Coke Vs. Pepsi – Which Is Better?
By: Angela Ho, Grade 9
Have you ever wandered through the drink aisle in the supermarket, wondering what the difference is between a can of
Coke or Pepsi? Being a fan of neither of the sodas, I don’t see the difference.
Coke or Coca-Cola was invented in a drugstore in 1885 by John Pemberton. It was originally called “Pemberton’s French Wine Cola”. Coca-Cola was initially sold as a medicine, and was popular in the United States due to the belief that carbonated water was good for health.
First known as “Brad’s Drink” in 1898, Pepsi gained popularity during the Great Depression, after the introduction of the 12 ounce bottle. Prior to the release, the Pepsi-Cola Company entered bankruptcy twice.
HOPENHAGEN? OR BROKENHAGEN?
By: Puneet Riar, Grade 12
“I come here today not to talk, but to act”. These were the words of President Obama on December 18th at the Copenhagen Summit on Climate Change, yet it seemed the climate change circus - sorry, summit – running from December 7-18, was dominated by talk.
After two weeks of hectic disagreements and negotiations, the curtains fell on the $225+ million conference on December 18th with a less than ideal, US-led deal that proposed that actions should be taken to keep any temperature increases below 2°C. Additionally, the resolution called for developed and developing countries to cut emissions; countries would set their own targets and the deal would not be legally binding. This agreement also included aims to create a financial mechanism that would be able to provide $100US billion every year to the developing countries by the year 2020. The accord, as of now, is only a draft and has to be adopted by consensus by the 193 members of the UNFCCC to come into effect. If adopted, it will form the mandate to continue the negotiating process into next year and finalise a legally-binding international treaty – something that was originally planned to happen in Copenhagen itself.
Girls in Senegal = Vulnerable Victims
By: Cassandra Ly, Grade 11
There is no doubt that being a Canadian girl is one of the most fortunate roles to have in society today. Why would that be you ask? We are currently living in a world of conflict and environmental disaster; a world lacking in proper medical aid and equality between the sexes. You then realize that girls are living wonderfully here. However, I’m not talking about the lives of girls in Canada, but those living in developing countries. The experiences of these young girls are horrific and unimaginable. All this time, has there really been true equality in regards to women rights? I feel ashamed not being able to stop these cruel actions that are inflicted on girls the same age as me, nightmarish torture that strips them of their freedom and integrity. Don’t you?
One Small Step for Man, One Giant Leap to What?
By: Brendan Chan, Grade 11
Far away from our beloved Earth is a system that people have always dreamed of touching. It is a world deep with mysteries, and secrets. I’m talking about our solar system; more specifically, the moon. It began as a competition between the U.S. and the Soviets to win the Space Race. In other words, it was a race to be the first to reach the moon. Many believed during this time whoever was first to reach the moon would win the Cold War as well. By 1957, the Soviets were already one step ahead with their satellite. Believe it or not, but U.S. media had to tell the frightened citizens that the satellite in space couldn’t drop nuclear bombs from that altitude. People were scared, and they needed to be cheered up, and that’s exactly where Neil Armstrong’s landing on the moon came in. Now I ask: was it all a hoax?
Survey – What did you do?
By Jenny Ho, Grade 11 & Tammy Lee, Grade 10
What did you do during the winter holiday?
- Lots of eating, lots of sleeping, and lots of video games! …No studying whatsoever J – Veronica De Villa, Grade 10
- I didn’t do much. I ate, slept, played games, and went out. – Jason Yee, Grade 11
- I was sick, but got to spend time with family and friends. Wish it snowed. – Brett Wong, Grade 12
- I partied with my family, and at my friend’s house, as well as eating out. – Rosalina Chu, Grade 10
Did you make a New Year’s Resolution?
- My New Year’s resolution is to start paying attention in social studies and math class. – Mike Chen, Grade 10
- Nope! Too lazy to keep any even if I actually made one. – Cynthia Mo, Grade 11
- Uhhh… to graduate! – Anonymous, Grade 12
- Yes, to focus more in school. – Anonymous, Grade 12
- My resolutions are to stay fit, and read more leadership books! – Shaelynn Leung, Grade 9
- Nope, I didn’t make a new year’s resolution because I’ll probably end up forgetting it =) – Stephanie Nguyen, Grade 10
The Highway of Tears
By: Ruhi Sharma, Grade 8
Is hitch-hiking a good way to get around? Certainly not in the twentieth centaury. The Highway of Tears is another name for Highway 16, which is located in between Prince George and Prince Rupert. Over a period of more than 40 years, many women have been found slain along Highway 16 where most of them were hitch-hiking. Their deaths have left a trail of bloody marks along that general area. Twenty-three deaths have been reported near the highway, while eight women are still missing. The women whose bodies have been found had met a brutal end to their lives after being assaulted and left to bleed to death. Their frantic family members had looked everywhere for them in hopes that they might be alive, but to no avail. Some parents who knew that their daughters might take some days to get home, waited, but days stretched into years of silence. The RCMP has been investigating all of these cases for a possible connection. They still haven’t found the perpetrator responsible for the murders of the innocent women. The list of all these girls are available on vancouversun.com. Hitch-hiking is dangerous, an example being the many girls that have met their end on the Highway of Tears.
The Poor State Of Music Today
By: Mitchell Agostinho, Grade 12
We always see the movies that are successfully made. We see them because in the end they make it from the writer’s mind to the screen. But what about those movies that don’t quite make it in the end. Nine is about those kinds of movies. Nine is a drama/musical about director Guido Contini played by Daniel Day Lewis (in another Oscar worthy performance) trying to put together his ninth film which he calls “Italia”. The movie was adapted from the Broadway play of the same name which came from the book called “8 1/2.” This movie wasn’t bad but wasn’t the show I thought it would be.
The cast is full of super stars. Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penélope Cruz, and Judi Dench all give wonderful performances in the complex roles they’ve taken on. While Fergie, Kate Hudson, Nicole Kidman, and Sophia Loren give great support through out. Did you notice the gender ratio of the cast: 1: 7. The movie is basically the man and the women in his life. It covers all his relationships; from his mom to his childhood prostitute. We really see the influence they have on him through his life and why he is the way he is.
January’s Warrior of the Month
By: Emily Chan, Grade 11 & Puneet Riar, Grade 12
Drumroll please! Presenting… January’s warrior of the month, Cinzia Barucci!
First of all Cinzia, congrats on becoming warrior of the month! How does it feel?
I’m really excited to be the Warrior of the Month. I really didn’t think I would ever be Warrior of the Month but I guess people actually like me.
I like you! Hahaha! Why do you think you were nominated?
I really don’t know why I was nominated. It was probably by mistake. LOL.
No! I’m sure it’s wasn’t a mistake! What are you involved in, in school? Anything outside of school?
Well, I do WCP and Prevention Education.
Canucks Update
By: Jasmin Gadey, Grade 8
The Canucks are just over the halfway mark of the 2009-2010 season, and have a record of 25-16-1. Their only overtime loss happened recently on their four game road trip where they picked up seven of eight possible points. Now that they have 51 points, they are extremely close to Calgary and Colorado in the Division standings. Also, the Canucks are now in the mix for a playoff spot, currently placing in and around the seventh spot. The Canucks have been getting quite a few wins lately; they actually went 10-4-1 in the month of December and picked up a win on their first game in 2010 as well. The Canucks are definitely on a hot streak with Henrik Sedin getting points almost every game, it’s no wonder he’s tied for first for having the most points in the NHL. It’s amazing; our team seems to be getting stronger every game we play. In addition, we have 9 home games to play this month, and hopefully we play well in those games and take advantage of being at home. If you’ve been watching some of our home games lately, then you’ve probably seen the “Green Guys” behind the opposing team’s penalty box, I hope we’ll see them in the upcoming home games as well!
Blood Diamonds
By: Valerie Wong, Grade 11
Deriving from the Greek word adámas which means unbreakable, diamonds are the hardest natural substance in the 
world. Not only do they hold much use for industrial purposes (ex. Diamond coating), but they are also beautiful gemstones. People save up for months to buy the perfect diamonds with perfect cut, colour and clarity. As we empty our wallets, we don’t know whose lives were lost in order to harvest our gemstones.
There is blood on our fingers, blood on our necks. Blood trickles from our wrists, and blood drips from our earlobes. It’s ridiculous how we, in developed countries, sit almost completely unaware of the blood that was shed for the diamonds we wear so casually. The term ‘blood diamond’ refers to the diamonds mined and their profit used in war; in funding warfare by purchasing diamonds. Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe currently hold high place in the world’s top diamond suppliers.
Movie Review- The Twilight Saga: New Moon
By Jenny Ho, Grade 11
The second installment in the Twilight Saga, New Moon, was one of the most highly publicized movies in 2009. Vancouver was the heart of all the fandom, as most of it was actually filmed in our own city. The movie, based on the novel by Stephenie Meyer, was nowhere near as great as it was claimed to be.
For those who have read New Moon, there are no surprises. It starts off on the eighteenth birthday of heroine, Bella Swan. Her boyfriend’s (Edward) family, the sparkling Cullens, throw a birthday bash for Bella. After a paper cut turns into a near massacre (when Jasper nearly attacks Bella, because he cannot resist the scent of her blood), the Cullen’s decide to leave Forks. After months of heartbreak and depression, Bella starts to hang out with her (werewolf) friend, Jacob Black, in La Push. Through a series of events, Bella discovers that if she engages in dangerous activities, she will “see” Edward. The rest of the movie is essentially based on Edward’s attempted suicide in Italy. Alice rushes Bella to Italy just in time, and she meets the Volturi for the very first time.
High School Students Raising Issues – C3
By Hassan Haque, Grade 12
On Friday December 11th, 2009, dedicated Windermere Secondary Students organized and hosted a youth driven Climate Change Conference – C3 – to raise awareness and educate youth across the lower mainland about the escalating problem of climate change. The conference was attended by over 270 keen participants; students from schools across the Lower Mainland.
The amazing event ran from 8:30 in the morning to 2:30PM. It was kicked off with an exciting Q&A video-correspondence (via Skype) with wonderful members of the Canadian Youth Delegation attending the climate conference in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Nine – Movie Review
By: Mitchell Agostinho, Grade 12
We always see the movies that are successfully made. We see them because in the end they make it from the writer’s mind to the screen. But what about those movies that don’t quite make it in the end. Nine is about those kinds of movies. Nine is a drama/musical about director Guido Contini played by Daniel Day Lewis (in another Oscar worthy performance) trying to put together his ninth film which he calls “Italia”. The movie was adapted from the Broadway play of the same name which came from the book called “8 1/2.” This movie wasn’t bad but wasn’t the show I thought it would be.
The cast is full of super stars. Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penélope Cruz, and Judi Dench all give wonderful performances in the complex roles they’ve taken on. While Fergie, Kate Hudson, Nicole Kidman, and Sophia Loren give great support through out. Did you notice the gender ratio of the cast: 1: 7. The movie is basically the man and the women in his life. It covers all his relationships; from his mom to his childhood prostitute. We really see the influence they have on him through his life and why he is the way he is.
Watch what you do. Someone else is…
By: Emily Chan, Grade 11
Imagine yourself walking in the streets, when all of a sudden you see a cat sitting in the middle of the road. You walk up to it, while calling out, “Here, kitty-kitty! Come here, let me pet you.” The cat stays there, which you think is peculiar. As your feet slowly tiptoe closer and closer to the cat, your eyes widen in surprise. It’s not a cat sitting there in the middle of the road. It’s a garbage bag! Embarrassing, huh? In your mortification, you look around to see if anyone saw your humiliating assumption. You exhale in relief, glad that no one caught you in a moment such as this.
Unfortunately, you could be wrong. In all seriousness, did you know that around 40 – 60 security cameras will be set up in the city during the 2010 Olympics? They’re meant to monitor crowds during the games. Although they’re considered to be temporary, there are no promises that these cameras will be taken down after the Olympics are finished. In fact, William Dunn, an author, claims that, “once [closed circuit television cameras] are installed, they beg for expansion.” He further states, “[The UK] has been forced to add more cameras that will continue to cover increasingly wider areas.” His point is that it’ll be difficult to get rid of these cameras once they’re introduced to society. Our reliance on these systems will prompt us to set up permanent service networks. This is exactly what happened at the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004.
2010 Olympics: Women Still Can’t Jump
By: Kaitlyn Fung, Grade 9
With the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games coming soon to Vancouver, many talented athletes from around the world eagerly wait for their chance to shine. From February 12-28, amateur athletes will be able to show off their skills while competing for gold. At the same time, as the media covers each of the competitions, some athletes will be able to gain good exposure. In the duration of seventeen days, figure skating, ice hockey, snowboarding, and freestyle skiing are just a few of the exciting events taking place during the Games.
Backstage, there is a massive and meticulous amount of preparation in order for our city to be able to host the Games. This includes choosing and building venues, providing accommodations for the athletes, distributing advertisements and merchandise, and determining which sports will be part of the Games. Additionally, not unlike many of the Olympics in the past, there is a fair level of controversy about the Games to be dealt with.
Lemon Poppy Seed Bread Recipe
Ingredients:
3 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup (60 ml) milk
1 1/2 cups (210 grams) all-purposeflour, sifted
3/4 cup (150 grams) granulated whitesugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest (outer yellow skin of the lemon)
3 tablespoons (30 grams) poppy seeds
13 tablespoons (184 grams) unsaltedbutter, softened
Lemon Syrup:
1/4 cup (60 ml) fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup (65 grams) granulated white sugar
January Horoscopes
Aries – Did you get the gifts you wanted this year? Make sure that you let the sender know how grateful you are by giving them a big hug.
Taurus – The winter may be menacing, but stay away from hot chocolate, tea or coffee by all means; unless prepared by somebody else. Heed this warning or you will be sorry.
Gemini – White is the colour of snow, but you will be fed up with this frozen mass of water by the end of the month. Don’t worry, when spring comes, it’ll all melt away.
Cancer – it’s flu season, so wash your hands and stay away from sick people. You don’t want to be stuck in bed during your super important midterm, do you?
