October Horoscopes

Aries     Cool your jets. Something in your near future is going to anger you somehow. Just look forward to the end of the month and relax!

Taurus You’re going to have a very lucky October this year. Be confident and you’ll be very successful this month.

 Gemini   Get some rest this month; September must have been tiring for you. Make sure to sleep induring I-Block, unless you have tutorials.

Cancer  Watch your step, and don’t trip on pumpkins. Especially watch out for Jack-o-lanterns that are frowning, they will spell trouble.

Leo  You are in good favour with the stars this month. Make sure that you pick up that coin, bill or million dollar cheque on the sidewalk.

Virgo You’ll catch yourself procrastinating this month. Pick up the pace or you will be left behind, and remember that procrastination is a nasty habit.

Hallowe’en

By: Kaitlyn Fung, Grade 9

Hallowe’en is older than you think. The holiday originates in the 10th century, but back then it was known as All Saints’ Day, or All Hallows Day. All Souls’ Day (a day to pray for the dead) and Samhain (a Celtic festival meaning ’summer’s end’) are also believed to be where Hallowe’en originates. Although for most people it’s a fun night where kids can score some free candy and dress up. So what are you going to dress up as this year?

Sonali Saxena, Grade 8- Something extreme. What’s extreme?
Kaitlyn- I don’t know. What do you think?
Sonali- A serial killer.

You Know What Grinds My Gears?

By: Jenny Ho, Grade 11

You know what really grinds me gears? Overhyped and over commercialized holidays.

When I walked into Superstore in August, I saw boxes of assorted Halloween candy on sale already. Or maybe you’ve seen Christmas decorations go up for sale as early as October, and Valentine’s Day paraphernalia in January. Is this a practical joke or what? Quite simply, businesses and major cooperations are trying to make more money by putting their holiday products up for sale earlier. This may make sense economically speaking, but it’s created a very materialistic representation for the holidays that we celebrate.

Halloween Eco-Tips

by Chanel Ly

1) Walk, don’t drive! – Walking around to go trick-or-treating can be a lot of fun, so there’s no need to drive to someplace far to dig up some good treats.
2) Hand out something different. – If you don’t want to give out plain old candy or contribute to giving the little ones cavities, here are some ideas on some other things that you can distribute: granola bars, eco-friendly pencils, toothbrushes, organic candy, fair trade chocolate.
3) Collect something different. – Some of us, but not all, do not crave sweets as much as when we were little. So, instead of collecting sugar, you can collect cans or books to donate to a charity.
3) Buy a used costume or home make your costume. – To prevent spending extra cash on a costume that uses our world’s limited resources, visit a local thrift store or find materials at home to create one that’s one-of-a-kind. Homemade face paint can also be made. Make a group costume with friends! You won’t regret it.
4) Natural decorations. – If you’re planning to invade your house with pumpkins, be sure to purchase pumpkins and other vegetables such as squash from a local farm, preferably organic.
5) Use the entire pumpkin. – Let’s not let any pumpkins go to waste! Roast the seeds, make pumpkin soups or pies, or at least compost the remaining parts if they are not going to be used.
6) Flashlights with rechargeable batteries. – Rechargeable batteries can be charged over 1,000 times which removes the need to trash hundreds of conventional batteries.
7) Use 100% beeswax or soy candles. – Paraffin wax candles made from petroleum (a non-renewable fossil fuel) can release harmful toxins when lit.
Recycle. – After the party’s over, don’t forget to recycle as much as you can: your costume, decorations, and treats.

http://twistedplot.ca/index.php/2007/10/25/10-eco-friendly-halloween-tips-and-ideas/

Halloween Comic

by Jessie Li

Spook fest

“One time, at a party in grade 9 I was dared to go into the host’s bathroom, lock the door so nobody could get in, and say “Bloody Mary” 9 times in a row.
When I got to the 8th Bloody Mary, I felt really cold, and by the 9th time I started choking. People couldn’t get in to save me but luckily I held onto the doorknob and opened the door. I wasn’t choking on anything but it was like her hands were around my neck. They took pictures of me thinking that it was a joke but the pics were all blurry and I had no pupils in my eyes.”
-Amanda Chan

“One time, I was like three, I was in Mexico; I was walking around with my mom’s camera and taking pictures. It was dark with a few dim lights, and I took a picture at a blank spot on the wall and when the picture came out, there was a figure of a man holding his hand out at the camera.”
-Shai’a Bak

“One night, a couple years ago, I was lying on the floor in my room, doing some math homework. Normally I listen to music when I do homework but this one time, I felt too lazy to turn the radio on. So as I was trying to figure out a complicated equation, I heard calm breathing right by my left ear. Nobody else was in my room, let alone right beside me. I held my breath to see if it was just me, but the breathing kept going. Since then, I’ve hardly ever sat in my room by myself without the radio playing.”
-Monika Chan

Critical mass; Oct 31st

by Jenn Lin

This month’s Critical Mass Bike Ride: October 31st, HALLOWEEN NIGHT. 6:00PM at the Vancouver Art Gallery – suit up and ride your bike in your costumes! This is the best Mass of the Year!

Critical Mass has been occurring in places throughout the world since September 1992, the first ride occurring in San Francisco. It was originally called “Commute Clot,” but the name changed to Critical Mass by the time the second ride took place. The new name came from the idea that the bikers, once they reached a big enough mass, would be able to stop traffic completely. A “critical mass” is then achieved. It takes place every last Friday of the month and usually in places where it is evident that more appreciation for bikes is needed on and off the roads. Though it is somtimes negatively called a “rally” or “protest” against drivers and people using cars – the bikers do not purposely do anything to provoke authorities. On the contrary, it is meant to be a fun and peaceful ride.

Below is a journal entry that I wrote back in Grade 11. Hopefully after reading it you will gain some insight to what it is, why people do it, and why I myself enjoy it so much.

I went to my first critical mass on April 25th of 2008. At first I was a bit unsure if it was a good idea to go because I don’t consider myself the best bike rider, but when I arrived at the Vancouver Art Gallery and saw so many bright faces, I was instantly glad that I had gone. The weather was absolutely amazing, and there I was a part of this huge gathering of people that believe in alternative transport and that roads should belong to not only cars, but bikes as well. It was the closest thing to a radical movement I had ever been to and I enjoyed every bit of it.