you don’t burn out.

Things to Do Over the BreakBY DERAKHSHAN QURBAN-ALI

The Winter Break is almost here! Something that both students and teachers alike look forward to for months, the break gives everyone a chance to recharge, re-lax, and have a great time. Many flock south to destinations such as Mexico or Cuba in an attempt to escape the cold, but for those of us who are not as lucky, this article is for you! Most of us are cash-strapped in the Christmas season, but there are tons of inexpensive or entirely free activities throughout the season. Winter-time in Toronto, or even at home in Richmond Hill, can be an amazing experience with plenty of ways to enjoy yourself.

For those who don’t mind venturing out into the cold, a relatively short VIVA ride

and a few subway stops are all that stand in the way of you and an incredible time in downtown Toronto! Toronto is one of the largest cultural

centres in all of Canada, so you should take ad-vantage of all the events and activities offered

right next door to Richmond Hill. A few things you may want to try in the big

city may include:

Have a hot chocolate in The Distill-ery District: Warm yourself up with a steaming cup of authentic hot choco-late, as you stroll in one of Toronto’s most unique neighbourhoods. The Distillery District is a charming, artsy, pedestrian-only village with cobblestone streets and dozens of vibrantly restored Victorian Industrial buildings. There are tons of ways to entertain yourself with live theatres, galleries, fashion, design and jewellery boutiques, unique cafes and restaurants. It is definitely worth a visit.

http://img4.myrecipes.com

New Years Eve Celebrations and Con-certs: Start the New Year with a bang at CityTV’s ‘New Years Bash’ at Nathan Phillips Square, or other various New Year’s celebrations throughout the city. With great live concerts and festivities, Toronto’s New Years Bash is sure to be an extraordinary night full of great mu-sic and fun.

http://wegowego.com

ON THE OTHER HAND, IF YOU WOULD PREFER TO STAY CLOSER TO HOME, THERE ARE A VARIETY OF OTHER WAYS TO ENJOY YOUR BREAK:

SO DON’T

SPEND THE ENTIRE BREAK IN

BED; TRY SOMETHING NEW, ENJOY YOUR-

SELF, AND COME BACK TO SCHOOL REFRESHED,

ENERGIZED AND READY TO TACKLE EXAMS!

The winter break is a great time to spend with your fam-ily and friends, or the people closest to you; eating tons of junk food while watching a movie mara-thon of your fa-vourite films or T.V.

shows is a great way to spend time together. Simplicity is the

key here; having some hot chocolate and soup from a local Tim Horton’s with those you care about is a won-derful (though often undervalued) way to spend a cold afternoon.

With so much to do before the break ends, you might feel overwhelmed and

stressed. In order to avoid burnout before exams, make sure you sched-ule out some time for yourself and do what you love best. Whether this is reading a good book, tak-ing a hot bath, playing Black Ops, or just sleeping in until late

afternoon, it is im-portant you

set aside some

time for your-

self.

source:http://www.jupiterimages.com

With the holiday season in full

gear, there is no better time to give back to your community.

Donate to food banks and volunteer at your local soup kitchen; giving is one

of the most rewarding experiences you will have over the

break.

GIVEGET ACTIVE

GET WORKING

SPEND TIME WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS

TAKE TIME OUT FOR YOUR-SELF

SOURCE:INHABITAT.COM

Free Ice Skating at Nathan Phillips Square: Love to skate? Located by To-ronto’s city hall, Nathan Phillips Square is a great way to spend time with friends or family for free. Skate rentals, indoor change rooms and snack bars are on-site, and the rink is open to the public.

http://media-2.web.britannica.com

The Trail of Lights at Downsview Park: A newer holiday event in Toronto, this event features a giant park and event space in North York decorated with LED light displays that line a three kilometre gravel and asphalt trail. You can come and view the spectacle either through a vehicle tour or by foot; there are desig-nated nights for the pedestrian walking trail, which sets a lovely backdrop for an evening with friends or partners. The unique atmosphere is something you won’t want to miss.

http://attractions.uptake.com

GET IN THE KITCHENGET CREATIVE

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Page 8: Spyglass — December 2010

Keep the earth green. Please recycle. Brought to you by the RHHS Spyglass Team.

E-mail us at [email protected]. Or visit us on Facebook: RHHS Spyglass group.

HOLIDAY ISSUE // 8

EASY MEDIUM HARD

websudoku.com

Crossword Puzzle

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QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? SUGGESTIONS?HELP US IMPROVE

by david fisher

DOWN

ACROSS1. Worst place in a race5. Computer in “2001:A Space Odyssey”8. Play parts12. All over again13. Sense of self14. At no cost15. Causes worry17. Touched18. Enthusiasm19. Rips off21. 70s rock bandwith lots of makeup24. 10th mo.25. Pigeon call28. One’s possible power32. Ugly creatures in LOTR34. Pod ingredient35. Shoe part

1. __ Vegas2. 1998 animated film3. Bone-dry4. Fine-tune5. “For ____ a jollygood fellow”6. “Act your ___!”7. Opposite of profit8. Influences9. What Genesis is all about10. Confess11. Arranges16. Lose one’s footing20. Big load22. Soaks (up)23. T-bone or rib, e.g.25. Bamboozle26. What’s in a mine27. Special time

36. Essential39. Aka, WWW (with “the”)40. Woodcutter41. Comprehend43. Adds to ascrapbook, say46. Show boredom49. Shallowest Great Lake50. It’s coming soon54. Donnybrook55. Gator__56. Close friend57. Provides withworkers58. Human-likemachine, for short59. Went too fast

29. Make, as money30. Beer31. Allow33. Groups of six37. Observe38. Toy that has itsups and downs42. Uses a microwave43. Grandma’s hairdo,probably44. Highlight of an opera45. Plunge a knife in47. Prepare a gift48. Do, for example51. Star Trek DS9shapeshifter52. Ran into53. Tie the knot

CAN YOU SPOT 10 DIFFERENCES?

PHOTO BY JASON LAU

ANSWERS ON PG 6

THE NEXT ISSUE OF THE SPYGLASS WILL BE OUT IN FEBRUARY. THANKS FOR READING!