Martingrove Collegiate Beacon

An interview with MCI’s most popular purveyor

In the midst of grilling hot dogs for an endless lineup of Martingrove’s students, Jerry the Hot Dog guy finds time to chat with the Beaconette about himself and his hobbies.

So how long have you been making hot dogs?

Since 1988! For Martingrove, since 1992. The principal asked me to make 600 hot dogs for his students. 600! From then on I stayed at Martingrove.

Favourite part of the job?

MONEY! No, when you cook good sausages, you see when they eat the hot dog, they are happy, and that’s when you know you did a good job.

What do you put on your hot dogs?

Onions or sauerkraut. Too many things on the top and you don’t know what you’re eating.

How many hot dogs do you sell everyday?

Haha, now that is PRIVATE! But good business, yes business is good. If it wasn’t good I wouldn’t be at Martingrove! And you kids will be hungry!

What do you do in your spare time?

I travel! I have been to over 70 countries. Greece, Italy, France, Germany, most of Europe, Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Fiji and Australia…in June I will be leaving for Australia for a month to visit family. Best beach I’ve ever been to was the Boracay beaches in the Philippines.

So there you have it. Next time you see Jerry for a hot dog, but sure to ask for a travel tip too!

Although wrestling may not be the most popular sport at Martingrove, our team has historically been successful, boasting many OFSAA champions throughout the years. I spoke to Rei Dema, a first year wrestler, and he explained some of the aspects of the MCI wrestling team.

Beacon: Why did you decide to join the wrestling team?

Rei: Since I am in my final year at MCI, I wanted to be involved in the school’s community. I took a look at a few options and found out that wrestling would provide me with a unique experience, as opposed to other team sports.

Beacon: How difficult was it to learn wrestling from scratch?

Rei: It was surprisingly easy to catch on. I quickly learned that the most important aspects in wrestling are the basics. You have to have a tough mentality and use proper technique to win; it’s not just about who is stronger.

Beacon: Although an individual sport, are the team aspects important?

Rei: The team aspects of the sport are very important, as we warm up together and practice with each other. Our coach, Curtis Wilson, is also an important part of the progression to get better as he dedicates a lot of his time to train individuals one on one.

Beacon: How would you describe a typical week of wrestling practice during the season?

Rei: Practices are on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday after school until 5:30. We usually start off practice by running hard for about 10 minutes. Then we wrestle one another. Curtis, the coach, will also typically teach us for a good majority of the time. Practices are very tiring and difficult, but they pay off big time at competitions.

Beacon: Would you recommend joining the wrestling team to other Martingrove students?

Rei: Yes, of course, because it is one of the most rewarding sports out there. Whenever you win a match, you know it’s all you and no one else because nobody can pick up your slack. It’s also a sport that just about anyone can do, as being a super athlete is not required. It’s a sport that will get anyone into great shape. I highly recommend Martingrove students to join the Wrestling team.

It’s a cold night, it’s snowing otters and walruses, and you decide to snuggle up beside a nice, cozy, wood-burning fireplace. Now, what’s wrong with this picture? It seems to be perfectly normal; it’s a scene that is prevalent in many narratives. What’s wrong is that wood smoke is detrimental to your health. How bad is it? Well, it’s at least as bad as cigarette smoke, if not worse. The smoke carries many carcinogens, mutagens and compounds that can irritate the respiratory system. One study found it to be 30 times more potent a carcinogen than cigarette smoke.

Many of the particles in wood smoke are smaller than one micron. This size is thought to be very damaging to our lungs. The particles are so small that they can bypass many of the defenses of our lungs and pass directly into the bloodstream, potentially causing problems for our heart. Some effects these particles can have include decreased lung function, aggravated asthma, chronic bronchitis, difficulty breathing, and premature death in people with lung or heart disease.

But what if we use a chimney? Well, it is estimated that 70% of smoke that leaves through a chimney re-enters the building and nearby buildings. Areas where wood burning is common are associated with increased hospital admissions for respiratory illnesses and increased mortality from heart attacks. So, not only is it bad for the people burning the wood, it’s bad for the whole community. With all of these harmful health effects, wood burning is still common in the developed world, where many alternatives such as gas stoves exist. Although it may go against your instincts, needlessly burning wood is demonstrably unethical and dangerous to one’s health. Think twice before you light that match.

 (Source: Google Images)

It’s 10:30 PM. You’ve spent the past five hours of your Thursday liking statuses and poking people, playing with your hair, video-gaming, reblogging photos on Tumblr, rummaging through your kitchen shelves and watching dumb videos on YouTube. Suddenly, you realize that tomorrow you have to hand in your 1000-word English essay, one that you didn’t even bother thinking about until now.

Sound familiar? Of course it does. Procrastination strikes everyone, everywhere, every day. It’s a relentless plague; it’s more contagious than the flu and more irritating than severe acne. It’s the reason teenage students all around the world get no sleep, have mental breakdowns, and tell their teachers increasingly strange reasons as to why their homework isn’t with them.

Many people don’t realize that procrastination is a problem, and those who do don’t really worry about it. They think, “Oh I’ll get organized, I’ll prioritize, start writing in my agenda, and bam, problem solved!” Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. Trust me, I’ve tried too many times.

The actual remedy doesn’t require much work, but at the same time, it’s unbelievable difficult to use. One word: willpower. It’s within each and every one of us, but when push comes to shove, self-discipline takes the backseat. The human species is a lazy one. We often think, “If you can do it later, why would you do it now?” But the problem is, later often becomes too late.

The good news is that willpower gets stronger with each use. Next time you’re sitting at home, push yourself to get up and work on whatever you’ve been delaying. Don’t leave your commitments to the last minute. Leave yourself little reminders on your computer, on your PS3, or on your phone. Reward yourself for not doing something last-minute, and soak up that feeling of freedom. Take something from this article…not maybe later, not tomorrow, but now. Good luck! (Source: Google Images)

Canada was one of the first countries in the world to make use of marijuana, leagalizing it for medical purposes in July of 2001. Since then, the Liberals have made it clear that they support permitting the possession of marijuana. Other major political parties, such as the NDP and Green Party, have also supported the legalization of marijuana in the past.

On January 15th the Canadian Liberal Party voted in support of the legalization of marijuana at a biannual part convention. It is said that they did this as a way of gaining national attention and support, since thye were disappointed in the results of the last federal election. When the resolution was proposed by the party’s youth wing, it recieved 77% of the support of the Liberal’s delegates. Though the Librals support the idea of legalization, the vote does not mean that legalizing marijuana will become part of the Liberal Party’s official platform in 2015; it merely means that the possibility is more out in the open than it has ever been before.

This proposed resolution also calls upon a Liberal federal government to legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana production, as well as to regulate its distribution and use, while ordaining “strict penalties for illegal trafficking, illegal importation and exportation, and imparied driving.” In short, on the off chance that marijuana could become legalized, it will potentially revolutionize the manner in which Canadians view, purchase and consume this controversial product.

 (Source: Google Images)

The most unpredictable nine days of the year

While the expansive Summer Vacation features the end of the school year and promises of sunny days at the beach, and the Winter Holidays’ two weeks are host to Christmas and New Year’s, the March Break’s nine days barely give students enough time to forget the bonding laws for hydrocarbons. However, this does not mean that March Break has to be boring or eventless, as even the runt of the litter can shine with the right planning. Like we do every break, the Beacon has your back with an extensive list of March Break activities to look forward to.

1. Get New Year’s resolutions off hiatus.

For all of the people who set New Year’s Resolutions on January 1st and promptly forgot them by January 2nd, March Break is an excellent time to show everyone you were actually serious this year. So whether you hit the gym for ten minutes or open your Calculus book for five, this is your opportunity to give up a second time.

2. Enjoy the sights and sounds of spring.

Often called this season of love, spring is a season to cherish, with its blooming flowers, baby birds and slow walks with a loved one through green expanses. March Break gives students a chance to herald in the coming of this beloved season by allowing them to rush outside, hyped up on images of spring, sink ankle deep in the mud, notice the biting cold and forlorn grey ice piles, realize they live in Canada, and head back indoors. Additionally, March marks the beginning of the dreaded return of the Canada geese, ensuring that people can once again enjoy not being able to walk through grass for the feat of the cleverly camouflaged goose poop.

3. Get ahead on schoolwork.

This is probably not going to happen.

4. Perform spring cleaning.

See previous.

5. Have your entire schedule messed up by daylight savings.

Self-explanatory

6. Go downtown for St. Patrick’s Day’s festivities.

If March Break were a Twinkle, St. Patrick’s Day would be the cream centre, probably due to the fact that it is the only major event celebrated during March Break’s ever so brief duration, other than the ever so popular daylight saying day parties. Students can do downtown to enjoy the St. Patrick’s Day parade, enjoy delicious Irish dishes such as potatoes and cabbage and potatoes, and step in frozen pools of green vomit for the next two days. Armed with this list, readers will be back on track to make this the least boring March Break ever, and will be able to return to counting down the days until Summer Vacation in no time.

The glitz, the glamour…and the Pope?

On February 12th, the 54th Grammy Awards honoured the absolute best of the music industry. Our favourite artists gathered at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles to create a night to remember. The show opened with “We Take Care of Our Own” by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, followed by hits from Bruno Mars, Alicia Keys, Rihanna, Beyonce, and many others.

What would otherwise have been an all-out celebration was struck by a wave of grief due to Whitney Houston’s death only a day before. LL Cool J led a prayer for the passing of one of the greatest female singers of all time, while Jennifer Hudson sang Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” which brought tears to many eyes.

Despite the solemnity, the evening was full of highlights. Adele rolled in glory by sweeping six Grammys - including Album of the Year for “21” and Song of the Year for “Rolling in the Deep.” Taylor Swift won Best Country Song and Best Country Solo Performance with “Mean.” She raised a laugh saying, “there’s no feeling quite like writing a song about someone who’s really mean to you and makes your life miserable, and winning a Grammy for it.” The much talked-about Chris Brown also won his first Grammy for Best R&B Album.

As for fashion, we saw both the stunning and the outrageous. Sequins dominated on the red carpet. Katy Perry, Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift wowed us all in their sparkly gowns. The most dazzling woman at the show was undoubtedly Gwyneth Paltrow in her simple, classy black dress showing off her figure. The best dressed make was Adam Levine, who arrived in a crisp, stylish three-piece suit.

On the other hand, Nicki Minaj and Lady Gaga scared us with their attempt to gain attention. Minaj wore a red nun’s habit by Versace, arm-in-arm with the ‘Pope.’ The costume was clearly for her performance, “Roman Holiday,” but she looked like she just stepped out of a church. Gaga had her face covered in fishnet, typical of her controversial style.

To sum it up, this year’s Grammys were dramatic and entertaining. Clearly the ratings, which were the show’s second highest in its history, speak for themselves.

 (Source: Google Images)

Action thriller entertains but fails to amaze

2.5 stars out of 4

Starring: Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds

The action thriller Safe House is the perfect example of the ‘popcorn’ action film. Safe House is an espionage film of the likes of The Bourne Identity and Mission Impossible. Like those films, it is full of bone-rattling action sequences and spy-versus-spy action. Unfortunately, it lacks the smart script that made those films memorable. With its typical action fodder plot Safe House is no doubt entertaining, but it’s the type of film you see once and forget about the next day.

Safe House stars Denzel Washington as rogue CIA Agent Tobin Frost and Ryan Reynolds as low-level agent Matt Weston. Weston’s menial job is interrupted by the sudden arrival of Frost, who has been captured by the CIA and is being held for questioning. Frost has the knowledge of top-secret CIA information and is being targeted by mercenary groups as well as his former CIA employers. Frost and Weston eventually go on the run together and things are revealed to be quite different than what they appear.

Despite the top-notch cast in the film, Safe House has a very rudimentary plot that is atypical of most films of its genre. Washington portrays a very good villain, but the movie has no convincing hero to match wits with him. Reynolds seems very flat in his role and most of the supporting cast give sub-par performances. Despite this, the various action sequences in the film managed to keep me entertained for the entirety of the film’s 115 minutes. Safe House is a solid action film, but it’s nothing special.

 (Source: Google Images)

The latest and greatest gadgets of the year

The world’s largest tech show, the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), took place this year from January 9th - 12th. Like every other year, it did not fail to excited the world for what 2012 has in store for us technology-wise.

This year Razer has unveiled a new concept gaming tablet that has left gamers both startled and shocked. This little, yet sleek beast, contains an Intel Core i7 processor bundled with Hydra-style controllers and a 1280x1800 display. Now on the go gamers will be able to command troops and carry out headshots on a device that is expected to cost about $700.

Sony has finally unveiled this new smartphone, the Sony Xperia S: HD powerhouse, which will compete with the Samsung Galaxy S II and iPhone 4S. This smartphone contains a 12MP camera, a dual core 1.5GHz processor, the ability to record in 1080p and a 4.3-inch screen. It is also Playstation Certified. The Xperia S is expected to be released in March and Sony is hopeful that it will help revive their smartphone sales.

One of the most spectacular items at CES was the LG 55EM960V OLED TV. At 55 inches, this is the largest Organic LED TV to go on sale to date, measuring only 4mm in depth. It presents a richness, intensity and purity of colour that hasn’t been seen before on a flat-panel display. It is expected to be released later this year, though expect a heavy price tag.

DISCLAIMER: DUE TO CREATIVE LICENSING, NEITHER THE BEACON NOR THE AUTHOR CAN BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INTERPRETATION OF THE ‘EMBELLISHMENTS’ MADE IN THIS ARTICLE!

And you thought studying for a unit test was hard?

Not that I would know, but it seems to me that being an athlete is pretty tough. There’s a risk of injury, you have to compete under pressure, and you need to be able to make your body do things that it really shouldn’t be able to do. At Martingrove, we have dedicated athletes who are willing to go to any lengths to excel in their sport.

5. They play in the snow.

I know this sounds like fun,like those days in kindergarten when you frolicked around and threw snowballs at the girls you liked and then they told the teachers because girls are such tattle-tales. But it’s so much worse playing soccer with Frosty and Father Christmas. Members of the Senior Girls’ Soccer Team have played in 15cm of snow, which is about optimal for snowball fights, but not really an optimal soccer playing environment. Of course, add in the fact that you’re in shorts and a windbreaker; think less snow angels and more frostbite.

4. The drag around six year olds.

Not literally, of course, but strength training requires dragging weights of up to 50 pounds. The average six year old weights about 46 pounds, which is only a little less than what many basketball players use for strength training. Of course, as if doing laps around the gym with these weights isn’t crazy enough, if you get it to start moving the trainer will go and stand on them. This is a great way to exercise - your patience, that is.

3. They employ hair removal.

The joke has always been that swimmers are completely hairless, but that’s not entirely true. Swimmers are only completely hairless for meets. For those who don’t enjoy the sexiness of looking like a gorilla, hair removal can be done in a variety of ways. If you wax, you get to pour hot, melted wax on your body and rip hair out of its follicles while simultaneously screaming like a girl and losing all manly points. If you shave, you run the risk of slicing off some important bits, but I’m sure you can tape it back on. After all, don’t all jocks fit problems with tape?

2. They puke.

When my gym teacher first told me about ‘suicides,’ I thought I’d joined a cult and had to avoid the fruit punch. For many athletes, this is a cornerstone in their training. Suicides build endurance and are solely enforced sometimes just to - you guessed it, make athletes puke. If you haven’t puked after the 60th suicide, you probably drank a Red Bull and just flew the whole way. That’s cheating.

1. They starve.

Committed MCI wrestlers, apart from going to the gym three times a week, will undergo a period of fasting generally once per year before a weigh in to fit into their desired weight class. They are required to drop 3-6kg in one week. In simple terms us simpletons can understand: they stop eating. Wrestlers may go for as long as three days without food, and two days without drinking any water. I can’t even last three minutes without food before I claim low blood sugar. It gets better. While starving themselves, wrestlers will continue to do rigorous exercises in wool sweaters and parkas to sweat out the last few pounds so they come out like gleaming, chiseled Greek Gods. The best part? After their weigh-in, they need to binge eat as much as they can - probably until they puke.