You Know What Grinds My Gears?

By Jenny Ho, Grade 11

 You know what really grinds my gears? The media’s extremely unhealthy image of an ideal person.

As you may have seen on some websites (namely Perez Hilton’s fashion blog), Ralph Lauren, a hard-hitting brand in the world of fashion has been under a lot of flame. It all started with the advertisement with the freakishly skinny model Filippa Hamilton. Turns out, it was simply an image of her that made her look extremely malnourished, thanks to Photoshop. I personally don’t understand how the editor can make such a big mishap. Obviously, something is very wrong when her head and shoulders are considerably bigger than the rest of her body. Sadly, she reminds me of one of those bobble head dolls that sit on the corner of my desk.

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.

You Know What Grinds My Gears?

By: Jenny Ho, Grade 11

You know what really grinds my gears? The new HST (harmonized sales tax). In late July of this year, Premier Gordon Campbell and Finance Minister Colin Hansen announced that they would follow in Ontario’s footsteps. Effective next Canada Day (July 1, 2010), taxpayers will pay the combined GST (goods and service tax) and PST (provincial sales tax) on many basic goods and services. This includes all prepared food products, school supplies, magazines, work equipment, bicycles, non-prescription medicines, personal services, restaurants, real estate, admission fees for movies; the list goes on and on. The only things that are exempt from the HST include basic groceries, fuel, books, children’s clothing, hygiene products, and new home purchases up to $400,000.

The 12% tax grab will benefit major businesses (also known as Campbell’s best friends). For example, one of Campbell’s sponsors during the election was B.C. Rail. As you all know, friends help each other out and “scratch each other’s backs”. Since B.C. Rail has done Campbell a favour, he must now return it. They will be able to claim and receive their HST rebates in all cases. In other words, the HST will reduce sales taxes paid by business, and reduce administrative costs. Although it may be beneficial for businesses of all kinds, the HST proves to be extremely unappealing to the public.  On average, consumers will pay an extra $1.9 billion with the HST a year. “Not a dime of the HST will pay for healthcare, education or social services”, quotes Bill Tileman, creator of “NO BC HST” Facebook group. “This is the single biggest thing we can do to improve B.C.’s economy”, Campbell is contrarily quoted. Maybe it’s just me, but does anyone else think that he was intoxicated while proposing this?

To whom it may concern

What could be more fun than coming down to a festival that doesn’t just celebrate bikes, but a celebration of Windermere’s efforts in taking the steps to making the school a greener and healthier place to be? Come down to Windermere’s 3^rd annual Bike Train on Thursday, June 4^th, 2009, in the morning from 8:30AM to 9:30AM. Ride with friends and fellow classmates around the neighbourhood, starting at any of the three locations: Joyce Station, 29^th Avenue Station, or Renfrew Library (bike and helmets rentals are available on the day of). Also, after school we have our Bike Fest from 3:00 – 4:30 with fun activities, booths to look at, and food and pedal-powered smoothies to enjoy. Don’t miss out the fun! Check out the posters and/or Facebook group for more details to come. Go bikes go!

Also, congratulations to…Ms.Yong and Margaret Kwan (grade 12) for winning the draw for our Year – End Survey!

And finally, thank you to all of you that have supported us throughout the year. The WINNER of the Year End Prize Draw (for leaving us comments on the Word website) IS… Jenny Ho!

 Cheers,

The Windermere Word Promotions Team

Everyone’s Free to Wear Sunscreen

By Jenny Ho, Grade 10

With summer vacation (hooray!) just around the corner, the amount of sunlight we receive in Vancouver significantly increases. We spend more time outdoors; whether it is on the beach, at a park, or at the swimming pool. Naturally, one would slather on a palm full of coconut-scented lotion (a.k.a., sunscreen) fifteen minutes before we head outside. However, Canadian dermatologists insist that we are setting ourselves up for trouble.

We’ve all heard this during some point in our lives: the sun is a source of vitamin D, and we need it. Although you’ve probably heard this, too: if you don’t wear sunscreen, you’ll get skin cancer. There’s been constant controversy over the vitamins we receive from the sun and skin protection.

Editors’ Message

It’s May! This issue marks the second last issue of the year. You may not realize it, but last year there was no June Issue. But hey, we’ve got some terrible news for you: by this time, we have both “retired” as project leaders/editors and are now helping next year’s brand new committee take over! :O *Gasp*! The editor of this month’s issue was Valerie Wong (Gr. 10) and the soon-to-be new project head is Gurjita Gadey (Gr. 11). They will both be working with a team of dedicated and enthusiastic individuals: Brendan Chan, Cassandra Ly, Emily Chan, Eric Lam, Jenny Ho, Jhona Binos, Mitchell Agostinho, Nicole Yu, Puneet Riar, Tammy Lee, and Yuge Liu. If you would like to join next year’s committee, please email us by May 25th. We have positions open for several of our teams, including Promotion, Distribution, Photography, and more. Come June, we will have completely handed The Word over to the new committee. You’ll hear from us one last time in June AND get the chance to read about all our screw ups *wink wink*, but just in case you miss it, we would like to say THANKS for always supporting us and believing in what we do. WORD

- Chitha Manoranjan & Jenn Lin

The Misuse of Antibiotics

By Jenny Ho, Grade 10

We are indeed much more than what we eat, but what we eat can nevertheless help us to be much more than what we are. -Adelle Davis

            Do you recall the last time you ordered a cheeseburger? You probably bit into the bun, beef patty, cheese, ketchup, mustard, pickles, and onions without much thought. After polishing off the burger, you chuck the wrapper into the garbage can. Have you ever given a second thought to what exactly might be in the burger?

            The majority of people have probably heard of antibiotics. You have probably taken them in the form of pills at least once; to relieve the symptoms of flu or allergies. Maybe you have used hand sanitizers or antibiotics soaps. Unfortunately, all of the above are common examples of the misuse of antibiotics. With repeated exposure to an antibiotic, bacteria develop immunity to the drug. Eventually, the medicines that are used to treat certain bacterial infections will become useless.

Chicken: Man’s New Best Friend?

By Jenny Ho, Grade 9

Ever thought about keeping a few chickens in your backyard for fresh eggs? Recently, Vancouver City Council introduced a new policy, which allows residents to keep backyard chickens. There are many cities in the United States and Canada with a similar bylaw, including Seattle, Washington D.C., New York City, and Victoria. Of course, within the bylaws, there are many points to consider. If this proposed bylaw passes, residents are able to raise chickens as early as June. The proposed by-law raises much debate from Vancourites. Some are in favour of this new policy, but some residents and animal welfare groups are against the idea.

Eco Tips

By: Jenny Ho, Grade 10

When preparing for school lunches, consider these simple ways to reduce waste.
-  Use a lunchbox, re-usable container, or thermos to hold lunches instead of paper bags.
-  Avoid anything that is disposable, including paper napkins, plastic wrap, aluminum foil, Styrofoam (contain CFCs which contribute to ozone depletion => more UV rays => greater chances of skin cancer), and plastic forks/spoons.
-  Opt for aluminum/stainless steel water bottles. Over long-term use, plastic water bottles will release deadly chemicals and collect harmful bacteria.
-  Dispose of fruit peels into the grey compost bins at school! In landfills, food takes much longer to decompose and often get locked in by layers of plastic, which takes thousands of years to naturally break down!

Source

http://www.globalstewards.org/lunch.htm

http://www.marinefm.org/

http://www.ghchealth.com/people-who-frequently-reuse-their-water-bottles-may-be-risking-their-health.html

Valentine’s Day

By: Jenny Ho, Grade 10

In present day society, Valentine’s Day is most often a holiday celebrated between lovers. Fancy chocolates, gorgeous red roses, heavily decorated cards, and other lavish gifts are exchanged by couples. There are many theories about the origin of Valentines Day, but the most common one is about a Catholic bishop.

Saint Valentine was a Roman bishop in the 5th century. During that time, Emperor Claudius II placed a ban on marriage over the Roman Empire; he had a theory that single men made good soldiers for the army. Saint Valentine on the other hand, persisted in performing marriage ceremonies. Later, Saint Valentine was imprisoned, and formed a relationship with his jailor’s daughter. Sadly, he was put to death on February 14th. Before his death, his farewell message to his loved one was brief and sweet: “From your Valentine.”

Cupid also plays a major role in this celebration. Known as a mischievous, winged child who pierces arrows through the hearts of his “victims,” he originates from Roman mythology. Cupid is the son of Venus, Roman goddess of beauty and love. In Greek mythology, he was known as Eros. He is often seen in a diaper, and sometimes blindfolded, symbolizing the figure of speech, “love is blind.” Cupid makes the majority of his appearances on Valentine cards.

Yet, in reality, Cupid is a two dollar Hallmark card. Saint Valentine is a name of a day for lovers to express their passions for one another through a day of non-stop romance!

New Years Resolutions Questionaire

by Nicole Yu

Kylie Rondpre, Grade 9: Oh. I will give more to the needy; I will help raise awareness [for] poverty, not only other countries, but also our own; I will reduce waste; I will gain super powers and save the helpless; I will show my appreciation for others, [and] I will accept what comes to me.
Nicole: That’s great!
Kylie: I will also read to old people, hahaha.

Allison Ferreira, Grade 8: In 2009, I will… hm… I will try to volunteer in the community more!

Eco-tips

by Jenny Ho

Even though it’s chilly outside, there are a few things we can do to reduce our energy usage while keeping our feet nice and toasty!

- Lower your thermostats in the evening and while you’re out of the house. Just by turning it down a couple of degrees, you can reduce heating costs by about 5%.
- Bundle on the sweaters! By wearing a few more shirts and a pair of cozy slippers, you can keep your thermostat lower all the time.
- Make the most use out of your windows. In the daytime, open your blinds to allow the sunlight to warm your house naturally. At night, be sure to close them to maximize their insulating ability.

The Science Behind Santa (Stuff Your Physics Teacher Never Told You)

by Jenny Ho

Sometimes you may wonder, “How many homes does Santa visit on Christmas Eve?” or, “How does he do it?” Here are the answers, according to Stanley Teitel, a physics teacher from New York.

How many stops does Santa have to make?
There are 2.2 billion children. Assuming that most Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and Jewish children won’t be expecting a visit, 85 percent of children can be subtracted. There are about 2.5 kids per home, and at least one good child. “If we’re assuming that there are approximately 132 times 10 to the sixth,” said Teitel, “that’s 132 million Christian homes worldwide.” Therefore, Santa would have to travel about 175 million land miles across all the time zones!

Student Life Questionaire

by Jenny Ho

Welcome back, Warriors, to a new school year! After [two] months of hitting the books and studying, a handful of students were asked for their opinions about the first month of school. Anyways, I hope you do your homework, have a ton of fun, and keep reading The Word!

How was your first day of school?
“Everyone was very nice. The students and teachers were supportive. Everyone answers when I ask questions.” – Christopher, grade 8

“I couldn’t find my friends…I had to look for them! It was annoying too, [when] I found out that we have permanent lockers!” – Jessica, grade 11

How do you feel about the locker arrangements this year?

3 Things About Hitler You never Learned in Socials

by Jenny Ho

If you thought Adolf Hitler was only a man of warfare, you’re wrong. Actually, he is endlessly fascinating. In 1998, Congress passed the Nazi War Crimes Disclosure Act. Since then, over three million classified files have been released to the public. The following interesting (or strange) facts were from a secret profile of Hilter in 1942, compiled by the OSS (Office of Strategic Services). These are only a few of the very many released.

1. Hitler’s mother considered giving him up for abortion at one point, but her doctor talked her out of it. It’s amazing how one decision could change the world forever.
2. Hitler loved the circus. It amazes me how he took pleasure in the idea that all the underpaid performers risked their lives to entertain him.
In 1933, he had sent costly flowers and chocolates to female performers. He remembered their names, and would worry about them and their family, in event of an accident!
3. The Nazi press secretary, Doctor Sedgwick, wanted to talk Hilter into two options: Shaving his trademark moustache, or growing it out. His reply? “Do not worry about my moustache. If it is not the fashion now, it will be later because I wear it!”

Hilter wasn’t just only interested in war, but other things, too. Hitler had a very interesting personality, and a very unique personal life. Moreover, he has made quite an impact during his lifetime, and will remain in our social textbooks as a mysterious and powerful historical figure.