On Reaching Draw Death in Chess

On Reaching Draw Death in Chess


           With most of the top games in chess ending in draws, people, companies, and players lose sight of why one should even bother playing chess. In my opinion, chess should be played because of its artistic value, not its mysterious value. 


           My first point is that chess, being ultra-weakly solved as a draw is the best result that can be reached. “Draughts” or “Checkers” as Americans would say, was weakly solved in 2007 by Jonathan Schaeffer and the computer Chinook. The result found was that regardless of who moved first in Draughts with proper play the game ended with a draw. ‘Ultra-weakly solved’ simply means to prove whether the starting position in a game is a win, draw, or loss for the first player. ‘Weakly solved’ means to have an algorithm or program that secures the ultra-weakly solved result for the first player in a game. So, why is chess being a draw the best result? It has to do with the way openings are played.

In current times it is believed that white has a slight advantage and is the one playing for the win whereas black is just playing to equalise the game and if a win is available to take it. Some openings like the ‘Nimzo-Larsen Attack’ are generally not played at the top levels because with best play all white gets is a draw. As a result, top players deviate to playing things like the ‘Queen’s Gambit’ because it is believed that white still retains the opening advantage. If chess ends with a draw, with proper play, then this opening consideration becomes irrelevant, and players can play whatever openings they love most; except for those that lose by force like the ‘Latvian Gambit’. If chess were found to be a win for the first player then the opening options become heavily restricted and players will deviate to playing only one set. Thus, chess being a draw actually gives players free will on the first move to play whatever they desire, any other result takes away this freedom making the game deterministic in nature. One might now be wondering that if chess is a draw, then what are the players playing for?


This brings me to my second point. Chess should not be played for the result but the artistic flare; in the same way a painter paints a painting to express identity, ideas, and or interpretations rather than to paint a perfect painting. Unlike the conclusion of G. K. Chesterton’s essay, “The Perfect Game”, in which Chesterton simply says that “once one can play a game unerringly, the game becomes uninteresting; one should realise that it is the art and beauty of something that makes it interesting, not its mysterious value”. For example, a large field in chess is the field of chess compositions, in which composers create chess problems with a theme or pattern, often positions that would never naturally occur in a real game. A chess engine like “Stockfish” can solve these compositions correctly in seconds, or not at all! Despite that the solvers still love to solve them, they often already know the result of the composition is a win or some clever draw, and yet solvers and the like fall in love with solving them. This is because artistic beauty is what made the game interesting not necessarily the mystery of who won. Even after a solver finds the solution to a composition, they will often spend hours just looking at the placement of the pieces appreciating the vision of the composer. 

The same thing can be said about the game itself. There are more chess games than anyone could ever see. In other words, no man or machine will be able to see all the possible chess games being played throughout all time. Thus, if chess is ultimately always a draw, players should try to play an amazing game that has never been seen before while expressing their style, strategies, and tactics, rather than simply playing to win. Check out the game between Carl Hamppe and Philipp Meitner in Vienna 1872. It is known as “The Immortal Draw” and emphasizes my point nicely. 


  Conclusively, it becomes more apparent that what makes chess interesting is far more than the results, but instead because of the art and beauty produced through the duration of the game. A game that ends in a draw is the best result because it gives people the freedom to produce works of beauty. When I play chess, the board is my canvas, the pieces are my paints, and my mind is the brush.


N. Monk, Philosopher, and Futurist 

Halloween Aftermath 2020

Halloween Aftermath 2020

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By Ronnie Kayla Neiman

This year Holidays are a bit difficult to take part in, but many have a virtual option to take part in. Halloween is a bit more difficult to do that way. Its an interactive, and mostly kid-oriented holiday. As with everything else this year, the pandemic left its mark on Halloween. Parades, parties and haunted houses were canceled because of bans on large gatherings and concerns that spooky celebrations could spread the coronavirus.

Many dressed up in costumes to share them online, a number of people went door-to-door trick-or-treating despite the risks, and people still found ways to have fun while trying to stay safe. People wore the masks as they went to doors to collect candy. Gloves were worn by many, as it was starting to get a little chilly. One solution made by Manitobans was to recreate classic drive in theaters to watch various Halloween movies. Other ways people were able to participate in Halloween was to decorate their front lawns and carving pumpkins to put on the front porch. 

With COVID-19 cases continuing to rise to alarming numbers, staying at home during Halloween celebrations was the safest but it wasn’t something everyone did. Also, as if Halloween this year wasn’t frightening enough, the night sky was lit up with a full moon. The last time there was a full moon on Halloween was in 2001 and it won’t happen again until Halloween of 2077 (If you are a Fallout universe fan, that is near to the time the nuclear bombs fall).

Halloween was certainly a different experience this year, and it shows the ways we are able to participate for various upcoming holidays such as Remembrance Day and Christmas. Virtual is the way to go, but also decorating what people can look at from a distance. 

Please stay safe as we continue to experience this frightful and surging pandemic. Wear masks, sanitize and stay warm! 

On Fear in Bram Stoker’s Dracula

On Fear in Bram Stoker’s Dracula

By N. Monk, Philosopher, and Futurist

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Many have heard of or read Bram Stoker’s Dracula, although perhaps not realizing the genius of the character known as Count Dracula. A common question among people is ‘what is fear’? What is the scariest thing? It can be said that Count Dracula is the perfect manifestation of human fear because of the varying levels of fear invoked in people. It has been said before by Bram Stoker that he had seen such a horrifying creature in a nightmare. Perhaps Stoker’s nightmare is not as light as it seems. 

           The first point one can make about Count Dracula is that he is highly knowledgeable. Count Dracula is said to be centuries old, and that implies that he has a lot of experiences. So, Count Dracula would have seen the progression of time around him, and history unfold. It was depicted within the novel, through Dr. Seward’s diary that Count Dracula has a mighty brain and there is no branch of knowledge he has not essayed on. From this, Count Dracula is highly intelligent, and it is unlikely there will be someone more so than him. Due to this extreme knowledge, Count Dracula will be able to outsmart any of his victims giving them a complete feeling of helplessness. When people are in a state of helplessness like this their fear will ratchet up quickly because there is seemingly nothing else for them to do. By the time Dracula’s victims realise what is happening to them they are already deep into Dracula’s trap and thus begin to experience a strong sense of fear knowing their demise is soon to follow; there is nothing one can do to stop it. This, however, is just one of the characteristics of fear that the vampire induces.

           Count Dracula can be considered a parasite to humans. In other words, Count Dracula feeds on the blood of humans and preys on humankind. There is not a large number of living animals that only feed on humans, or hunt humans. Knowing one is being hunted can induce fear into a person. In general, people feel safe in the cities they live in. It is unlikely that something like a bear or tiger will deliberately go into cities to hunt. A fair number of animals avoid cities and populated areas. This provides people will a sense of security. If people were suddenly made aware of a creature that hunts them in cities in plain sight this would rob them of that security in such an environment, leaving them with a constant state of fear of being hunted or watched. If people were told a dangerous serial killer is at large in the city they reside then their behaviour outside their homes would be different. In some sense, Count Dracula also induces the same kind of fear a serial killer would in people. He hunts and kills humans and yet, he appears as a human himself.

           Perhaps the most fear inducing characteristic that Count Dracula possesses is the ability to shapeshift into pretty much any animal or creature as well as the bodies of other people too! Such an ability means that Count Dracula can hide in plain sight disguised as a bird on a branch studying the behaviour of his prey. Even worse, Dracula could wear the skin of some other person one is familiar with, allowing him to infiltrate people’s homes and feeding on them when they are most likely alone, or feel the safest. Imagine Count Dracula disguised as a caretaker, a delivery person or even worse, a hotel maid. A hotel would be a death trap and the perfect place for him to set up camp! Probably the worst part about the shapeshifting is that Count Dracula could transform into the thing one fears most -- paralyzing one in their fear. Someone could be afraid of a panther, for example, and one day coming home find a panther waiting for them in their bedroom, emerging from the shadows. It is highly improbable that this would not freeze that person in fear. 

           It all becomes more apparent the more one analyses the character of Count Dracula that the vampire is a perfect manifestation of fear and could be considered the scariest entity in existence. Count Dracula induces or invokes fear on multiple levels. Fear of helplessness, fear of being hunted, fear of no safe space or trust, and so forth. The character of Count Dracula strongly outlines the genius of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, giving the reader a clear example of what could be considered the scariest thing; other than death itself.

What the U.S Presidential Election Means for Canada

What the U.S Presidential Election Means for Canada

By: Cedric Bell, Reporter

(Photo Credit: Creative Commons)

(Photo Credit: Creative Commons)

The U.S presidential elections are fast approaching as they will be taking place on November 3rd. It’s a big deal, specifically for those living in the United States, since whoever the winning candidate is will significantly impact the direction they take on a variety of topics in the future. For Canadians, however, the impact of the U.S election is still something to consider because the results will invariably affect Canada in some way.

All the ways that the election will affect Canada are not immediately apparent and will be impossible to specifically predict. It is possible, however, to speculate on what could happen and what it will mean for Canada, since the only certain thing about the election is that it will somehow affect Canada too. Some of the most pressing effects that the vote will have on Canada include economic and environmental impacts, as well as changes in international relations. The presidential election will affect economies worldwide and Canada is no exception. During the Trump Administration, tariffs were placed on Canadian steel and aluminum imports, which have since been dropped. These tariffs did have an impact, as they lasted for about two years, and threaten to reappear. The results of this next election could mean more or less restrictions placed on trade between Canada and the U.S, as Joe Biden’s platform is promising less tariffs and more free trade, while Trump being re-elected could mean more restrictions being imposed on Canada. Additionally, how the U.S does financially will impact Canadian finances, meaning that if the value of the U.S dollar goes down, Canada’s could too. Often, the U.S stock market tends to fluctuate lightly pre and post-election, meaning that the changes to their economy could cause changes in ours, too.

Not only will the changes in U.S-international relations affect Canada, but the international stage as a whole. If Biden wins, he has claimed that he wishes to re-enter into several agreements that the U.S had previously abandoned, such as the Paris Accords and the Pan-Pacific-Trade pact, which would affect the U.S’s standing with other global political actors. If Trump wins however, these agreements will likely stay abandoned. Covid-19 has also thrown a curveball into international relations, especially with Canada. The two presidential candidates have differing views on how it should be handled, with Biden supporting masks and other safety restrictions, and Trump having notoriously lax procedures. Canada has remained closed to the U.S for some time now, and the speed at which it is reopened to them will depend heavily on which candidate wins, since Biden taking office could mean a speedier recovery for the U.S rather than if Trump is re-elected. 

The environmental impact that the election is going to have shouldn’t be ignored either; as previously mentioned, Biden plans to re-enter the Paris Accords. The environmental influence doesn't stop there. Trump’s platform seems to be running on promises to increase oil production and drilling, which have been shown to be environmentally hazardous practices, while the Biden platform is suggesting more renewable energy. Additionally, Biden has suggested putting restrictions on those not adhering to environmental protections. One of the most contentious issues in Canada, the Keystone XL pipeline, would also be denied into the U.S if he holds office.

Overall, the election seems like it’s going to have a massive impact on Canada. The effects will be far reaching and will likely influence Canada’s economy, international relations between the U.S and Canada, and be environmentally impacting not only Canada, but the world at large. It appears that a democratic victory in the United States would benefit Canada, while a republican victory could be a detriment, but how the election will actually affect Canada in practice remains to be seen.

Is the iPhone 12 worth it?

Is the iPhone 12 worth it?

by Hashim Farooq

Last week Apple held their annual October iPhone event where they launched their latest and greatest phones. This year’s theme was Speed, with the launch of 5G in North America, Apple have focused their attention on making the new iPhone 12 take advantage of everything 5G has to offer. 

Let’s talk about the design. As I said before this phone is focused on taking advantage of the 5G and the design reflects that. It may look like Apple took a step back a decade to the iPhone 4 with the “boxy” design, but in fact the “boxy” design made space for more antennas and drastically reduced the size of the phone. Some can argue that the iPhone 4 is the most sold phone by Apple (also one of the most sold of all time) and Apple is just going back to what works (the “boxy” design). This would actually be surprising because Apple isn’t known to listen to its consumers, their slogan “think different” has them taking drastic steps to be different in the phone industry and not repeat the past. Whatever the inspiration may be, the fact is boxy equals faster, slimmer and reduced screen to body ratio. This design isn’t surprising as it was predicted by many people on the internet for the iPhone 5 SE back in 2015. 

iPhone 12 has some other upgrades; they made the camera better by adding LiDAR (which enhances the AI in the camera to give better portrait shots), it can also take 4K HDR videos, massively improved night-sight technology, it has a big magnet in the back to stick to the wireless charger and different accessories Apple made to make money off you, and  the phone is packing their new A14 bionic processor which is supposed to be the fastest processor on a phone to date. 

Apple released 4 phones at 4 different price points to attract more consumers as their cheaper phones tend to attract a new audience, specifically the Android audience. Apple tries to match their cheapest phone with the average cost of a “flagship” Android phone to attract a cheaper phone that offers the exact same speed and design as the other iPhone 12s. Out of the 4 phones, iPhone 12 mini (slightly smaller than iPhone 6 ), iPhone 12, iPhone 12 pro and iPhone 12 pro max, the iPhone 12 mini is probably the best bang for your buck. Before we talk prices, let’s talk about one of the biggest scams in phones, which is their memory (storage) , how much gigabytes it has, this scheme was made just so phone companies can slap a number on phones and increase the price by a $100, when consumers started to realize this, the higher storage phones didn’t sell well. After realizing this, Apple, Samsung, Google, Huawei and many other companies needed to do something to the phone physically so people could tell the difference between the “rich consumer” and “not an idiot who wants to spend hundreds on a phone with 20 cameras,” so they decided to increase the size, cause bigger is better right? This worked, and soon came the generation of pluses and maxes. Now phones are in the 1000s just for being an inch bigger and having 1 or 2 extra circles on the back which lets the customer take better photos of their friends who by the way didn’t even buy the damn thing, now they can have all their friends give them photo creds in their Instagram posts, congrats $1000+ for creds which they may or may not mention.  

Alright, let’s look at the prices (these are prices on the Apple website and not from cell service provides as they may vary); iPhone 12 mini $979 CAD, iPhone 12 $1,129 CAD, iPhone 12 Pro $1,399 CAD, get ready to refinance your house or get a mortgage on this next phone, iPhone 12 Pro Max $1,959 (I should probably mention, if you live in Manitoba, which you probably do because your reading this, get ready to pay 13% tax on this.). These phone prices are starting to get out of hand. The iPhone 12 Pro Max costs as much as a used car, which is insane to comprehend, it’s about the average monthly income (considering that they are working and not in school studying like 80% of them) of a 18-24 year old (which is the main audience for this massive mistake of a phone which everyone will buy and take selfies with on the bus cause they can’t buy a car anymore).

Now the big question, Is it worth it? As much as I want you (the reader) not to buy this overpriced, big, metal domino, majority of you will. Maybe you’ll buy it because you want to upgrade your phone or because your friends have it and you don’t want to look like a “not an idiot who wants to spend hundreds on a phone with 20 cameras” just know this, selling your kidney for this phone is not worth it, but if you’re rich go for it. All jokes aside, Apple didn’t do a bad job on the iPhone 12, it looks different and is a bigger upgrade since the iPhone X. If money wasn’t a factor, this would be the one to buy. 

(source: Apple ) iPhone 12 specs sheet

(source: Apple ) iPhone 12 specs sheet

Covid-19 and the online classroom experience

Covid-19 and the online classroom experience

By Eder Leonel Torres. 

We live in uncertain times. Covid-19 is to stay with us for a long time if not forever but people tend to have different views about the pandemic and the changes that come with it. Receiving online classes is one of those changes, some have welcomed the experience positively while others may struggle with it. Experiences could go from having poor internet connection to having to take care of children while attending an online lecture. Each student may have something to share with this “new normal”. However, the point of this article is to highlight important differences between online and classroom learning. Although for some students online learning can be grateful since no traveling is required and, in some cases, hiding behind the screen to do anything one wants while the class takes places can feel delightful. No more social anxiety at school for those that may experience it.

Online learning tends to not provide an environment of inclusiveness and friendship since students do not get to see or interact with classmates in real life, socialization is not required. It also reflects isolation in a world where social interactions are being framed by a global pandemic. On the other side, the classroom provides a healthy atmosphere for physical and intellectual interaction. Being in the classroom disengages students from the world of media and internet. Often you hear professors say words like, “all right folks cellphones off” and even if this was not the case, professors usually find it disturbing to find a student checking their cell phone while the class goes on, unless it is class related. The classroom environment incites the student’s imagination without any technological or media interference. In fact, imagination is stimulated by interacting with real life experiences. The online learning system is a unique experience in human history as we know it. Through human history, students had experienced different learning methods from the philosophical school of Plato located on a property “that included a grove of olive trees”. We also find in Africa children receiving lectures under trees. However, we don’t know a period in history where teaching was not associated with classroom interaction. Apart from a school system delivered through mail that started in the 19th century. 

We find ourselves in a unique time, masses of students receiving classes online. However, human innovations have not come without their negative consequences. When the industrial revolution was in its infancy many poets and intellectuals at the time expressed their discontent to the new system. They argued that industry was going to destroy the environment and create a new mechanism of social control. The industrial revolution changed the course of humanity, it altered human interactions and created new social classes and systems of governments. 260 years after the industrial revolution we find ourselves in another scientific revolution, the rise of artificial intelligence, technological devices, as well having to live with a global pandemic. The future appears uncertain, we cannot predict with certainty how these new changes in health and technology are going to impact the future to come.

Life in Canada in a Pandemic: What’s to be Expected and How to Survive?

Life in Canada in a Pandemic:

What’s to be Expected and How to Survive?

Contributor: Zach Roozendaal

The Coronavirus pandemic has decimated many economies and industries. Life around the world has been turned upside down. For some this pandemic feels on par to the way disintegration of many beloved characters in Avengers: Infinity War following Thanos’ snap, the aftermath of which was depicted in Avengers: Endgame with a quiet and sparsely populated world.

            Though the last thing I said is a film reference to a fictional universe, the same cannot be said for our world. Industries have had to take hits and learn to adapt, and educational facilities have had to try and find new ways to teach students and evolve to deal with the state of the world.

            This isn’t a situation many of us are familiar with. Millennials through to Gen Z have never experienced a global pandemic like this before. Yes, there have been pandemics withing recent history, like with HIV/AIDS and SARS, as well as Ebola and Zika, but none to such a scale and magnitude as COVID-19.

            Life is rapidly changing, and for better or worse, just as we have for millions of years, we have to adapt if we’re going to make it through this tough situation. Together, anything is possible. That’s why it’s important we help others during these difficult times. So, for those who may be new to life in a COVID-19 infected Canada, here are some things to help you get through life here.

            First of all, don’t hoard resources. That logic can be applied to anywhere right now, but it’s not like winter isn’t going to come this year. Don’t try and buy all the cold and allergy medication to prevent yourself from freaking out that you may have COVID-19 when your nose runs.

            Secondly, it’s important to know that you can grow indoor gardens from home, so that way if you need to and can’t go to the store and are unable to get food delivered, you’ll at least have fresh fruit and vegetable to help you get the vitamins and minerals you need. All you need for this convenient life hack is a black lightbulb, the kind used as heat lamps for animals. The Ultraviolet radiation is what plants absorb from the sun, allowing for photosynthesis to happen, so by using a black light, you can use the UV to help simulate sunlight and allow a garden to grow. If you get a heat lamp variant make sure to turn it off after using for a couple of hours or you could cause damage to the plants, cause the bulb to overheat and shatter, or even potentially trigger an electrical fire.

            The next lifehack is somewhat similar. If for some reason your power goes out, get a generator for yourself, and make sure to also purchase a solar charger. They look like an iPad cover, but will come in handy if you’re unable to use the outlets in your home to charge it. Again, with the generator you can power a UV light which can also simulate sunlight, allowing your phone to charge from the UV radiation.

            This next lifehack is one used by people everywhere, but is particularly good in uncertain situations like pandemics. Purchase non-perishable foods and drinks, and if the stores near you close or something is to happen, you’ll be able to have food that’s good for months on end. Some examples include ramen, pasta, rice, cereal, tea, coffee, soda, chocolate and candy, seeds, especially sunflower or pumpkin, marshmallows, honey, jerky, nuts, and so many more things. Dried fruits are also good to have.

During the winter months, if you lose power and have meat products in your fridge or freezer, no worries, since you’re likely living in sub-zero temperatures, unless you’re in Vancouver. Just move it outside, or buy things like nuts which contain lots of protein but last for years and have a good shelf life. Jerky is the same, and is still meat, yet will last for years without spoiling.

If your water shuts off during the winter, no problem! Just use snow, as it’s 100% water, and it’s already clean and good to use. If it’s not winter and your water is off, place buckets around so when it rains you can collect it.

In case you’re unable to buy fresh fruits and the frozen option isn’t a satisfying one for you, just buy fruit juice instead, as you can still get plenty of nutrients. Although not many people’s first option, some brands of dog food or treats can be a great source of protein, and there are even some that aren’t as disgusting sounding as you might think, with my late dog Bolt (Rest in Peace buddy) at one point having dog treats that were literally just precooked chunks of bacon with seasoning on it, and very much safe for human consumption. Now in case you’re wondering, I only watched a YouTube review on them, and the ingredients in the treats are no different than what you’d find in bacon bits at stores, in fact most of the bacon present in the treats is precooked bacon that wouldn’t meet customer satisfaction for something like bacon bits.

Don’t have a mask? No worries, simply use a bandana or scarf or neck warmer as a mask during winter months, as I even did it before COVID-19 was an issue in the province, because the ice cold air in my lungs made my chilly walks home from the campus at night hard to breathe, so a thick face covering will help keep the air you take in and out stay a little less frosty. Halloween masks may be a bit ridiculous, but they’re also still face coverings, but just make sure that there’s no holes for your mouth or nose on them, and if there are be sure to cover them.

And there you have it, just a few helpful pandemic and survival based lifehacks. Hopefully these are able to help you out, especially in a time of need. There are hundreds of thousands more lifehacks, not just for the pandemic, but survival in general, and I encourage you to read up on some in your spare time.

One last thing before I end this article, I would like to mention that this is dedicated to a few friends of mine, one in particular though who recently inspired me to start writing again, and that this is also dedicated to all of the people serving the public on the many frontlines of work in this pandemic, especially to those within the medical industry who’ve put their health and safety second to those of the public. Keep on doing the things you’re doing, and thank you to my friends who’ve helped motivate me to write again.

Thanks for reading, and once again, I hope that the information I provided helped you or your friends in some way. Remember to wash and sanitize your hands, take care of each other, wear masks in public, and social distance when possible. And now, I’ll leave you with my final thought.

The most sought-after resource isn’t water, oil or gold, but is in fact knowledge itself, as we spend our lives immersing ourselves with it, wanting to know more.

Thanks again to you all, and until next time, I’m Zach Roozendaal. Stay safe out there, and goodbye for now!

Halloween Kills Postponed by Pandemic...

Halloween Kills Postponed by Pandemic...

But is Still Building Hype

Contributor: Zach Roozendaal

Halloween is a time for costumes, candy, scares, and a big corporatized opportunity to gain companies lots of cash, whether it be through the sale of decorations and fun Halloween themed treats and games, or through movies and music, and as John Carpenter and Jamie Lee Curtis can tell you, Halloween is a time like no other for horror movies, and that the scares are real for the residents of Haddonfield, Illinois in the film series of the same name, and Halloween is the night that HE came home.

            Who exactly? None other than the jumpsuit clad emotionless psychopath with a huge fanboy admiration of William Shatner and knives. That’s right, Michael Myers is who HE is, first popping up in Halloween, and being given the nickname “The Shape” in the 1978 John Carpenter horror classic that launched the career of Jamie Lee Curtis as the iconic final girl Laurie Strode. Over the years, many Halloween films have been released, with all sorts of stars, and they’ve featured quite a few notable names over the years, including Paul Rudd, Busta Rhymes, the late Donald Pleasence, Tyra Banks, and as mentioned before, Jamie Lee Curtis.

            The original film is about a young boy who brutally murders his sister and ends up institutionalized due to his young age making him unable to face criminal charges, and then over 15 years later that boy to have grown into a tall intimidating and silent monster, (only in the metaphorical sense), breaking free to return to his hometown and hack and slash his way around, donning a mask that was originally supposed to be from a Captain Kirk costume, along with a blue jumpsuit and kitchen knife, eventually stalking and trying to kill a blonde high school student named Laurie Strode, while his psychologist Dr. Samuel Loomis attempts to track him down and end his reign of terror.

            Since that first film, many sequels and even a duology of remakes from Rob Zombie have been released and several times there have been retcons, with the latest film in 2018 being a direct sequel to the first from back in 1978, undoing some storylines, most notably the plot point of Michael and Laurie actually being siblings, with Laurie being put up for adoption following Michael’s murder of their sister Judith. John Carpenter returned to the franchise with that movie for the first time in over 38 years since the 3rd film, Halloween III: Season of The Witch, the only film in the franchise with a storyline unrelated to Michael Myers, choosing instead to focus on an evil Irish toymaker and his android henchmen manufacturing hexed masks to kill children on Halloween.

After the 2018 film, it was announced a sequel would be released in 2020, and despite Michael being shot, stabbed, punched, kicked, and even burned alive at the end of the latest film, he’s back in a recently released trailer, and isn’t about to give up his pursuit of Laurie. He may be in his 60’s but that’s not stopping him. But what is stopping the film itself from being theatrically released is of course the Coronavirus pandemic. Though Michael Myers seems to be unkillable, the rest of the public isn’t and for the safety of movie goers around the world, the film has been pushed back until October 15th 2021, as releasing a Halloween film any other time besides Halloween wouldn’t feel right to even the most diehard of fans. The original release date of October 16th 2020 just won’t happen unfortunately.

Carpenter tweeted a screenshot of a letter for fans on July 8th about the conclusion that he and collaborator David Gordon Green had come to with regards to the release date of the film, and rather than give the editorial staff a harder job by having to add the text to my word count, I’ve instead included the screenshot below for you to read if interested.

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While the delay was likely inevitable, the bonus came in the form of Carpenter’s upcoming sequel getting a trailer, as well as the announcement of an IMAX presentation. Like with most other big films from popular franchises like the Marvel Cinematic Universe or James Bond, the idea of just going directly to a streaming service like Netflix or Hulu would be absolutely disappointing for many fans.

While many movies have skipped theatrical releases, (just look at all the unnecessary direct to home release sequels to classic animated Disney films for example) it should go without saying that for the amount of time and effort that are put into these movies with an incredible cast and crew, they deserve a theatrical release. Skipping theatrical releases for big movies like this one is also a bad move financially, while the studio would still get money through merchandise sales, royalties for character’s use in TV games and other films, and through purchases on Google Play and iTunes store,  the reality is that a large amount of sales are from tickets to see these films, so they’d lose a lot on that by skipping it.

In the meantime, all we can do is get excited, or visit pirate bay or some bootlegged hacked copy of the film from the studio’s database and get the movie ourselves for a private screening at our homes, although the latter is a joke so Universal please don’t blacklist me from seeing your films.

Halloween Kills is part of a trilogy, and as stated before, it’s set to pick up where the last film, Halloween (2018), left off, and the last film is a direct sequel to the original film in 1978, ignoring the subsequent sequels on various timelines from afterwards. The final film in this new trilogy is set to release in October of 2022, and is titled Halloween Ends, so it’s very unlikely that Michael Myers is going to be killed off in the next film. I mean, the guy’s taken bullets to the face and being immolated, and he’s still going, somebody give him a trophy or something because he’s the textbook definition of perseverance.

Until then, just binge the franchise if you want your fill of Michael Myers (skip Season of the Witch if you’re only doing it to see Michael), and be safe, wash your hands, social distance when and if possible, and I’ll leave you with my final thought, but first, here’s a quote from the original Halloween from Donald Pleasances’ character Dr. Sam Loomis:

“I met this six-year-old child with this blank, pale, emotionless face, and the blackest eyes, the devil's eyes.”

And now for my final thought:

Can a person truly be born evil, or is evil something that we all have laying dormant in us until something awakens it?

Thank you for reading, stay safe, wash your hands, wear a mask and social distance when possible, take care of each other, and remember that on Halloween everyone is entitled to at least one good scare.

Until then, I’m Zach “The Shape” Roozendaal.

Goodbye for now!

On Going for Walks

On Going for Walks

           In these difficult times of the pandemic, it is not clear whether one should go outside at all given the risks. I however believe that people should still try to go for a walk outside for a multitude of reasons. 

           When I go for my daily walks, I never go without a notebook and a pen. Some of my most peculiar ideas seem to come to me while walking outside. I think in general one should always keep a notebook, regardless of where they are going or where they are. By writing any of your interesting thoughts or ideas you are more likely to come up with new ones. Walking for me, seems to be the best time for me to think about new ideas, however, this is not all.

           One time I was asked by a family member “Won’t you run out of things to write if you’re writing every day?” I always thought this was a strange question. Every time I go outside on a walk something happens. New poem ideas, essay ideas, even short story ideas just come out of seemingly nowhere. Once when I was walking home from the grocery store one summer, and I saw a crow on a tree branch I watched it fly down to a dirty puddle on the ground and start drinking from it. I distinctly remember watching the crow drink from the puddle for at least five or ten minutes. For some reason, I found it subtle and sad to see such an amazing creature have to drink some leftover dirty water. When I got back, I wrote a poem to try and capture the essence of that feeling when I saw the crow and the puddle. Another time I was walking out very early morning in the winter and I looked behind me down the street, and I saw one of the most peaceful and beautiful scenes my eyes could witness. An empty street in the dark hours of the morning with thousands of twinkling snowflakes falling in the lights. Not even another sign of life was present. It felt even better than a calm before the storm, and to think I would have missed experiencing this if I had not turned around; I would have loved a photograph though! Like I said before, I always found the question of running out of things to write strange, because things to dwell and think about just keep popping up every time.

           It was never really any secret that meditation or traditional meditation never worked for me. I used to be quite good at it, but I found it did not help in my day to day life. Instead, I found that if I were stressed about something, after a walk I would be calmer, and it did not bother me as much anymore. I think that walking can be a good way for people to process some emotions that they are dealing with. I often even find myself talking to myself sometimes while doing it. For most people, they do not have any privacy in their homes and apartments. Behind one wall there could be another apartment or above you, there could be a person staying above you, there could even be people just outside your door! In other words, a lot of people do not get much privacy where they live so they are not likely to make time for themselves. By going for a walk, you are more likely to get the privacy you need. One could say that walking is my meditation, well if it is, I guess it is. The main thing I learned about walking is to not control your thoughts if your brain wants to think about this then think about that. Probably the main reason why I do not find mindfulness helpful, you spend so much energy trying to get your mind to focus on one thing, instead, just let things flow and one will be more relaxed. 

           In conclusion, more people should take the time to go for a walk. It helps you come up with ideas, it can relax your mind, and it forces you to experience something. Even in these times, it is important to make time for oneself. We all have quite enough to deal with every day already, so it is nice to just step away from it all now and then.

N. Monk, Philosopher, and Futurist

Photograph credit: N. Monk

Photograph credit: N. Monk

A University Student Friendly Thanksgiving Recipe: Caramel Crack

A University Student Friendly Thanksgiving Recipe: Caramel Crack

By: Maria Garcia Manzano 

This year Thanksgiving will look very different compared to previous Thanksgivings. With Covid-19 precautions still in place, many families will not be able to visit other extended family members and as a result perhaps less variety of food will be present in your home. This is not necessarily a bad thing as it will give you an excuse to show off your cooking skills in front of your family if you are stuck at home with them. However, if you are not stuck at home with family and are instead living with a roommate / roommates, not too fear as this will be a good way to show off your cooking skills to them. 

While university students may not be known for their cooking whole (partly due to the cost that goes into preparing nice meals and the amount of time needed) here I present you with a cheap and easy dessert that at least shows your family /roommate /roommates that you’re trying.

Ingredients:

  • One cup of butter (equivalent to 2 full sized sticks)

  • One cup of brown sugar (packed or loose, dealer’s choice)

  • As many saltines it takes to fill a baking sheet with a slight lip along the sides

  • Two bags of your favourite kind of chocolate chips

  • Cooking spray 

Method:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 F. 

  2. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil (that way you do not need to do dishes later) and spray with a healthy amount of cooking spray. With foil in a nice coating of cooking spray all around, line up the saltines in rows, salt side up. Break a few in half if needed to fill the space along the sides. 

  3. Put the cup of butter and a cup of brown sugar into a saucepan over medium to medium high heat. Let the butter melt and sugar dissolve into the butter. Scrape across the bottom of the pan to avoid the sugar burning. Stir occasionally until it comes together in an easy version of a caramel sauce. 

  4. Pour the hot sugar/butter sauce over the crackers carefully so you do not disturb the lovely pattern you probably spent too long making look pretty. 

  5. Put that in the oven for five minutes to get the sauce bubbly.

  6. Sprinkle over the bag of chocolate chips over the top and spread with the back of a spoon. It should not take too long for the chocolate to melt and become easier to spread. If it gets to a point that the chocolate is not melting anymore, put the pan back into the oven for a few minutes, take it back out and finish spreading the chocolate over the top until it is completely covered. If you have extra chocolate chips left, well, darn. 

  7. Put the whole thing in the freezer for roughly 30 minutes or until it hardens completely. 

  8. Take it out of the sheet (this is where the aluminum foil comes in handy) and break it apart into whatever size pieces you want. 

  9. Enjoy! 

Sweet Potato Supreme

Sweet Potato Supreme

By: Kiersten Garbutt

Thanksgiving is always the long-awaited holiday for university students. Finally, we can eat something else rather then cup-o-noodles and pop tarts. As we hurry home for a home cooked meal, something many of us have been missing in months. Platters upon platters of food, turkey, stuffing, fresh vegetables, more than I can name. and a whole day preparing this food with your loved ones, could not paint a more perfect picture. The anticipated Thanksgiving dinner. Here is a quick and easy recipe you can contribute to the dinner this year. Sweet Potato Supreme, all you need is:

4 cups cooked and mashed sweet potatoes

2 Tbsp. of milk

1 tsp of salt

¼ tsp of paprika 

½ cup of brown sugar

1/3 cup of butter 

1 cup of pecan halves 

Once you get all your ingredients ready to go. Start by mixing your potatoes, cream, salt, and paprika. Once everything is combined spread the mixture into a greased casserole pan. To make the topping heat the brown sugar and butter over low heat stirring constantly, stir until the butter is barely melted. Then spread the brown sugar topping over the potatoes and cover the top with the pecans. To finish the dish off pop in the oven at 350 degrees, leave it until the topping starts to bubble. (Recipe from the Best of Bridge series)

This dish is guaranteed to not last five minutes on the table as it becomes everyone’s favourite. My advice to you is to take a fair share because you will regret it when its all gone! Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Pumpkin Bake Soup Recipe

Thanksgiving Pumpkin Bake Soup Recipe

Cedric Bell

I know, everyone hates the preambles for recipes that take up five pages, so I’ll keep this one brief. Thanksgiving is here, and with it comes the expectation of having way too much food, which is usually turkey, stuffing, and potatoes. While these things are good, it can feel like the food for thanksgiving is kind of set in stone. For some this might be a problem, either because of personal restrictions or preferences keeping them away from those foods. With that, here is an alternative to the expected turkey dinner that is just as festive and delicious. 

Soup in a Pumpkin

Pumpkin soup is already pretty well known, but a less well known and more fun option is soup in a pumpkin. In this recipe, the soup is cooked and served from the inside of the pumpkin, and has a lot of different choices for what to put inside based on personal tastes.

What you’ll need:

  • One medium/large Pumpkin

  • 8 Cups of Broth, Chicken or vegetable

  • ½  lb of choice protein (Turkey, Chicken, Meat Substitute)

  • ¾ Cup of Bread Crumbs

  • ¼ Cup of Butter

  • 1 Onion, chopped

  • ¼ Cup Chopped Carrots

  • ½ Cup of Flour

  • ½ Cup of Corn

  • ½ Cup Grated Cheddar Cheese

  • ½  Cup Cooked Bacon Bits

  • 1 Tsp Salt, Pepper, Spices (Rosemary, Basil, etc.)

How to make it: 

  1. Before starting, cook whatever Protein you are using, so that it is pre cooked as an ingredient. 

  2. Cut a hole in the top of the pumpkin, facing inwards so that the cut is angled. When removed, it should be able to sit on top without falling in, like a lid. Remove most of the insides. Use some of the butter to coat the inside.

  3. Preheat the oven to 400.

  4. Melt remaining butter in a pan, and use it to cook onions and carrots until soft.

  5. Add bread crumbs, flour and stir, cooking for 3 minutes.

  6. Place these in the pumpkin, then add the corn, cheese, bacon bits, soup stock, meat or substitute, and spices into the pumpkin as well, mixing them.

  7. Put the top on the pumpkin and bake it on a cookie sheet for 1hr 30mins.

  8. Remove from the oven.

  9. Scrape sides of pumpkin so that it is added to the soup, just be careful not to break the side.

  10. Enjoy!

While some of these ingredients can be costly, they can be swapped out for other cheaper ones. One idea would also be to divide up who buys what among whoever you’re spending thanksgiving with, as this recipe should serve about 4 people. This recipe provides a healthy alternative to the usual thanksgiving feast, and is a creative way to mix things up.

No Bullsh*t Studying Techniques

No Bullsh*t Studying Techniques

N. Monk, Futurist and Philosopher

           With finals not far on the horizon, many know that the early mornings and late-night studying hours are sure to follow. However, despite that most people are not familiar with how to study, and online there are so many tips one cannot help but wonder how many of those tips are nonsense. Here are some hardcore study tips.

1. Operant conditioning. The first thing that needs to be done for the future is to condition or trick our brains into study mode. One can do this by using something from psychology known as operant conditioning. For the first part, get a lamp or some light above your study area, and then only turn on this light when you are studying. That way after a while of doing this through reinforcement when you turn on the light your brain will automatically think “it is time” and you find it quite easy to get focused into studying. But this is not all one can do. If you are used to studying with music, you can use this to your advantage. You can strategically choose to listen to certain music while studying certain fields. For example, when I study chess, I listen to Cyberpunk. When I am doing a physics or mathematics assignment, I only listen to Japanese Maths Rock. When I write an article or essay, I listen to Rachmaninoff and Liszt. When I study philosophy I listen to dubstep, and so forth. Like the light, after a while, you will have a certain behaviour reinforced. So, when you listen to that particular music your brain will automatically start thinking about those areas associated with it.

2. Active recall. This one is probably the most effective on this list. When you read something, let’s say I had to remember what “komorebi” means, the first step is to read and understand what komorebi means, then cover up the answer and try to recall what komorebi means, the next step is to check your answer with the true answer and write in simple terms no fancy words what komorebi means, so I would write komorebi is light shining through leaves. Lastly, cover up your notes and try to recall what you just wrote. One can do this technique with pretty much anything.

 

3. Verbalisation. One usually does not know convoluted their thoughts are until they try to speak them. When you are trying to remember and explain what something is do not just think them, speak what it is out loud. This forces one to conceptualise their thoughts into proper sentences. This technique can also be done with active recall more specifically with step two.

 

4. Hardcore problem-solving. Mathematics, physics, and logic students will most likely be familiar with this one. Solve as many problems as you can without looking at your notes. If one can get access to old test questions and exams, then do all of those problems. This will get one used to similar questions. If the questions are similar or taken from the textbook, then do all of the problems in the textbook. A little side note from me, do all of the hard problems first then the easy ones. Remember no notes while solving! If you somehow manage to do all of the problems, then this next tip from Hans Tikkanen will be useful.

5. The Woodpecker Method. This study technique is going to drill patterns of whatever you study into your brain. Step one: solve as many problems as you can in one or two weeks. Step two: go back and do all of the same problems and do them in half the amount of time, in other words, if you did x number of problems in one week do all of those problems again in four days. Step three: repeat the previous step until you can do all of the problems in one day. By final cycles, you should focus more on spotting patterns, themes, and motifs. Once you finish you should have a reasonably strong pattern recognition and good intuition for identifying how to solve most problems. Pattern recognition is a big key to being good at mathematics. 

Sister in Spirit

Sister in Spirit

By Ronnie Kayla Neiman 

Sisters in Spirit is an annual event that honours the lives of the numerous missing and murdered Indigenous women across Canada. It first began in 2005. It was an initiative to try and seek out effort to research and document the statistics of violence against Indigenous women in Canada. It also hoped to increase awareness and knowledge regarding the treatment of Indigenous women, and to ultimately influence policy to address these issues of violence towards Indigenous women. 

Sisters in Spirit focused on policy recommendations for four key areas: Reduction of violence, increased accessible housing options, improved education and employment opportunities and access to justice. 

In Brandon, the event is usually held in the courtyard of Brandon University. It is organized by a group of non-profit organizations including The Brandon Friendship Centre, Manitoba Metis Federation of Southwestern Manitoba, Brandon Urban Aboriginal People’s Council, Brandon Police Services, Brandon University and The Marquis Project. 

Women are asked to wear a skirt as a sign of solidarity. Each year, family members, Aboriginal community members, and concerned citizens gather for a vigil on October 4th to honor the memory of missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls. 

This year, on October 4th, 2020 the Sisters in Spirit was held virtually across various universities and organizations across Canada. However, in Brandon, there is an in-person  event where people walked the Discovery trails and were able to get soup and bannock. 

Even in these uncertain times, the violence that happens to untold numbers of Indigenous women needs to utilize these kinds of events to allow for increasing awareness. 

(Photo Credit: Sister in Spirit Brandon Mb; Facebook)

(Photo Credit: Sister in Spirit Brandon Mb; Facebook)

Jamie Foxx to Appear in Upcoming 3rd MCU Spider-Man Movie

Jamie Foxx to Appear in Upcoming 3rd MCU Spider-Man Movie

By Zach Roozendaal

With the film industry being a mess amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, pushing back highly anticipated movies, this has led to more time for fan theories on popular franchises to run wild, especially with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with multiverse theories and crossovers from past installments of different films franchises being possibly set up.

 However, it’s been very recently confirmed that the new Spider-Man 3 will see the return of a shocking antagonist, one not seen since the 2nd Amazing Spider-Man installment. That villain is of course Electro. In the 2014 film, Jamie Foxx turned blue and adopted an electrifying blue look to face off against Andrew Garfield’s iteration of the web slinger.

Ultimately Electro met his end, being shorted out and killed by Spider-Man, but that was also the end for Garfield’s Spidey, as he was later fired following a dispute with Sony executives and failing to turn up at an event in Rio. The Sony hack attack in December 2014 didn’t help either, with North Korean hackers leaking sensitive info about upcoming projects for Sony including with Spider-Man, following the studio’s participation with the Seth Rogen and James Franco lead controversial comedy, The Interview.

Among the details that were leaked, it was confirmed that the head of Marvel Studios Kevin Feige and Sony executives had been talking back and forth about the possible idea of incorporating Spider-Man into the MCU, and introducing him in one of their upcoming films, Captain America: Civil War. Eventually Sony agreed after their main star was gone and their sequel plans leaked to the world. So, the past 2 Spider-Man movies have taken place in the MCU and have had nothing to do with the trilogy from Sam Raimi or the Amazing Spider-Man duology from Marc Webb.  Instead, the Tom Holland iteration already had gained his powers and lost Uncle Ben by the time we met him in Captain America: Civil War. It was clear Marvel Studios and Sony wanted to try and avoid recycling certain characters if possible, especially antagonists. So that’s why Spider-Man: Homecoming brought us Michael Keaton as Vulture and Spider-Man: Far From Home had Jake Gyllenhaal as Mysterio, as both had been teased in some of the previously mentioned iterations, with Raimi even going as far as to reveal that his friend and Evil Dead star Bruce Campbell was supposed to play Mysterio, and that he had popped up several times doing cameos in the trilogy, and they were meant to set up Mysterio, but the 4th film was instead canceled and rebooted with Andrew Garfield. Sandman was referenced in Far From Home during the cold opening of the film, in which Nick Fury and Maria Hill encounter a large sand and rock-based creature, later revealed to have been an elemental which was subsequently defeated by Mysterio. Sandman originally turned up in Raimi’s Spider-Man 3.

 At the end of Far From Home last year however, audiences were in for a shock. During the post credits scene, JK Simmons made a cameo, reprising a role he hadn’t had on screen since Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 3 in 2007. That character was a journalist and Daily Bugle chief editor J. Jonah Jameson. This time, he was portrayed as a conspiracy theorist, and he and the Daily Bugle were meant to parody the real-life conspiracy video series Info Wars, hosted by the controversial and infamous conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. Jameson outed Peter Parker via edited footage from Mysterio made to look as though Spider-Man participated in a terrorist attack in London and murdered Mysterio.

 Electro was featured as the primary antagonist of The Amazing Spider-Man 2, with Jamie Foxx’s portrayal being somewhat panned by critics. Foxx is an incredibly talented actor, and if you don’t believe me just watch the Ray Charles biopic he did, where he even had special prosthetic eyelids to help make his blindness authentic. That’s dedication, and though Foxx gave it his all, the appearance of Jamie Foxx being coloured blue and given a hoodie as his electro costume was just too ridiculous for some people. I remember seeing previews of the movie on my TV when it was in theaters, and this was long before I even remotely cared about superhero films, but even I though that the trailer amazing and that the way electro looked was cool.

 But to each their own, as the saying goes. Foxx announced via his official Instagram that he’d be returning to play the character in the upcoming 3rd film, and stated that this iteration wouldn’t see him as just a glowing blue guy who gained his powers through falling into a tank of electric eels. The majority of the character’s screen time was done through CGI to achieve the blue skin and sparks and glow. Foxx’s Electro will now be third Marvel character to appear in a separate franchise with their actor reprising the role in the MCU, the others being of course JK Simmons as J Jonah, and Stan Lee as himself.

 The popular theory was that following Peter being labeled as a terrorist in the post credits scene of Far From Home, Kraven The Hunter would appear as a sort of bounty hunter attempting to track down Spider-Man as part of his ultimate hunting trophies. In the comics, Sergei Kravenoff is a big game hunter from Russia, known across the world for going after the most dangerous game and taking down each target with his brute strength and cunning resourcefulness. He adopts the alias of Kraven The Hunter, and wants to kill Spider-Man, believing him to be the ultimate game.

 This could still be the case, as one of the filming locations was in Iceland, which could be used to depict Kraven’s Russian life, and like J Jonah in Far From Home, Foxx’s Electro may only be a post credits cameo, although it’s likely Electro will have a larger role to play in the film unlike Simmons in Far From Home, who wasn’t announced in the official cast list before the premiere of Far From Home, with his cameo meant to be a surprise.

 In any case, the currently untitled 3rd MCU Spider-Man movie is set for release in theaters next December, being pushed back by almost 6 months like every other MCU film due to the pandemic.

 Until then, I’m Zach Roozendaal, your friendly neighbourhood journalist. Stay safe out there and take care of each other, and remember with great power comes great responsibility.

Reflecting on Summer: A Farewell Piece

Reflecting on Summer: A Farewell Piece

By Zach Roozendaal

If you’re anything like me, then saying goodbye to the +20°C temperatures, the outdoor swimming pools, ice cream on the patio, camping with family and friends, fishing like a survivalist and wearing shorts are going to be things you’ll definitely miss. Now we’re officially into fall, and now it’s time for the long and bitterly cold road ahead that we need to plan for, as they said in Game Of Thrones, “Winter is coming.”

But before we get fully ready to move into sweater season and the spirit of the fall season before the snow hits, let’s reflect on the summer and some key moments throughout, as well as some things to look forward to for those who are feeling the post summer blues.

First of all, it’s no secret that the entertainment industry has had a kind of mixed success despite the pandemic. TV shows and streaming services and video game companies have all seen their profits going through the roof as people desperately try to escape boredom, but theatres across the globe have taken a huge hit as have many films, many of which either were put directly onto streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu or Disney+ or were just delayed in the hopes that within 6 months to a year things will have eased up enough for theatres to reopen.

Black Widow, the film launching the MCU’s 4th phase was among those films, as well as the direct sequel to the 2018 partial reboot of 1978’s Halloween, John Carpenter’s Halloween Kills, however the trailer for it was released on YouTube, and despite being as baked as a pumpkin pie in his obsession’s basement, Michael Myers is still letting nothing stand in his way of his pursuit of Jamie Lee Curtis’ incredibly iconic portrayal of final girl Laurie Strode. As well as that, rumours of a sequel to the highly controversial yet comedic mockumentary Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, a film that follows British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen playing a fictional journalist named Borat Sagdiyev, a reporter from Kazakhstan who’s antisemitic, homophobic, racist and sexist actions and comments were meant to mock the idea of prejudice and highlight how prejudice is fuelled by ignorance and unwillingness to accept proof defying the prejudice ideologies some members of society possess, although Cohen since claims to have retired the character due to the many controversies surrounding the film, although a video was shot in Los Angeles and published several weeks ago showing Borat in a yellow pick up truck, as played by Cohen himself, with the rumour being that a sequel has been secretly filmed during the pandemic.

This summer we also witnessed the divisive controversies of racial tensions between police and Black Lives Matter protestors, ramping up to what some claim may be the beginning of a civil war. In addition to that, many rallies have been held by current president Donald Trump and his political rival, Democratic party nominee Joe Biden, however the election will be one of historic proportions, with it being incredibly different in how the voting system works with the Coronavirus pandemic. Voting by mail is now going to be a necessity, and like it or not that’s the direction it’s headed as the United States moves to try and further curb the spread of COVID-19.

The 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics have been moved to 2021 as a result of the pandemic. High schools across the world had to engage in strange graduation ceremonies, although at least for my sister and her boyfriend’s class this year they still had a ceremony, although no banquet or after party occurred.

Finally, there were the sad and unfortunate deaths of both actor Chadwick Boseman and Supreme Court Justice and feminist icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg. 

Boseman was known for incredible portrayals of many characters, bringing to life famous iconic figures like baseball legend Jackie Robinson and jazz artist James Brown, and most notably King T’Challa, also known as the superhero Black Panther, and ruler of the fictional African nation of Wakanda. Boseman redefined the superhero genre with his character’s debut in Captain America: Civil War in 2016, but gained more of a following after the release of his Black Panther solo film in February 2018. In 2016, Boseman had been diagnosed with colon cancer, but despite the disease he persisted through the pain, giving people around the world hope and making his fans scream his iconic phrase “Wakanda forever” a battle cry his character would yell to rally his fellow heroes. Marvel Studios has yet to give comments for their plans on what is to happen with the sequel definitively.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the other hand, was a feminist icon, becoming an advocate for women’s rights and redefining the gender roles of women within the US legal system. An introverted and shy woman, she gained popularity and fame and became an iconic figure in the feminist movement, becoming an advocate for equality. Perhaps she was best known for her nickname, RBG or Notorious RBG a reference to the rapper Notorious BIG. She was also made iconic through Kate McKinnon’s portrayal of her during the Weekend Update segment of Saturday Night Live. Like other equality figures, she will live on in our hearts and minds and as key figure in recent history.

And so that ends the summer of 2020. My final summer as a teen, and the first in a very strange and different world, one that like it or not, we have to do our best to make sure that things will be okay for the future in. be safe, don’t do anything your peers wouldn’t do, and also take care of each other. Until next time, this is Zach Roozendaal, signing off.

Goodbye for now!

On the Unexpected Limit in Education

On the Unexpected Limit in Education

N. Monk, Futurist and Philosopher

         Modern education is going to face a new limit because of the accelerating rates of human progress, technology, and innovation. This limit will be a new limit unlike something the forefathers of education might have suspected, this new limit will be a biological one.

           While computational technology is still following Moore’s Law; which simply put means the number of transistors in an integrated circuit double about every two years, technology is not the only thing that is progressing at a nearly exponential rate. Human innovation is also following a similar trend. To quote Ray Kurzweil “So we won’t experience 100 years of progress in the 21st century, it will be more like 20,000 years of progress”. However, Kurzweil was not the only person to notice these exponential trends, other thinkers such as the American polymath, Buckminster Fuller, have also shown through historical observation an accelerating trend of knowledge and innovation. More simplistic examples of this can be found in the lives of students, and even professors now. 

           Consider this, in 1888, the notions of computers had not been conceived yet, even Albert Einstein’s ideas of relativity or Planck’s ideas of quantum mechanics had not even been thought about yet. Modern psychology in that time would have just begun and been around for about a century, which is young for a theoretical field. Even in the medical field modern surgical techniques and life-saving technology were not around yet. After looking through exams from the University of Sidney 1888, physics, in particular, I realized that I would have been able to pass the entrance exam to the university in grade ten or eleven. Not because I am smart or some sort of genius, quite the contrary, it is because most of the stuff I was learning in physics would not be taught to the 1888 students until their second year or so. In other words, as part of modern physics, I was required to learn what would have been somewhat advanced for them in my high school levels of physics. An easier example is Optics. In Brandon University it is considered a second-year course, in 1888 it was considered a third or fourth-year course. Even the required courses for a major now is much more difficult, not only because you have to learn almost all that was taught in almost half the time, but because you have to also learn the modern theories. 

As part of a 4-year major honours in Physics at Brandon University, it is required that students take computer science courses. Students in 1888 would have no conception of a computer at that time. Thus, already physics students to succeed, need to also learn about an entire field that did not exist a little over a century ago. 

 However, this human progress is not the problem, nor is it the Universities fault either. This accelerating innovation is a good thing. The problem is that while technology and knowledge are expanding exponentially around us, humans themselves are not. The human body evolves quite slowly. This will become a severely limiting factor because once the information demands reach a certain point, people will be overloaded and will be unable to keep up. Humans are limited by their brain and the speeds at which neural connections are made, or the rate of electrical impulses fire. Even the human memory will be a severely limiting factor because it is not recollective it is reconstructive. It takes a relatively long time for people to remember things long-term. 

   Conclusively, one can realize that for humans to continue to keep up with the accelerating trends, humanity needs to seek to find solutions around their biological limits. If we do not, we will be a mere remnant of the past left behind and forgotten.