Spring 2013

talon timesVOLUME 22, ISSUE 3

SPRING 2013PAGE 1

For the students, by the students.

Upon walking into one of the Glenforest music

rooms for the first time, the first thing you’ll probably no-tice is the enormous positive energy that fills every cor-ner of the room. No IB-gift-ed rivalries here, no cliques,

Senior stress 101:

Nothing quite captures the exhilaration of a

performance. Nothing quite explains the feeling of seeing the hours of hard work and collaboration at rehearsal come together in one final product. For the members of Branch Out!, Glenforest’s

show choir, singing and danc-ing is a passion that stubbornly refuses to diminish in the face of this year’s political climate. With these various obstacles, many things remain a variable, but despite it all, the choir as-pires to, through their voices and moves, remind others that

even in an environment of di-minishing music opportuni-ties, the undeniable passion of music will continue on.

Last year was the choir’s first year – which started with the sprightly choreography of Hairspray’s...

(Continued on page 6)

In August of 2012, Face-book released some as-

tounding figures: each day, its users collectively click the “Like” button about 2.7 billion times and share 300 million photos. These statis-tics are notable not only be-

Hearing cryptic phras-es like, “I could’ve

sent that 5.11d but my rand didn’t catch when I tried bat hooking, man” being casual-ly thrown from one person, hanging 40 feet in the air, to another is not uncommon in rock climbing gyms, but

it might be enough to leave the uninitiated scratching their helmeted head. It is un-derstandable how the sport of rock climbing can seem dominated by an elite upper crust of veterans who leave little room for the curious first timers. Most often, what

stops people from uninhib-itedly hitting the walls are niggling concerns about equipment, safety, and a purported lack of skill.But worry not, these fears can be dispelled withjust a little prior knowledge.


Gr12 vocal class

Glenforest show choirClimbing for beginners

Facebook likes Now is the timeIn the aftermath of the

shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, the topic of gun control has garnered a great deal of awareness from the entire world over, centering on the United States. Howev-

er, this topic has already been under much scrutiny over the years, and the increased frequency of gun violence re-cently has brought this issue to greater attention.

A key argument in this...(Continued on page 4)

A presidential special:Hi, my name is Shikar Gaur. I’m grade 12 IB; I’m currently the president of the Student Activity Council. It is my pleasure to have this interview.

P6

Going green with Glen:“Springtime is the land awakening. The March winds are the morning yawn.” This is one of my favourite quotes by Lewis Grizzard in Kathy Sue Loudermilk; I Love You as it truly captures the essence of spring. P8

Hype of Super Bowl:On February 3rd, 2013, the Super Bowl was the biggest event happening on that day. The Super Bowl was between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ra-vens... P14

In this issue...

Grade 12 & stressing? Go to page 7.

no disrespect or negativity, nothing at all like that, ever. In rooms 124 and 125, ev-eryone is friends with each other.

Of course, the students in Ms. Krizan’s...


cause they are testament to Facebook’s data processing power, but also because they illustrate one of the social networking site’s primary drawing factors. The ability to receive validation...


editorialsVOLUME 22, ISSUE 3

SPRING 2013PAGE 2

IndexEditorials p2Advice Should books be made into

movies?The digital death of the art of

photographySpring fashion trends for girls

Social issues p4Mental Health Youth Action

CommitteeNow is the timeWhat is rape culture?

Student life p5Ten ways to peaceFrom DECA provincials to

DECA internationalsBranch out!Spreading a little bit of TumaiGoing green with GlenSinging praise for grade 12

vocalSenior stress 101Shikhar Gaur: A presidential

special

Entertainment p10A mouth-harp for youA Beginner's Guide to Rock

Climbing5 websites you won't regret

wasting spending time onMy City Stories: AGM

Education & Insights p12Facebook and internet valida-

tionPan pizza — why order out?Mississauga Youth Film FestivalHype of Super Bowl

Should books be made into movies?Pros:

What is better than beau-tiful stories coming to life on the big screen? Though imag-ination is one way to achieve a visual, having actors and ac-tresses transform into charac-ters is far more realistic, giving the impression that the nov-el is coming to life. Not only that, but a movie is something to be shared with loved ones.

You can watch it together and point out different, interest-ing parts, whereas books are something read at different paces and the experience just isn’t the same. Directors can even change events in the sto-ry to add suspense and great twists (those who watched the fight scene in Breaking Dawn-Part 2would agree, as would those who have seen the end-ing of BazLuhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet). Movie culture is ideal

when books are too time con-suming, or when the author’s writing style is disagreeable. An hour or two at the theatres watching Interview with the Vampire might be more en-joyable to some, as opposed to trying to sift through the met-aphors and chiasmus of Anne Rice.

Cons:In the words of the com-

ic writer Alan Moore: “I don’t

see how adapting it to another medium makes sense at all.” If a great story resides in a book, then leave it there. Taking one piece of art and changing it into another will simply take away the author’s tone, and characters might be altered into something not true to the book. The novel Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion describes the zombie R as a darkly poetic man in slacks and a red tie. The movie just released por-

trays a teen in skinny jeans having an identity crisis. This is just one example – for avid book lovers, the outrage at the cinema is intense when im-portant details are dismissed and chunks of the plot are ab-sent. Sometimes even the au-thor regrets selling the mov-ie rights; Winston Groom, author of Forrest Gump was very unhappy with the film’s dialogue edits. As a result, the first page of the sequel,Gump

by: April Robertsonand Co.,has Forrest saying, “Don't never let nobody make a movie of your life's story.” Besides, the written word is dying at the hands of Hol-lywood. To some, the visual effects are far more appeal-ing then having to use brain power and the imagination. If Hollywood studios are so eager to edit and add their in-put, then maybe they should be their own creative genius-es.

Relating family dynamics and parental characteristics with friends is always hard with friends because everyone has a different situation that contains more or less flexibility. Comparing

your parents to your friends is never a good idea, because everyone has their own way of dealing with a situation. You have to remember, it’s likely that your parents are raising you the way that they were raised and are doing the best they can! You should be able to seek empathy and understanding from your friends when you have problems. It is a friend’s job to be there no matter what, and even if they can’t fully relate, they should understand that if you mentioned a certain scenario to them, it obviously has affected you. On the other hand, constantly complaining about minor issues could become tiring for a friend to listen to. Remember the bigger picture and try to prioritize problems; consider if an event actually upset you or just aggravated you. Thinking problems through before you mention every last detail will help you understand your own true feelings on the matter, and at the same time, it will help you decide if the problem is worth mentioning. — R

Ah, the infamous Freshman 15. For those of you who are not familiar with the term, the term, “Freshman 15” refers to the 15 pounds first year students in university or college often gain due

to the increase in the availability of junk food that comes with living on campus. Snacks, fast food, energy drinks and coffee are all foods and drinks university kids rely on.

However, they also contain a lot of calories. It’s very easy to gain access to these foods simply be-cause they are sold everywhere on campus and are pretty damn delicious. Resist it! You will avoid gaining weight and also save a few bucks if you buy your own groceries and cook your own food. Don’t know how to cook? Use this coming summer to learn the secrets of the trade from the cheap-est and closest chefs – your parents. Still terrible at cooking? Make sandwiches for lunch everyday. If you’re incompetent at making a sandwich (what kind of human being are you?), buy fresh vege-

tables and fruits. Wash, cut and pack them for snacks. If you can’t do this, I really have no words for you. There are lots of healthy alternatives in university and college; you just have to make the effort to look for them. Whatever you do, do not settle for ramen. And note that alcohol actually contains many calories. Stay sober, kids. — A

AdviceThis is a common problem for all shopaholics and also one I have dealt with personally.

When we see a nice top that is relatively inexpensive, we jump at the chance to buy it and think little of it. These clothes are often bland and poor in quality. After a couple of wears, you will be tired of them and they will soon be forgotten at the back of your closet. The solution to this is to stop purchasing those poor quality t-shirts and tank tops that you have so many of and to start buying good quality clothes. Items such as jackets, jeans, and shoes are worn more often. Therefore, it is better to invest in a good pair of jeans that is versatile and comfortable than buying numerous shirts that will be hardly worn. When shopping, look for quality and comfort in clothes. If you feel that you like a shirt you see, ask yourself if you think you will

like the same shirt after wearing it five to ten times. Think about how versatile this shirt is: will it look good with the clothes you already have? If your answer isn’t satisfactory, walk away. Remember, it’s better to buy a $200 winter jacket to last you a couple years than ten $20 t-shirts. — A

"I keep buying clothes that aren't versatile, but I also find the need to wear them for a few

months before I dispose of them... how do I deal with my bad buying habits while having to wear clothes that I dislike after the first week of owning them?"

It sounds like you are an impulsive buyer. Shopping is sometimes hard, and it can turn out poorly if you don’t think through purchases. Although shopping is really fun, stay away from the mall if you don’t have an unlimited budget! Make a plan for yourself. Before you go shopping, think about necessities or even just

what you planned on making the outing for. You’ll run into problems when you aimlessly wander around the mall and go to every store possible. If you know you don’t want to spend a lot of money or come home with impulse purchases, manage your time and money. Don’t bring your debt card; take out enough cash to pay for your purchase so you can’t buy more than you can can afford. Also, start at the store that sells what you’re looking for, that way you’ll spend the money you had and will not have to option of buying random items. If you do end up with unwanted clothing items, transform them into new articles or even offer them to a friend – or simply donate them. It is disappointing you wasted your money on something you didn’t want, but at least it won’t just collect dust in your closet. — R

Your friends most likely are telling you to “brush it off ” because they can’t offer an answer. But the problem is, most of the time we are not even looking for an answer to our problems

from our friends. When we complain about our problems, we are just looking for somebody to be understanding and sympathize with us. Rest assured, your problems do matter as they affect your life. But you also have to remember that complaining about your problems will not solve them. If you complain too much, the people around you will start feeling burdened and their sympathy supply will be depleted. To let your friends know how you are feeling, tell them nicely that you would appreciate it more if they listened to your problems with a bit more kindness. They should respond appropriately but also demand the same of you. Understand that your friends also have individual problems to deal with and will come to you to talk about it. Try to be supportive when they come to you to complain. If you listen to their problems, they will listen to yours. — A

"When I complain to my friends about stuff like school, boys, or my parents being over-

protective, they never take me seriously or tell me to just "brush it off" and focus on the good things. I'm not saying that my problems are huge or ex-tremely serious, but it's annoying to be treated like they don't even matter. At the same time, I don't want to cause a fight with my friends or appear over-dramatic."

"I'm going away to university next year, but I don't know how to cook anything! I don't want to gain

loads of weight in first year because I'll only eat residence food... so what do I do? How do I stay away from the temptations of quick-and-easy, but horribly unhealthy food?"

Everyone is afraid of putting on the Freshman 15! There are tons of things to worry about when thinking about the new adventure of university. Living away from home is a big change. Ask your parents, friends, and relatives for some of your favourite recipes. Practice making them now, so that by the time you’ve moved

into your dorm, it will be second nature. You could also start composing a personal cookbook, containing easy and fast recipes. Having a huge food court in walking distance will be tempting, but try and limit yourself to eating only one meal there a day. Breakfast can be easily made by yourself in the morning and will give you more time to sleep in! Also, only keep healthy snacks in your room such as; Nutri-Grain bars, crackers, fruit, and nuts. When you’re in a hurry or need a late night snack, you’ll have healthy alternatives that will give you nutrition and energy. There is no way to avoid every temptation and the convenience of residence food; the key is planning. If you’re aware that you have an essay or big test coming up save your bad unhealthy meal for that particular night and try to prepare some healthy choices the rest of the week. Lastly, weekends are a perfect time to make a nice meal for you and your roommate. You have more time when you don’t have to worry about classes, so resist eating out on the weekends and share the load with roommates! — R

editorialsVOLUME 22, ISSUE 3

SPRING 2013PAGE 3

Henri Cartier-Bresson, the father of photojournal-

ism, coined the term “decisive moment” in order to describe what makes a photograph good. According to him, the decisive moment is “the si-multaneous recognition, in a fraction of a second, of the significance of an event as well as the precise organization of forms which gives that event its proper expression.” It is every photographer’s quest to capture that moment, in which all of the elements of the image come together, to provide both meaning and aesthetic appeal. With modern technology, we have created cameras of which 20th century photographers

could only dream. With these advances in technology, the art of photography has been changed, and if I said it has been all for the better, I’d be lying.

Each and every day, over one billion digital pho-tographs are taken. Compare this to the 68 million captured by the entire world on a typ-ical day in the 80s and you realize the true impact of the digital revolution. With mod-ern technology, photography has been made so accessible that each and every one of us carries a camera in our pock-ets every day, in the form of a cell phone, or an iPod. While accessibility does make the art of photography more readily available for the average con-

sumer, it has, and will likely have, a catastrophic impact on photography as an art. Tech-nology has blessed us with cameras that are able to per-form better than any 35mm film camera. Photographers are able shoot in considerably worse lighting conditions, and easily fire over 12 frames per second. With the implementa-tion of digital sensors, they get immediate feedback, allowing them to adjust their settings on the fly. Practically non-ex-istent processing costs allow photographers to shoot thou-sands of frames for a single as-signment, and not be limited by the 36-exposure roll that was in their camera. As with all things in our progressing world, everything seems to be

getting faster and faster in just the blink of an eye. With these new abilities, the philosophy behind attaining the perfect image has changed. Today, we don’t only capture the decisive moment, we capture every moment!

In 1960, taking a pic-ture of yourself in a mirror was called a self-portrait, not a “selfie”. It was done maybe once in an entire career, as spending more than one frame on a shot like that would be considered a waste of film. In the days of film photography, there was a natural filter that determined whether a photog-rapher would press the shutter release, and that was the cost of taking the image. Without this filter, the digital world

has been flooded with imag-es that have neither artistic, nor societal value. Just as with the endless seas of informa-tion available on the internet, quality shots are becoming increasingly scarce. Instead of the images you find being fine art or of a journalistic nature, the vast majority of photos on the internet are of cute cats and documentation of Jason Wang’s meals.

Of course, all technology can have two sides, but it or-der for it be beneficial, it must be used correctly. My advice to photographers is to take it slow. Think three times before you capture an image. Consid-er whether the picture is of any value in the first place. Frame up the shot, considering all

by: Dario Toman aspects of composition, verify your settings, inhale and slow-ly press the shutter. As an exer-cise, recreate the days of film. Cover up the LCD panel on your camera, and allow your-self only 36 shots the next time you go out with your camera, and make all of them count (remember, you couldn't de-lete film!), or if you’re really up for it, go to Goodwill, pick up an old 35mm SLR and ex-perience the magic that comes with the anticipation that is associated with film photog-raphy and waiting two weeks to get the roll developed. With the extra time you spend on each image, you will see that your artistic eye will grow very quickly. Trust me, you won't regret it!

The snow is melting and sooner than later, you will

be packing up your winter jackets and bringing out your summery clothes once again. As the transition into spring may be a cold one, you will need a jacket that will keep you warm through the breez-es and rainfall. Plenty of stores sell light jackets perfect for the mild temperatures of spring. Colours for springtime fashion will revolve around the natu-ral accents of the earth. Hues of yellow, purple, green, blue, orange and red will be trend-ing this spring. A green spring jacket will be perfect to throw over an outfit. Spending hun-dreds of dollars on a new spring wardrobe is completely unnec-essary, as the pricier stores usu-ally sell articles of clothing that

are so basic they can be found anywhere, just without a tiny logo. Downtown Toronto has plenty of cheaper alternatives for findingbeautiful clothing. Kensington Market, for exam-ple, is a small neighborhood packed with a variety of stores that sell both new and vintage clothing. Kensington Market is located just to the west of downtown Toronto, bordered by Spadina Avenue, Dundas Street, Bathurst Street and Col-lege Street. Stores such as Bun-galow allow you to experience the new and the old. The store is sectioned off by new clothing and the other sectionis packed with nice vintage finds. While shopping or while looking through your closet, remember that colour is key in springtime clothes. No longer do you need to stick to dark neutral shades that complement the winter season. Allow yourself to wear

patterns, as floral patterns will definitely be trending this sea-son. A floral shirt paired with vintage shorts and thigh highs make a cute outfit that is per-fect for the season. Black and white stripes are also very trendy this season. Pale colours will also be very in, especially on your nails. Pale pinks and peaches were spotted on many high-end fashion runways such as Rag and Bone, where the models sported pointed tipped nails painted with pale colours. Although the muddy season doesn’t allow for cute sneakers or nice suede Oxfords, cute rain boots can complement an out-fit just as nicely. Hunter boots match almost any outfit; they are versatile as well as practical. This spring, don’t be afraid to play up bold colours and step out of your comfort zone!

by: Marianna Lozowska

The digitaldeath of the art of photography

Spring fashion trends for girls

social issuesVOLUME 22, ISSUE 3

SPRING 2013PAGE 4

Mental Health Youth Ac-tion Committee (MHY-

AC) is a brand new club that has started at Glenforest. It strives to raise awareness about the mental health issues in the youth community, for exam-ple, issues such as depression, schizophrenia, alcohol abuse, and others. Its goal for the 2013 year is to conduct four major fundraisers for mental health awareness and to add some fun aspects to them!

The MHYAC may be a newer, smaller club at Glenfor-est, but the issue that it tries to convey is a big one – one that deserves much more recogni-tion within youth space. Men-tal illnesses are not subject to choice on the part of those who deal with them. As they would be with any physical illness, teens should be made aware of the implications of mental

health illnesses. However, it is so underrepresented in soci-ety because it is overshadowed by more “pressing” and visible concerns, like diabetes or can-cer. But just like these illnesses, mental health must be treated, and its emotional and physical toll on both victims and family and friends should be recog-nized and sympathized by so-ciety.

A member of this club re-calls once meeting a girl who suffered from depression. She felt extremely guilty of her con-dition because of the implica-tion it had on her family. This kind of reaction is not far from the norm, but it is complete-ly incorrect. Depression is no one’s fault; in fact, neither are most forms of mental illness-es. But mental illnesses give their victims a false perception of themselves and often make them feel even worse. As a re-sult, the victims of mental ill-

nesses are at a greater risk. Aishwarya Singh,

co-founder of the club, said that “We wanted to support a cause that was the 'underdog' in this situation. Mental health issues are often dismissed as ‘first world problems’ … Rarely is there any compassion or un-derstanding of people suffering from mental illness.”

It is important to treat mental illnesses as any other illness: with sympathy, under-standing and knowledge that it is completely uncontrollable. If you feel that you or your friend is at risk, it is important to contact a professional at once and treat the problem before it progresses even further. Men-tal illnesses can be combatted with the proper diagnosis. The MHYAC strives to spread the word about these taxing illnesses, and to inform Gry-phons of the effects of mental health issues today.

by: Rena Gao

What is rape culture?Do we take rape serious-

ly? Although we can agree that rape is universally and legally condemned, you may be surprised at the fact at how oftenit is propagated. The propagation of rape isn’t lim-ited to music, movies, and the media. Ever hearsomeone say, “I just raped that test,” or “Ugly girls don’t get raped”? In high schools and amongst youth, such phrases are becoming more common.This brings us to the topic of rape culture. Rape culture makes sexu-al coercion of women seem

normal, as if rape is inevita-ble. It is supported by sayings like, “Men are men,” or “Boys will be boys.”However, male rape victims experience the same amount of social stigma. Many men are afraid to report the crime, as it is commonly assumed that men don’t get raped and if they do, then very rarely. Some say that rape cul-ture doesn’t exist, while others think denying its existence is the greatest problem.

Rape culture is respon-sible for the creation of rape myths and the sexualisation of rape. Movies and TV shows, especially, are criticized for us-

ing beautiful actresses as rape victims, withLaw and Order being one such example. The portrayals and myths invoked by rape culture are important, as they only add to the shame of many rape victims who are afraid to report the crime. Vic-tim-blaming is perhaps the worst aspect of rape culture for rape victims. A victim that has just experienced a brutal crime is faced with questions like, “What was she wearing? Where was she? Who was she with?” The Nation argues that the right question should be: “What made the attacker think that this was acceptable?”

The recent rape case in Delhi, India illustrates the re-sult of rape culture. Many Indi-an politicians like the Andhra Pradesh Congress President BotsaSatyanarayana called the gang rape a “small incident”, adding that women should not go out during late hours. Sev-eral other remarks have been made by religious leaders and politicians in India regarding the gang rape case. The lawyer defending the accused stated in an interview: “I have not seen a single incident or ex-ample of rape with a respected lady. Even an underworld don would not like to touch a girl

with respect.” These views are not held solely in India, but around the world.

So this brings us back to the question: Do we take rape seriously?

Five rape myths (and dispelling them):

1. “Women should not ________ because they will get raped.”

Victim-blaming does not solve the issue of rape. It caus-es more problems. By limiting the victim’s actions, there is no attempt being made to address the real concern: violence against rape victims that is be-

ing perpetrated. 2. Rape is about sex.Rape is not about sex. It’s

about power. Rape is perpe-trated to express control over the victim’s body.

3. Men can’t be raped. According to The Guard-

ian, in the U.S, reportedly more men are raped than women.

4. Rape only happens to young, attractive women.

As rape is about power, it can happen to anyone.

5. Most rapists are strangers.

Most women that report rape are assaulted by their husbands, partners, or boy-friend. Clearly, rape myth #1 (victim-blaming) cannot aid victims in such cases at all.

by: Naveli Gandhi

Now is the timeIn the aftermath of the shoot-

ing at Sandy Hook Elemen-tary in Newtown, Connecti-cut, the topic of gun control has garnered a great deal of awareness from the entire world over, centering on the United States. However, this topic has already been under much scrutiny over the years, and the increased frequency of gun violence recently has brought this issue to greater

attention.A key argument in this

gun debate is the Second Amendment of the US Con-stitution: “A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed,” and there is de-bate as to whether it applies to assault weapons. The issue arises from the ambiguity of the term “assault weapon.” It is loosely defined as and general-

ly referring to semi-automatic rifles, but may apply to hand-guns and shotguns as well. The National Rifle Association (NRA) advocates the right of citizens to bear arms as per the Second Amendment, and is of the belief that by attempting to restrict and regulate firearms, the US government is infring-ing upon this constitutional right. The NRA has proposed that volunteer armed guards be placed in schools for se-curity, a plan that has been

harshly critiqued for present-ing another possible danger to students.

The Federal Assault Weapons Ban (AWB) expired in 2004, and since, it has not been able to be renewed. The AWB made the manufactur-ing of firearms which meet the government’s definition of an assault weapon illegal, except for sale to the govern-ment or law enforcement. It also banned the possession of illegally imported firearms,

but did not include pre-exist-ing ones.Background checks are already in place during the licensing of people in the gun business, and they, in turn, are required to run background checks on pur-chasers of firearms. However, private sales are avoiding this system, allowing those people who would not have otherwise been able to legally obtain fire-arms, the ability to procure them.

President Obama’s gun control proposals include: universal background checks on all gun sales and tough-ening penalties on those who fail to do so, the banning of military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines

by: Jennifer Wang

(ammunition storage and feeding device attached to a firearm, requiring less reload-ing and making the gun more efficient); this is to be carried out by renewing the AWB or the passing of similar pieces of legislation and limiting mag-azines to ten rounds,pushing Congress to appoint a new head of the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives after a six-year vacancy in the position,the strict enforcement of serious penalties for gun trafficking, executive action to enhance gun tracing data, making schools safer by ensuring bet-ter emergency plans, and the improvement of mental health services.

Mental Health Youth Action Committee

hundred competitors par-ticipating in each event category, this is an amazing accomplishment—congrat-ulations to all!

With all the success Glenforest students have achieved, one DECA exec-utive for Glenforest, Yash Damania, who is also com-peting at ICDC, had this to say: “We are all grateful that we have received an opportunity to represent our school and province at the International Ca-reer Development Confer-ence.”

In the upcoming

With few weeks left until DECA’s an-

nual International Career Development Conference (ICDC), DECA members from Glenforest are pre-paring to compete and rep-resent DECA Ontario at the international competition. From April 22nd to April 29th in Anaheim, Cali-fornia, DECA’s ICDC will host several countries as they take part in the final competition. Competitors participate in various oral, written, and online events

all with the hope of win-ning the first place prize and representing their state or province.

This year, nineteen Glenforest students will travel to Anaheim to com-pete at ICDC and represent DECA Ontario. The events in which these students will be competing vary from online events to oral events. Twelve of the nine-teen students have quali-fied from different online events, often referred to as the Virtual Business Challenge (VBC) which consists of four different

competitions: Restaurant, Retail, Sports, and H&R Block’s “Dollars and Sense” Challenge. With four on-line events to compete in, students from Glenforest successfully qualified one team per event. Genuine Benjamins, International Billionaires, MDA Frost, and Sam and Friends are the teams that have qual-ified and will compete at ICDC.

However, the Virtu-al Business Challenge was just one route to competing at ICDC. From February 11th to 12th, DECA Ontar-

io’s provincial competition was held at the Sheraton Hotel, where Glenforest students arrived to com-pete in their respective event categories through presenting role plays and writing a multiple choice test. From Glenforest, there were many compet-itors who won individual medals for their efforts. Many Glenforest students even placed in the top ten and top five, with one stu-dent from Glenforest plac-ing first in their event cat-egory and even winning a scholarship. With nearly a

weeks, these students will work hard and prepare to compete at the internation-al level to represent Glen-forest and Ontario as they strive to reach first place. On behalf of Glenforest, I wish them best of luck and hope they achieve success at DECA’s ICDC.

student lifeVOLUME 22, ISSUE 3

SPRING 2013PAGE 5

Ten waysto peaceIt’s often hard to relax, espe-

cially when the stress of life is running in the race alongside you. Here are ten tips which, if you choose to take them, will help you gain some peace of mind.

1. Forgive, but never for-get

Although the common adage may say, “forgive and for-get”, changing it around a little bit may be helpful. Choosing to hold a grudge causes unneces-sary strain on both your phys-ical and mental health, as well as your strong, interpersonal relationships. Forgive, but don’t forget the lessons learned from the experience.

2. Take a time outThe problem with evolv-

ing technology is that it gets more addicting by the second. Give yourself a time out, get off the computer for a bit, and go out and get some fresh air. It will be worth it.

3. Volunteer with pur-pose

High school students will rush to fulfill the 40 hour vol-unteering requirement for their Ontario Secondary School Di-ploma. Instead, try to volunteer for a reason. Help support a

cause in which you truly be-lieve and remember the beliefs you hold; it will be all the more rewarding.

4. Remember the things you should be grateful for

People are drawn to the things that make them forget what they should be thankful for. Take some time to remem-ber who and what in your life has shaped you to become the kind of person you are to-day.

5. Take it one task at a time

Multi-tasking is some-thing every student does, but focusing your attention and ef-fort on one goal at a time will help out in the long run, and stress you out less.

6. Don’t be excessively rational

The problem with hu-mans today is that too many of our decisions are based on being rational and taking the safest route possible. We have become overly dependent on our minds advising us to use the least risky method, but tak-ing a risk can prove beneficial. Don’t use this as an excuse to do something incredibly stu-pid, but rather use it as a sign to do something you have nev-er done, or for an opportuni-ty you would have otherwise

missed.7. Have yourself a mini

dance partyMusic is relaxing, it’s a re-

fresher. Have a mini dance par-ty in the middle of your bed-room while listening to your favourite tunes for some quick stress-relief.

8. Give it your allTo always be afraid of

falling is such an unfortunate way to live. Don’t be so afraid of failure that it keeps you from trying at all. Give all the effort you can muster to everything you do.

9. You’re not superhu-man

Don’t stretch yourself beyond your limit. You know what you can and cannot do. Do not exhaust yourself. It may not be worth it in the end. Keep your human limitations in mind, but try your best to achieve success.

10. Get (back) in touch with nature

Nature is the best way to keep in touch with yourself and the kind of person you want to be. Take a walk or go on a hike by yourself to get in touch with your adventurous side. Try to head to the beach more often. It’s often said that sitting by the shore and staring at the waves is incredibly peaceful.

by: Yalleni Ilamvuluthy

From DECA provincialsto DECA internationals

by: Wahaj Khan


SPRING 2013PAGE 6

Spreading a little bit of TumaiWhat is it about Glen-

forest that strikes you most?

Amr Saleh: “I would say it is the sheer variety and number of clubs we have; all the things we do to make a difference in our communities, around the world and even in our-selves.”

Wasi Rizvi: “To me, it’s undoubtedly our extra-curric-ular [activities] – what we do outside the school and how we, as a school, take some action to help others.”

Peter Shi: “Well, the

[unique thing] about our school is that we can take what we learn, say in biology class, and apply it practically. What strikes me about Glenforest is that it’s a place where you can acquire knowledge and then, do something [with] it.”

The parallels in their an-swers are striking indeed, and they serve to highlight the initiative Glenforest students have taken in helping to make a change in the world. This month, Talon Times was able to get an interview from one such motivated student Cam-eron Taheri, executive council member of Tumai for Tomor-row.

Talon Times: Cameron, what is Tumai for Tommor-row?

Cameron Taheri: Tumai for Tomorrow was established in 2008 by a group of motivated students at Glenforest Second-ary School. It is an organization aimed at raising awareness for the life-threatening influence of the mosquito-borne disease called malaria. Along with the Toronto General & Western Hospital, we aspire to fundraise in support of an ongoing proj-ect, supporting translational, and lifesaving research, called MalariaEngage at the Mc-Laughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health.

TT: What makes you so passionate [about] what you do in this club?

CT: Our passion, and by ‘our’ I mean the entire coun-cil’s, simply comes from our motivation for change. The most important thing I have learned is that you can make a difference. And when you see the difference you have made, it adds another dimension of authenticity. We can see the effects of our organization vis-ibly through the windows of the Toronto General & West-ern Hospital, where our funds bring scientists together to find creative and innovative solu-tions to change the global an-gle on malaria. It truly brings a smile to my face, knowing that I brought a smile to someone else’s.

TT: What are some of the initiatives you have undertak-en?

CT: In the foregoing

years, we have planned and executed annual galas in an effort to raise money. At the gala there is excellent enter-tainment, guest speakers, door prizes, and silent auctions. The gala has been successful in past years, in terms of raising funds and awareness in our commu-nity.

TT: Do you feel you have made a difference in the world?

CT: Every 30 seconds, a child dies from malaria. Know-ing that Tumai for Tomorrow has raised a significant amount of money, over $1000 just last year, for research to bring an end to this horrible disease is an [astounding] fact. And that also makes us different from many other malaria targeted charitable organizations in the world. While most aim to col-lect funds for short term solu-tions like purchasing nets for those living in the affected re-

by: Indranil Balki and Cameron Taheri

gions, we at Tumai for Tomor-row have a slightly different ap-proach. Tumai for Tomorrow is attempting to tackle the prob-lem at its roots.

TT: What are the plans for the future?

CT: This year we [adopt-ed] a slightly different strategy. Unable to secure funds for a gala, we have mainly focused on smaller scale fundraising opportunities throughout the school. We hope to not only fundraise for this prestigious gala, but we also hope to ed-ucate our community as to the importance and impact of health research towards malar-ia. Our perseverance will most indefinitely lead to a successful gala in the coming fall of 2013. Tumai means “hope” in Swahi-li, and this is what we dream of giving to the millions around the world impacted by malaria; spreading a little bit of “tumai” where we can!

Nothing quite captures the exhilaration of a per-

formance. Nothing quite ex-plains the feeling of seeing the hours of hard work and col-laboration at rehearsal come together in one final product. For the members of Branch Out!, Glenforest’s show choir, singing and dancing is a pas-sion that stubbornly refuses to diminish in the face of this year’s political climate. With these various obstacles, many things remain a variable; de-

spite it all, through their voices and moves, the choir aspires to remind others that even in an environment of diminishing music opportunities, the un-deniable passion of music will continue on.

Last year was the choir’s first year, which started with the sprightly choreography of Hairspray’s You Can’t Stop the Beat and closed with the slower hit Without You by Usher. This year, Branch Out! infused colour co-ordination for visual effect in the chore-ography and added harmony

to John Lennon’s Imagine and showed holiday cheer by sing-ing to the upbeat tempo of All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey. These multi-ple performances have helped the group to grow as confident singers and dancers each time. Past performances at St. Mar-tha and Mary’s Church, com-munity events like Chapters Night and Midnight Mocha, as well as Glenforest’s grade eight parents’ night, show that with a dedicated and passionate group of singers and dancers, little will stop the beat of the

show choir.This group certainly has

come a long way. As the only Glenforest choir existing this year, the show choir has at-tracted a variety of individuals with different tastes and tal-ents, and provides individuals from previous years’ of Glen-forest chamber and concert choirs with an outlet and an opportunity to express their love of singing and dancing. For this student-organized club, planning original cho-reography and creating new arrangements for some of the

pieces has posed a challenge, but the collaboration between the members has successfully translated pieces from mere idea, into reality.

“My favourite part about being in show choir is the interesting variety of songs, and the support from all the members. Nobody judges you and you can sing and dance as crazy as you want. It makes for an interesting learning pro-cess, especially with my two left feet,” says one of the mem-bers.

“It’s what I look forward

by: Alison Chento each Friday! And it’s my way of relieving stress,” ex-claims another.

Branch Out! has be-gun their next project: Some Nights by f.u.n, a more vo-cally challenging piece, com-plimented with original chair choreography. The members looks forward to their next performance, where, bond-ed by a common passion and strong dedication to the group and each other, they will con-tinue to share their love for music among themselves and with the public.

Senior stress 101stress over schoolwork with-out paying any attention to post-secondary options, be-cause that’s what you’re most likely working towards.

That being said, it’s im-portant to allot some time for yourself to do what you want. Considering that this is your last year of high school, make sure that you live in the mo-ment and appreciate every-thing around you. In trying to prepare for the future, don’t lose sight of what your pres-ent holds. These are some of the best years of your life, so don’t stress out while living them!

Many of our senior Gry-phons now stand on

the brink between child-hood and adulthood as they simultaneously immerse themselves in the worlds of secondary and post-second-ary education. They need to prepare for the next few years of their lives while balancing the coursework of this year, both of which are crucial to moving forward. It is not an easy feat, and few manage to get through it without stress-

ing. The inevitable wrath of “senior stress” can make the present feel like a difficult place to be, and although things always work out for the best, it can be hard to see this in the short run.

"Knowing that we're in grade twelve and that I'm not even completely sure what I'm going to do next year—this is like a ‘make it or break’ it time [in] my life, and I just feel like the source of stress comes with this uncertainty [of] what I'm going to do with myself.” says one senior student.

Balancing all aspects of their lives (academics, post-secondary planning, ex-tracurricular activities, social commitments, and personal time) with equal emphasis is the key to having a stress-free time. However, in trying to do everything at once and actually achieve this balance, students find themselves sac-rificing their health and san-ity, which is absolutely un-desirable. Although students may feel like there is no time to step back, relax, and start fresh, it needs to be done in

order to complete everything from summative assignments to supplementary applica-tions.

The same grade twelve student interviewed above forces herself to take time out of her day and “watch good movies, eat good foods, do stuff that I enjoy and stuff that doesn't have to do with marks. I want to do things that involve no pressure and no competitions, because I think it’s good to be in that sort of environment. That way you create a fresh state

of mind and going into your work with this state of mind helps me focus and feel fresh-er." She’s got the right idea.

When it comes to look-ing at the bigger picture and exploring post-secondary options, be sure to allocate enough time towards it in order to have an idea of what you want to do, but not so much so that you deter your-self from your schoolwork. After all, your post-secondary life is most likely going to be based on your work in senior year! That being said, don’t

by: Pallavi Mathur


SPRING 2013PAGE 7

“Springtime is the land awakening. The March

winds are the morning yawn.” This is one of my favourite quotes by Lewis Grizzard in Kathy Sue Loudermilk, I Love You as it truly captures the es-sence of spring. Springtime is one the most inspiring time of the year: the fresh smell, the budding flowers, the sound of rain against the window sill and the new beginning. It’s a time for growth.

The 2012-2013 Glenfor-est school year has undoubt-edly gone by fast, and once again it’s spring! What is a better way to start this new chapter in our books, than to think about our environ-ment and our community? Although this can be an over-looked topic, it is one of the most important parts of our society, and the dedicated Gryphons from the Glenfor-est Green Team have a lot to say about it!

The Glenforest Green

Team has been an ongoing initiative throughout the school for numerous years. Led by Diana Yoon, they have many activities running weekly, throughout the entire school—most of us don’t even notice they’re there! These ac-tivities range from collecting recycling every Thursday to the occasional “Green Tip” on the morning announce-ments. They strive to create a more eco-friendly community by spreading awareness and bringing fun and “green” ini-

tiatives to the active citizens of Glenforest. For example, this year, a group of people had the amazing opportunity to do some gardening and gain some “hands-on” experience in the environmental area! Howev-er, the year is hardly over, and there are still many more op-portunities out there!

Having such dedicated and environmentally moti-vated people in our school is a gift. Today, I encourage you to follow the Glenforest Green Team. As spring is a season

of new beginnings, it is an opportunity for you to take a larger role in the environmen-tal awareness community and fight against the environmen-tal crisis we are currently ap-proaching.

Mahatma Gandhi once said, “What we are doing to the forests of the world is but a mirror reflection of what we are doing to ourselves and to one another.” As active, well-rounded citizens of Glen-forest, you are invited to join the Glenforest Green Team

by: Monisha Ambwanion their adventures through-out the year. Future initiatives include spring stewardship events (including tree plant-ing), the Plastic Water Bottle Campaign and Earth Hour/Week Campaigns! If, however, you choose not to, you have the ability to do much more. Go tree planting with a group of friends, and even join PEYA (Peel Environmental Youth Alliance)! Just remember to use spring 2013 as an oppor-tunity to help our planet in need!

Singing praise for grade 12 vocalUpon walking into one

of the Glenforest music rooms for the first time, the first thing you’ll probably no-tice is the enormous amount of positive energy that fills every corner of the room. No student rivalries here, no cliques, no disrespect or neg-ativity; in rooms 124 and 125, everyone is friends with one another.

Of course, the students in Ms. Krizan’s grade twelve vocal class were no exception to the welcoming spirit of the G.F.S.S. music department. “This is a very energetic class,” she told me when I came to visit. The grade twelve vo-cal course is brand-new, and this semester’s class is the first ever at Glenforest.

“Every day is a little bit different,” said Miss. Krizan. The comprehensive course

includes weekly theory les-sons, music appreciation and, of course, singing. Theory covers plenty of harmony, which, as any seasoned mu-sician knows, is essential to performing in choirs and oth-er large ensembles. Students also complete a scrapbook and write journals to actively reflect on their in-class expe-riences.

When I asked how they like the course so far, I re-

ceived a flurry of responses such as, “awesome”, “amazing” and “love it”.

While this year’s class is small (and a split grade eleven/twelve class to boot), hopefully, future classes will be much larger as interest for the course increases. With this new addition, there are now three vocal courses of-fered at Glenforest: grade ten, eleven and twelve vocal, all of which can be taken a year

ahead. That’s right: you can start your very own musi-cal journey as early as grade nine!

If you’re enticed by the idea of playing music, but singing isn’t your thing, don’t fret (pun very much intend-ed)! “There’s something for everyone,” says the wonderful Mrs. Pierson. “If you’ve always wanted to sing, there’s vocal. If you’ve always wanted to play in a large ensemble, there are

by: Simo Pajovicour beginner and experienced band courses. If you’ve always wanted to play guitar, there are guitar courses. If you want to make your own music, there is Music and Computers.”

So, what are you wait-ing for? If you’re looking for a unique and fun learning ex-perience, look no further than the music program right here at Glenforest! Treat yourself; give yourself a gift—the gift of music!

education & insightsVOLUME 22, ISSUE 3

SPRING 2013PAGE 8

Facebook and internet validationIn August of 2012, Facebook

released some astounding figures: each day, its users collectively click the “Like” button about 2.7 billion times and share 300 million photos. These statistics are notable not only because they are tes-tament to Facebook’s growing data processing power, but also because they illustrate one of the social networking site’s primary drawing factors. The ability to receive valida-tion when one shares the mi-nutiae of his or her everyday life—from university accep-tances to the Jesus-shaped frosted flake found at the bottom of the cereal bowl this morning—is a powerful thing. Clicking the “Like” button is a quick and easy way to let others know one finds a particular piece of content interesting. The downside is

that it can become hard not to start making a connection between the number of likes one receives on a status or a photo and the value—per-ceived or actual—of the con-tent. If there were a way to eliminate the “Like” button from your Facebook experi-ence, would you pursue it? Bill Mei, a current Queen’s Commerce student and Glen-forest graduate of the Class of 2011, has programmed a Chrome Extension that serves such a purpose, called “Hide Your Facebook Post Likes”. In an interview, Mei shares with Talon Times his motivations for the project.

Mona Jia: Some consid-er the "Like" button a staple of the Facebook experience. Why get rid of it?

Bill Mei: One night I made a Facebook post before going to sleep, then woke up

the next day to more than 100 likes on the post. I remember how empty it felt to have 100+ likes on a post, and think-ing, “Well, this doesn't affect my life in any way.” Likes ar-en't a meaningful measure of anything that is important to you, and certainly don't make you happy. By taking away a count of likes on every post, you stop comparing yourself against everyone else on an arbitrary [scale] that doesn't mean anything, and encour-ages you to post things be-cause you genuinely want to share with your friends, and not because you're just pandering likes to feel better about yourself. You don't go around comparing the num-ber on your bank account to everyone else's, so why do the same with likes?

MJ: Do you think Face-book has become, or is on its way to becoming, a substitute

for real-life interaction?BM: There are both con-

structive and destructive ways to use any tool. I see Facebook as a supplement to your social life, not a replacement for it. The majority of the time when I'm on Facebook, it's to look at events, invite people to do cool things, or coordi-nate logistics for meeting up. Facebook is also a great tool for collaborating and sharing resources and ideas for group projects.

MJ: What have you learned from your experience coding and sharing “Hide Your Likes”?

BM: At many points in the development process there were tough compro-mises that I had to make in the design, and I felt a battle between the business per-spective and the engineering perspective. For example, at one point I spent about six

hours optimizing one func-tion so that it would reduce CPU consumption by about 5%. The business person in me kept shouting, “This is a horrible waste of time in the grand scheme of things”, but the engineer in me kept say-ing, “This is inefficient code and poor implementation hurts the overall program.” There's a fine balance between “getting things done” and “getting things done right.”

MJ: As an entrepreneur, business student, and young person, what is your relation-ship with social media? How has it changed since you first started blogging, using Face-book, etc.?

BM: I started blogging in 2008. Back then MySpace was still the most popular so-cial network and hardly any businesses were using social media to its full potential. I wasn't very active online

by: Mona Jiaother than on my blog which I used mainly to record my thoughts. The turning point for me was in 2010 where at a conference in Toronto I was using Twitter to connect and meet with other conference mates. Twitter helped steer me into meeting the right people and I realized how powerful it was to facilitating real-life interaction. It was at that point that I turned my focus into using social media to connect with other entre-preneurs, share ideas, and meet people that I couldn't have otherwise. I received a lot of help from fellow pro-grammers with the “Hide Facebook Post Likes” Chrome Extension because I was such an active contributor to the “Queen's Hacks” Facebook group, and all of us have weekly meetings to help with each other's code and bounce ideas off each other.

Every now and again, we will get that intense crav-

ing for a nice, hot, cheesy slice of pizza. I often imag-ine the crunch of the fresh-ly-baked crust, the soft, airy interior of the pizza dough, the crispy pepperoni giving that kick of spice, and the still-viscous cheese melting away in my mouth. But un-less you have a pizza parlour nearby that is equipped with a wood-fire oven, doling out freshly-baked pizzas to order, the reality of that imagina-tion almost always leaves you disappointed. What one ends up getting is usually a slice of reheated pizza with limp pep-peroni, a floppy crust, and a

congealed layer of cheese dot-ted with pockets of hardened grease. Doesn’t sound too appetizing, now does it—so why not go ahead and make your imagination the reality for which you hoped? Why settle for something so sub-par, when making your own pizza, with all the glory and splendor that you imagined, takes no longer (and no more a burden on your wallet) than making a trip down to the nearest Pizza Pizza or Domi-no’s? Reimagine and reinvent your pizza, try something new, and you’ll never have to (or want to) do so again.

Pizza DoughMaking your own dough

is always a fun experience;

although the work is a bit of a mess the first few times, working with your hands in the kitchen is a must for any home cook. Alternative-ly, if you’re not yet confident enough, you could always buy fresh pizza dough from your local bakery. You’ll find pizza dough bagged in most of them (comes pretty cheap, too). Here’s a recipe for a ba-sic rising pizza dough, which is also good for deep-dish piz-zas. The recipe below makes dough large enough for one 10-inch iron skillet.

Ingredients:- 1 teaspoon dry yeast- ¼ tablespoon salt- 3/4 cup warm water- 2 cups white flour (plus ex-tra for kneading)

- 3 tablespoons olive oil1. Dissolve the yeast

in the warm water in a large bowl. Ensure that the water is not boiling, or the yeast may be killed. The water should be just warm to the touch.

2. Stir in the salt, oil, and flour into the yeast and water mixture. Mix well.

3. Dust a flat surface with additional flour, and knead the dough onto the sur-face until it is no longer sticky, but still very stretchy.

4. Let rest for 1 hour, covered in a warm place.

5. Remove from rest-ing place and form into a ball; your dough is now ready to use.

Pan Pizza

You’ll now need an ov-en-safe skillet that is as large as you would like your per-sonal pizzas. You’ll also need an oven, and a dry towel or a kitchen mitt… unless you like burns and blisters on your hands.

Ingredients: -Pizza dough-Olive oil-Tomato sauce (I prefer mak-ing my own, but you can sub-stitute canned sauce).-A good fresh ball of mozza-rella would be ideal. If you can’t find one, you can get away with whatever good melting cheese you can find.-Choice of toppings.

1. Preheat your oven to 425oF.

by: Kevin Zhang2. Place the skillet on

high heat onto the stovetop and pour in olive oil. Once the oil begins to glisten, place a ball of pizza dough inside and stretch it out until it cov-ers the entire bottom of the pan.

3. Take the pan off of the heat, and spread your sauce, cheese and toppings onto the exposed side of the dough.

4. Using the oven mitt or dry towel, place the pan in-side the oven and let bake for 15-18 minutes.

5. Remove pan with an oven mitt and take your pizza out with a spatula.

6. Indulge.

Pan pizza — why order out?

Hype of Super BowlOn February 3rd, 2013,

the Super Bowl was the event of the day. The Super Bowl was between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens, both teams with rich tra-ditions as organizations. The San Francisco 49ers had not lost their past five Super Bowl games, while the Baltimore Ravens had only won their first Super Bowl in 2001; the Ravens beat the 49ers, 34-31. In addition, an interesting and significant feature of the 2013 Super Bowl was the retirement of middle

linebacker, Ray Lewis, fol-lowing the conclusion of the game. Ray Lewis is a legend for the Baltimore Ravens and is known as the “Famous Raven” in Baltimore. He was the Super Bowl MVP in 2001 after Ravens beat the Den-ver Broncos. In addition, a young quarterback by the name of Colin Kaeper-nick had had an electrify-ing year after replacing the franchise quarterback Alex Smith. Both teams had something to fight for and this is why the Super Bowl had so much hype before the game even be-gan.

Before the game, ev-ery team is given two weeks to prepare for the Super Bowl. This gives people opportunities to bet and many sports ana-lysts the chance to argue who the favourites are to win the Super Bowl. As an avid sports fan (espe-cially football), many peo-ple discussed the Super Bowl and how it was going to be amazing. Yet when I talk about the players that are participating in the Super Bowl, or the “game plan” of the two teams, everyone phases out and says the same thing: “Yes, but I still think Baltimore

is going to win.” Only oc-ccasionally, someone re-sponds to the question be-ing asked. However, I am not blaming the people for having wanted to “jump on the bandwagon” per se, yet I find it difficult to grasp the fact that the Super Bowl is not known for the actual game, but known for its halftime shows and the media cov-erage. Beyoncé gave her much-anticipated perfor-mance during the half-time show, which gener-ated more tweets than the actual game itself. I be-lieve that the spirit of the actual game was lost due

to its hype, making people blind to the real impor-tance of the Super Bowl: the actual game.

The hype surround-ing the Super Bowl over-shadows the fact that the game is the only reason that a half-time show or Super Bowl commercials even exist. Furthermore, the half-time shows or the commercials do not mat-ter to the actual players, who are playing to win. In addition, the players play for pride and hon-our, but also appreciation towards the people who helped them get to the biggest stage in Ameri-can football, the National Football League—it is not done simply for the sake of putting on a show for the spectators. Although

by: Kevin Chung

my love for the game made me “hyped” up for it, I thought to myself of the millions around North America tuning into the Super Bowl and how the magnificent game of football is still cherished around North America. Moreover, I believe the Super Bowl could be ben-eficial in the sense that it brings fans together to appreciate a game that has been played for a long time. Those are the mem-ories I want to have as an avid football enthusi-ast.

education & insightsVOLUME 22, ISSUE 3

SPRING 2013PAGE 9

The Mississauga Youth Film Festival (MYFF) will

take place on May 3rd, 2013. A Talon Times journalist was lucky enough to sit down and interview the organizers of the Mississauga Youth Film Fes-tival, David Ma and Rawan Abdallah, and the Supervisor of the Culture Division at the City of Mississauga, Paula Po-letto, to get the inside scoop of the event.

Catherine Liu: Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to answer my questions. Paola, let’s start with you. You’re the Supervisor of the Culture Division, and the Co-Head of Mississauga REB-EL week. You definitely play an important role. Can you tell me how Mississauga's contri-bution to the National Youth Arts Week and REBEL theme all started?

Paula Poletto: In 2007, National Youth Week was pro-claimed to run annually, May

1-7. The arts element started in 2011. The name, REBEL, was established in 2011 to mark the 175th anniversary of the failed Rebellion of 1837 and was used as the theme in Mississauga for the local youth-led celebra-tions. The inaugural 2012 Mis-sissauga REBEL Week rolled out eighteen events featuring 215 young artists, 105 volun-teers, and attracte over 4000 visitors. This will be the second year for REBEL in Mississauga. Visit www.mississauga.ca/rebel for more info, and how to get involved.

CL: What can one expect to see at the MYFF?

Rawan Abdallah: The MYFF takes place on May 3rd at the Meadowvale The-ater between 7 pm and 9 pm. Short films, lasting between three to ten minutes, submit-ted by talented youth, aged between 13 and 24, will be screened and judged by both a panel of professional judges as well as the public (People's Choice Awards), and the win-ning films will receive one of

many prizes. Seasoned local film makers will be speaking as well.

CL: Why did you get in-volved with the National Youth Arts Week and REBEL?

David Ma: The reason I decided to take part in the NYAW and the MYFF is [be-cause] I truly believe that these events will enhance our society and our city for the better. This is not [a cliché] that everyone says. I truly be-lieve that Mississauga contains many different talents that are yet to be discovered, as not a great many opportunities are offered in Mississauga to dis-cover these talents. Dreams are then crushed and talents wasted. This issue, in my truest and most sincere opinion, will be changed by the NYAW and the MYFF, as these events will be able to bring those talents to light, and allow these artists to network and make those connections that will make their dreams come true. It will truly make the life of many better, which is why I took part

in this experience.CL: And how has the

organization process of this event been?

DM: Organizing an event like this takes quite some work. Ever since the beginning of the project in mid-October of 2012, we have been end-lessly going to presentations, promotional events, council meetings and many other ven-ues to get the word out and progress in the organization of our event. When we are not going to these events, we are often engulfed in paperwork, planning, networking or writ-ing proposals for the event, in order for it to meet the neces-sary deadlines and legal issues in its operation. It is a lot of work, and certainly requires a great deal of nerves, energy and confidence. However, it is a fun experience and despite all of the hard work, organiz-ing the event has been (and still is) very enjoyable.

CL: Wow that sounds like a lot of work! Rawan, what have you gained from this ex-

perience?RA: A lot of stress! I’m

just kidding. Working to-gether with my co-organiz-ers to put this event togeth-er is something that school group projects don't teach. This event, while stressful at times, shows how with deter-mination and patience a sim-ple idea can grow into a huge event that everyone in our city can enjoy.

CL: I can see that this event is definitely very import-ant to the both of you. Paola, how do you feel about MYFF being part of REBEL and MYFF as a city-wide event?

PP: MYFF is a great example of how a group of young, entrepreneurial indi-viduals can rapidly change the cultural landscape of the City. Mentored by the Mississauga Arts Council and Meadowvale Theatre, this new film festival has created an opportunity to screen and celebrate new film by our city's emerging film and video artists. It's inspiring to see how REBEL's series of

by: Catherine Liuyouth led programs, including the MYFF, can benefit a whole new generation of cultural producers in our city.

CL: As we wrap up the interview, do you have any-thing to say to the aspiring film makers of Mississauga? Or to all the artists in Missis-sauga?

RA: Participate. You have nothing to lose. Whether you are submitting an entirely new project or a previous one, you are gaining experience and you are letting people know that "Hey! I exist, check me out!" Who knows who you might meet, who will judge your work, where you'll end up. But if you don't take that first step, you'll never know.

Please visit myffmissis-sauga.wordpress.com or email [email protected] for more information on at-tending or participating in the MYFF. Both David and Rawan attend Glenforest, so come out to the event and support your fellow Gryphons!

MississaugaYouth Film Festival

entertainmentVOLUME 22, ISSUE 3

SPRING 2013PAGE 10

A Beginner's Guide to Rock ClimbingHearing cryptic phras-

es like, “I could’ve sent that 5.11d but my rand didn’t catch when I tried bat hooking, man” being casually thrown from one person, hanging 40 feet in the air, to another is not uncommon in rock climbing gyms. But it might be enough to leave the uninitiated scratch-ing their helmeted head. It is understandable how the sport of rock climbing can seem dominated by an elite upper crust of veterans who leave lit-tle room for the curious first timers. Most often, what stops people from uninhibitedly hit-

ting the walls are niggling con-cerns about equipment, safety, and a purported lack of skill. But worry not; these fears can be dispelled with just a little prior knowledge.

The EquipmentThe most obvious obsta-

cle preventing you from im-mediately scaling the nearest wall is a lack of equipment. Quality equipment paired with the knowledge necessary to op-erate it are essential when your finish line is 60 meters off the ground. However, having the right harness, shoes, carabi-neers, belay device, rope, and chalk can seem overwhelming

(and overwhelmingly pricey) for a novice. Luckily for the be-fuddled beginner, the majority of indoor climbing gyms offer comprehensive beginner les-sons and all of the necessary fixin’s for rent. But if you are seriously considering pursu-ing the sport, it will be more economical in the long-run to invest in some quality equip-ment of your own. In turn, you can redirect those accumulated savings towards a lesson or two that will equip you with the technical knowledge necessary for skill improvement.

A Type of Climbing for Every Climber

The variety of climbing most beginners are accustomed to seeing involves a climber attached to a single rope that is secured to the top of a hun-dred feet tall route, all regulat-ed by a belayer standing on the ground. This popular configu-ration is referred to as “top rope climbing”; and while it is the style of climbing to which nov-ices are first introduced, it is by no means the only style. The different variations of climb-ing cater to each individual’s specific skills or developmen-tal goals. “Bouldering”, with its bursts of dynamic movements

over short traverses, aims to flex your technical skill, while marathon “top rope” routes improve stamina; for the nat-uralist, “traditional climbing” offers all the challenges of in-door climbing and translates it to naturally occurring rock for-mations. So, slap some chalk on (it absorbs sweat, allowing you to better grip the rocks) and get to conquering all the different routes.

The Varying Difficulties in Climbing

A common misconcep-tion keeping potential climb-ers on the ground is that they don’t possess the skill need-ed to accomplish routes, and therefore cannot enjoy climb-ing. But the fact is, if you can climb a ladder, there’s a wall for you. A route’s difficulty is graded using one of several systems: the Yosemite Dec-imal System (starting at 5.0, increasing in difficulty by in-crements of .1), or the Heuco Scale (V0, being the easiest, all the way up to V16, the most

by: Jennifer Tran

technically advanced). Indoor climbing gyms cater to all lev-els of skill and experience, and have walls corresponding to all graded difficulties. You take on only what you are comfort-able with because there are difficulties which range from climbing a ladder, to routes with tiny crimps and jutting overhangs.

Climbing is a sport char-acterized by personal prog-ress; your biggest competitor is not the person climbing the adjacent wall, but the fatigue in your fingers and your “just short of that hold” armspan. Simply by participating in the sport, you’re actively improv-ing because the only way to get better is to work on the techniques while you’re on the walls.

So grab a belay buddy (and a helmet because Talon Times is not liable in case of personal injury), hit the walls, and soon enough, you’ll be the one pulling heel hooks and flashing V5’s. Happy climb-ing!

When the drums start booming and the

speakers explode with 130 decibels of pure rock good-ness, you know that it's seri-ous business. The suspense builds, and everyone's antic-ipating that screaming guitar solo; the whine of the strings and the wail of emotional angst that sends shivers run-ning down your spine. For that's what makes the electric guitar so freaking cool. Let's face it, we've all wished for

our own rock star moments. Perhaps that's why so many people choose to learn the gui-tar: there really is a particular image associated with it. But what's the joy in learning such a common instrument? In fact, I'm here to propose a rev-olution. Let's drop the guitars and learn to play something else. Something arguably just as rock, but certainly much more unique. It's small, but it packs a punch, so allow me to introduce you to the harmon-ica.

Being something that

can fit into the palm of your hand, the harmonica is quite a versatile instrument, coming in many forms: there are the diatonic harps, the chromatic harps, and the swirly sounding tremolos. The most popular is easily the 10-hole diatonic and, for beginners, they are usually bought in the key of C.

They say that the first step to learning a subject is to understand it. So how exactly does the harmonica work? The instrument consists of numer-ous chambers, each containing two metal reeds flipped from

their partner. By breathing either in or out, air is blown over the reeds, and depend-ing on the direction of air flow, one reed will vibrate. As I promised, the harmonica is actually surprisingly similar to the guitar; the wooden body of an acoustic acts as a resonator, amplifying the string vibra-tions. With the harp, the res-onating occurs in your throat (so yes, technically, you have become the instrument), and with different breathing tech-niques, you can produce some pretty impressive sounds.

But the schematics ex-plained, I still haven't touched on why the harmonica attracts me so much. It is an instru-ment commonly found in many styles of music, rang-ing from country to jazz, and from rock to the blues. It's unique. It's portable (if you've got room for a wallet, you've got room for a harp). You can be the one with a pocket full of music, literally. And above all, it's relatively cheap. $30 will get you the goods. So while it's true that the harmonica isn't very popular in modern day

by: Leo Tsangmusic, it shouldn't steal from the enjoyment of playing one. It's not very hard to learn ei-ther.

And for all you gentle-men trying to woo your lady friend, check out the Hohner's “Little Lady”. To make it even better, beatbox on it. Oh yes—it’s possible.

A mouth-harp for you

when the canvas is so extraor-dinary, and up for only twelve hours. It’s the best thing an urban city can do for its citi-zens. As an artist, it helps to break self-imposed barriers, absolutely.

SJ: Any advice for stu-dents?

FA: It’s a really exciting time we live in. Art and design hold the potential for so many answers, since we’re exhaust-ing so many other things. En-gage yourself – we make plans to go to the movies, why not try an art gallery? Financially, don’t get caught up with hav-ing the best equipment. It’s about the content.

SJ: What do you think of people posting as anony-mous?

FA: They can post as anonymous for the [My City Stories] project. By sharing your voice, you increase your capacity to make change. It’s important to take owner-ship, and we should be responsible to engage in our own dia-logue.

Artist Faisal Anwar de-scribes himself as an

interactive artist who works with technology. His project, “My City Stories” explores the emotional landscape of cities, and is part of “The Roots and Branches Project”, a commu-nity art project in association with the Art Gallery of Missis-sauga.

Shalaka Jadhav: How did “My City Stories” be-gin?

Faisal Anwar: I was commissioned by the City of Toronto for their 175th anni-versary to produce a video. I wanted to do something with neighbourhoods, to connect with urban spaces. I have a fascination with shared, pub-lic spaces. [People have] in-creased our travel—this fas-

cinates me, and I wanted to look at how this affects how we behave.

SJ: What do you enjoy most about this project?

FA: I really enjoy that it is evolving. It’s been hard to find the best way to connect, and how to engage people. It has its challenges, but digital projects are fluid in nature. It will keep evolving, as we evolve.

SJ: What is the reaction when you ask for something so personal, like someone’s stories?

FA: When conversing physically, there’s a new di-mension. I met a gentleman, who didn’t just share one story, but many. [The] next steps for this project are already grow-ing in my head, to extend the project and get a dialogue go-ing. With low-key digital proj-

ects, there are limitations, like where to click. We’re trained to see other people’s stories, it’s the result of being drowned in news [and other] media. To challenge people to think of their own surroundings, there’s a sense of anxiety.

SJ: How does having a digital platform change things?

FA: People react differ-ently to different designs. But the mindset is designed to interpret many different plat-forms at once! There’s an inde-scribable reading of the work, and new interest levels emerg-ing. It’s important that the medium does not grow more powerful than the idea.

SJ: What about social media?

FA: I think of it as a pos-itive tool! It breaks lobbies! Before, people were bound by media – now, we are our own media. It provides a platform to talk, bridging the gap be-tween our own stories and the untold ones.

SJ: It says here you have produced work for Nuit Blanche – what is that like, for an artist?

FA: It’s an amazing festi-val. It’s so positive to see how different expressions turn out

by: Shalaka Jadhav

entertainmentVOLUME 22, ISSUE 3

SPRING 2013PAGE 11

5 websites youwon't regret wastingspending time onYou've just come home

from school and, miracu-lously, you have no homework. You're constantly switching between Facebook and Twit-ter, and you have no idea what to do with your time. Have you ever had one of those mo-ments when you're bored out of your mind, and you just don't know what to do on the Internet? Have no fear, here are five websites that will put that time to use, and give you some insight that you'll love.

You could spend hours and hours scrolling through and visiting each of these sites. You'll learn odd facts, useful tips, and helpful advice. Just make sure you don't make these a source of procrastina-tion!

1. StumbleUponThis is the hub of all the

hidden secrets on the Internet. Whether you want to try a new recipe or find a new personal-ity test, you can put in your interests and receive person-alized results for sites that you have "stumbled upon." There are categories from A to Z and I'm sure that you'll be able to find something that catches your eye. If you want a web-site full of everything, this is a must visit.

2. TEDThis particular site is

becoming more and more popular. Do you have a couple of minutes on your hands? Try watching a talk, short or long, that will in-spire you and blow your mind. These videos are all about getting out those ideas that everyone should know, learn, and spread. If you want an educational use of your time, this is the one.

3. ThoughtCatalog Think about a cata-

logue with jumbles of mixed thoughts where you can pick and choose the content. That is ThoughtCatalog. Updated frequently, writers from all over the world submit their articles to join the catalogue of wonderful thoughts. Sorted by themes, you can get advice or another perspective on almost anything. It's a good place to seek random facts, lists, and life hacks.

4. TumblrI would personally de-

scribe this as a collection of fandoms, quotes, and images of your choice. It's a blogging site with the flair of a mod-ernist. Simple but complex at the same time, the function-ality and convenience of the platform has its advantages. You can "follow" the blogs that spark personal interest, "like" the posts that appeal to you, and "reblog" all you want.

5. SoulPancakeImagine a strange web-

site with a world hidden inside of the most absurd, useful, and personal advice and conversa-tions about art, philosophy, cre-ativity, culture, and humor. That is SoulPancake. Do you want to start a conversation about a new idea you have? Or maybe you want an activity to open your mind to different things? No matter which part of the web-site you go to, you're sure to put your time to good use.

by: Serena Chao

My City Stories: AGM

(Note from Talon Times: Talon Times is not responsible for the content of external publications; some material may not be appro-priate for all ages, and is not under our control.)

interviewVOLUME 22, ISSUE 3

SPRING 2013PAGE 12

For the students, by the students.

The United Way Committee at Glenforest has been at

the forefront of student activity at Glenforest this past year, do-ing everything from holding a “Mane Event”, to organizing a charity gala for United Way of Peel Region. They’ve been doing great work year-long, and Talon Times wanted you to get to know more! Not to mention, we’re also introducing you to your Student Activity Council president of 2012-2013 at the same time!

Shikhar Gaur: Hi, my name is Shikhar Gaur. I’m grade twelve IB; I’m currently the pres-ident of the Student Activity Council. It is my pleasure to have this interview.

Talon Times: Can you tell us about your role on the United Way committee?

SG: Everyone is equal in the committee; there are no ex-ecutive positions. We are all try-ing to organize this in one piece. My role, just like everyone else’s, is to sell the tickets, contact spon-sors, try and help out, stay in touch with Riviera Parque. The committee started off in Novem-ber when we decided, along with Ms. Perugini, that other schools were doing United Way cam-paigns and we wanted to con-tribute.

The United Way of Peel chair came and presented at a PSPC (Peel Student Presidents' Council) general meeting and he said that elementary schools and middle schools contribute a lot of money to United Way of Peel, yet surprisingly, secondary schools do not contribute at all. Having told Ms. Perugini that, and con-sidering how outgoing Glenfor-est is as a student body, it would make sense for us to try and do something to support them and try to get the high school level of contribution up. So we started in November, it wasn’t anything SAC-related at all, but everyone from SAC wanted to help out and we had other people who were also helping out United Way from Kicks for Kids or other organizations who’ve said they wanted to be part of the campaign, so we sort of created the committee with the mindset that we were going to try to cre-ate events in the school, to raise money for charity.

TT: Just to clarify, United Way is obviously a charitable or-ganization. What is it exactly that they do or partake in?

SG: They’re mainly cen-tered for providing homes in Peel, so providing a lot of home-less centers. [There are] people suffering in our local communi-ties with mental health or mental health issues or abuse at home. They [United Way], I believe, take them in or help them out in any way possible and provide the path for anyone recovering.

TT: How did this [The Silk Road Charity Gala] come about, considering that most clubs and organizations lacked teacher su-pervision?

SG: We realized we want-ed to do our best to organize a semi-formal but considering the political instability and how some teachers are choosing not to su-pervise, it’s very difficult. There are very [few] events and we re-alize that organizing a semi-for-mal would probably benefit the school and then we started brain-storming which ways we could do so. Charity sanctions are not part of the restrictions, as in if it’s a charity organization, teachers, not that they can’t say no, but they’re open to come and if it’s anything relating to charity, after December, I believe, they changed that, that they can help out. So Ms. Perugini told us that charity organizations, or doing charity events is okay and teach-ers can help, out of the goodness of their hearts.

We had some teacher sup-port in November, which we greatly appreciated, and we want-ed to do something to recognize the support that we had received in our campaign in November. The plan initially was to hold a sort of gala to recognize students, teachers, any sort of people in the community, in the garage sale

who had helped us, and have a night for them. We [had] invit-ed all the teachers who’ve helped us out; we invited guest speakers from United Way. Since it’s not SAC or any centralized organiza-tion, all the proceeds go to Unit-ed Way. Last year, as SAC, we broke even and made—not sig-nificant, but we made profit and we kept it for SAC, as we needed it. But this year, all proceeds—after we break even—all money, all donations (we’ve received do-nations from sponsors and com-panies, such as Boston Pizza and stuff like that); all money goes [to United Way]. So this [was] the best medium ground for pro-viding a fun night for students, because we definitely deserve it after all the hardships this year and recognize teachers who have chosen to help us out.

TT: How does the Much Music Video Dance Party [win-nings] deal fit in?

SG: When we won, it was surprising. I wasn’t aware…con-gratulations to us, good for us! Much Music said that they were definitely willing to provide a free dance party. So what they said was that they would provide a ven-ue and they’ll provide a DJ and they’ll have supervisors, which is great. When we proposed the idea to Ms. Horvath, she said: that is great, but we cannot have the

word ‘Glenforest’ associated with it as long as Glenforest supervi-sors are not there. This can’t be a Glenforest Much Music Party. It can be a dance party that is ex-clusive to Glenforest, but it cannot have our name, our school name or anything associated with it, if no one from our school is choos-ing to supervise it. This put us at a standstill again because even if they were willing to give us a ven-ue, most people would come but many parents, especially grade nine and tens, I know they would be very reluctant to go to a Much Music Video Dance Party with-out teacher supervision or princi-pals or anything. I know my par-ents wouldn’t let me…well now, yeah, but in earlier years, no. We have the resources, but what can we do to benefit us?

So, we contacted Jordy, who was the Much Music person staying in contact with us and she said, well, we can give you the DJ, the venue, it was good for a dance party, but we wanted something more formal. So, Much Music provided the DJ, they covered the costs, which helped us out because more money now gets to go to charity. We had our own supervisors coming in (Ms. Pe-rugini), Mr. Pop – of course he’s bringing his dance moves – and a few other teachers. The main problem with Much Music was

that even though we had won it, and we deserved to, we could still not, as Glenforest, do it. They told us they could team up with SAC, but we as SAC could not because our teacher supervisor was not willing to collaborate with them. This is the best mid-dle ground: we still get their re-sources; it [was] a Much Music Video Party.

TT: Did the Student Life Network representatives from our school get a say in what they wanted to do because technically they won the money for us? Who were the reps who actually en-tered us?

SG: I don’t know who en-tered us, but I know when Jordy contacted us, she said that there were four reps, the four reps who are working with them. Most of the discussion was done between Ms. Perugini and Jordy, on the Much Music thing. They are all part of the United Way commit-tee, and we’re all trying to work together. [One of the Student Life Network reps] Jenny had let us know that they were willing to provide supervisors but the question was not about what they were able to provide, just wheth-er we can host it. Weighing our options, we all decided that this would be the most optimal use of both the resources.

TT: With the Super Heads

by: Talon Timesmeetings [meetings between all of the heads of clubs in the school] suspended, there’s been a general lack of communication, and it’s made some people unhappy. Like some people didn’t know there was a semi.

SG: We didn’t want to ad-vertise a semi until every single thing was verified—because you start saying that, “Yes, we’re going to have a semi” and somewhere down the line, something goes wrong and we were not providing one? In the last two years of SAC, I can tell you that there’s no way you can make everyone happy. There’s going to be people who are against whatever you’re doing. This year, I made sure that, yes, this was my decision, we can defi-nitely hint that we’re trying our best to provide. [To something like] “Shikhar, is there a semi hap-pening this year?”, I would say, “We’re planning everything out. It’s a tough year, but I will let you know.”

After talking to Anthony at Riviera Park, after booking the venue, after figuring out what we would call it, after figuring out ev-ery single detail, you know what? We now knew this was going down, let’s tell people now. Then the wave came a little too fast without communication. Like guys, this is happening. Many people must’ve been confused like wait, is this a charity gala? Is this a semi-formal?

It was a semi-formal night. There was be music, there was be dancing, there was be celebration, the attire is semi-formal, but last year we put up photos of what happened at Glenforest in the last school year: spirit days, the Hal-loween dance, and everything. In-stead, this year, it’s not about us, it’s not about Glenforest, it’s about all the contributions we, as a school have made to the community. So us, Kicks for Kids, a few other or-ganizations.

TT: So will they be having their time to shine, I guess.

SG: Yes, and what I would say to the people who are unhap-py: please come and talk to me and address anything. What I dis-like is people taking smack with-out coming to talk to one of us. I don’t know if I’d be able to help, I’d feel guilty even more. But at any point if I can try and just tell you my side of the story and under-stand yours, I’ll try my best—or we as an organization will meet you half way.

SG: If you have any other questions, find me during lunch and just ask me in person if you’re missing something.

TT: Sounds good. Haha, we’re not looking forward to writ-ing this out.

SG: I talk a lot so maybe you’ll have to listen to a lot of—

TT: Shikhar (chuckles). We did put you on the spot quite a lot, so thank you for answering all of our questions.

Shikhar Gaur: A presidential special

Spring 2013

Documents

Transcript of Spring 2013