Old Mathematics Textbooks Versus New Mathematics Textbooks

Old Mathematics Textbooks Versus New Mathematics Textbooks

      Perhaps one of the key factors to success in a mathematics-based course is the textbook. Why the textbook? I say the textbook because it contains the methods and the practice problems necessary to develop skills in mathematical reasoning. The hard truth to getting “good” at mathematics is that simply reading a maths book does not help you improve much. Solving many problems is the reality of getting good at mathematics. The best way to compare the old versus new textbooks is to look at the pros and cons of each. Ideally having both is superior to having one or the other, but this is not always possible as one shall see from some of the cons. 

      The first thing they should be of note is that when I use the word “old” I am referring to maths textbooks from before at least 1970, and thus “new” will refer to any material after 1970. One of the first sorts of pros of the old maths books is that they tend to contain what I call “hidden gems” in them. I found from reading maths books from before the age of calculators that for certain areas like trigonometry, mathematicians had to use a bit more algebraic manipulation to get the same answers as opposed to after the 70s one would just use an algebraic calculator or calculator to solve. This can be beneficial because this gives a few more alternative methods of solving problems that would not ordinarily be available. For example, in trigonometry, vers(θ) was historically considered the most important trigonometric function, and yet the probability of a maths student knowing what that is quite low and is pretty much zero if you are trying to find a student that can tell you what is hav(θ). Another pro about old maths textbooks that I have also noticed is that they tend to have much harder exercises in them than the new textbooks. Having harder exercises in the context of maths is a benefit to the student because by solving difficult problems one’s problem-solving skills become much stronger in less time and fosters outside the box thinking. If one is used to difficult problems by the time the test comes around the test will feel like a review. Another one of the pros of old math books is that the cost of the books is often not as expensive as some of the new textbooks.  

      Now it is time to look at the cons of old maths books. The first con is that if one is not used to reading old maths books the wording can be quite tricky and takes some practice to get decent at reading. This con will, however, disappear as one gets comfortable reading them. So, this con is that old maths books are a slow start. The next con and probably the most notable con of old maths books is that old maths books may not contain the most up to date theory in that branch, but I think in the case of first timers knowing the latest breakthrough in that branch of mathematics is not going to help with learning the branch and it is unlikely a first timer will understand the modern advancements anyways. Unless of course one of the modern advancements is a new and more efficient way to solve a problem by not using computer assistance. Another con of the old maths books is accessibility. They can be quite hard to get access considering most of them are not getting reprinted anymore.  

      Overall, I would say ideally get an old maths textbook; the older the better, and a new one and use them to complement each other, but if I had to pick, I would choose the old textbook. Of course, if a certain textbook is required for a course one should invest in that textbook.  But if the option is available, getting an old textbook will be of great benefit. 

N. Monk, Futurist d Philosopher

Movie Review- Escape Room

Movie Review- Escape Room

By: Kiersten Garbutt

The movie Escape Room, directed by Adam Robitel came out in 2019, was recently added to Netflix! If you are looking for a good psychological thriller, this movie might just be for you! 

The movie starts in a nerve-wracking situation to get you on the edge of your seat. Leaving you on a cliff-hanger from the beginning scene they introduce the main characters. Starting with Zoe, who is a very smart university student, however, struggles with some anxiety. Next, they introduce Jason, who presents himself as a hotshot businessman. To complete the trio, they introduce Ben who is the stereotypical social outcast. The three of them get invited to an escape room. While they are in the waiting room, we meet three other characters. The tough and mysterious Amanda, happy and welcoming Mike, and finally Danny, the nerd. 

The six individuals work together to complete several puzzles in several rooms to hopefully win the promised $10,000 cash prize if they finish the escape room. What started as a friendly fun game became a twisted and sadistic competition. The movie is a bit predictable and the characters all follow their stereotypical roles, but the movie is still exciting and full of plot twists. It is definitely worth the watch! 

How to get textbooks for winter semester

How to get textbooks for winter semester

By Mary Okorie

Winter session has started and many of university courses require textbooks. This may be hard for students to access due to various reasons such as cost, time to be delivered and availability. The university bookstore has most of the textbooks but because of the pandemic they only offer the service of delivery or curb side pickup and due to the amount of students’ order, getting the book might be delayed. There is also the option of renting for the whole semester or buying the book depending on what students want. The option of bookstore might be an expensive option for some students but there are also alternatives. Facebook market has proven to be a nice medium to get used textbooks for a very reasonable price. There are always people willing to sell, students just have to use filters so that they are buying from people around their location. We also need to consider students that are not currently in Canada and may have no means of accessing the bookstore or facebook market sellers that are  within their area. There is an option of ordering the textbook online to the place of location. There is also a cheaper way but that would be an online version instead of paperback textbooks. Students have these various options to choose from to access textbooks for this semester. We have to find ways to adjust to the way things have become.

2021: A Year for Normalcy?

2021: A Year for Normalcy? 

By: Maria Garcia Manzano, AEIC of the Quill

The end of 2020 has come and a new year begins. The beginning of 2021 was lackluster in celebration as due to the Code Red restrictions placed on Manitoba, gatherings outside of one’s household were not allowed. Many welcomed the year alone or through a series of Zoom calls with family and friends. We may ask ourselves, what can we expect with this upcoming year? Is there anything to look forward to? Well, vaccination against COVID-19 has started in Manitoba and Dr. Roussin hopes that by the end of the summer all Manitobans will be immunized. Right now, due to the limited quantity of the vaccine only priority individuals are being given the vaccine. These are individuals who, work in critical care units; work in long-term care facilities (born on or before Dec. 31, 1974); work in acute care facilities (born on or before Dec. 31, 1974) or were assigned to a COVID-19 immunization clinic or testing site. More information regarding the vaccine can be found: https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/vaccine/index.html 

The vaccine will undoubtedly allow us to participate in activities we have not been able to do so in a while. However, we cannot expect this to happen in a single day. As said by Dr. Roussin, the complete immunization of Manitobans will take time and we must be patient as this process is taking place in order to ensure everything is done correctly. Therefore, while normalcy may be achieved this year it must be done following the correct process. As university students we have now adapted to online learning and this upcoming winter semester will bring back that sense of normalcy we lacked during the holidays. Furthermore, on January 8th, depending on how well Manitobans followed the Red Code restrictions, they may be removed and we may regain some of the privileges we lost such as visiting friends who were part of our bubble, shopping for non-essential items etc. But, in case they are not lifted again, I ask you to be patient. I understand we are bored; I understand we want to see other people, shop, eat out, go to the movies, the list is endless. But we must realize that by acting irresponsibly we are putting the lives of others at risk. 

2021 perhaps is not the year where normalcy is retuned but rather the year where a new sense of normal will be achieved. 

Furthering Awareness of Alzheimer's disease

Furthering Awareness of Alzheimer's disease

By Ronnie Kayla Neiman

January is the start of another new year, and it is also the month set aside to spread awareness about Alzheimer's disease. 

The first thing you should know; what is Alzheimer's disease? Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and, eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. 

The most known risk factor for dementia is age. The older you become, the greater the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia. This disease tends to affect people over the age of 65 and becomes more likely after the age of 85. Women also tend to be diagnosed with and suffer from Alzheimer's disease due in part that women have a longer life expectancy. Some of the factors that can further increase the risk of developing the disease is diabetes, cardiovascular risk factors and brain injuries. 

What are some of the possible symptoms someone can experience? Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease include loss of memory, difficulty with day-to-day tasks, and changes in mood and behaviour. Other symptoms include a loss of vocabulary, poor and irrational decision-making, the lack of the ability to learn and relearn skills. Some may think these symptoms are part of normal aging, but they aren’t.

Is there a treatment or a cure? Sadly there is no known cure at this time and while it is not possible to restore function to brain cells damaged by Alzheimer’s disease, there are treatments and strategies that can help both the person with the disease and the person and/or persons caring for the patient. Current approaches to treatment tend to focus on helping people maintain mental function, manage behavioral symptoms, and slow down certain problems, such as memory loss.

What to do if someone close to you has this debilitating disease or if you are the caregiver? Caring for a person with Alzheimer’s disease can have high physical, emotional, and financial costs. The demands of day-to-day care, changes in family roles, and decisions about placement in a care facility can be difficult. 

Becoming well-informed about the disease is one important long-term strategy that provides emotional and mental well-being for the patient and the family. 

The UN Announces Famine

We Will See Famines of “Biblical Proportions” UN Nobel Agency Warns.

By Eder Leonel Torres

David Beasley, head of the World Food Program has warned world leaders that 2021 may see famines of “biblical proportions”. The Nobel UN Agency emphasised that the Covid-19 pandemic may increase the number of people starving. People living in states engaged in civil wars like Syria, Yemen, and South Sudan are already facing a humanitarian crisis; however, Covid-19 will likely make it worse and increase the number of people dependable on humanitarian assistance. People that were living on the brink of starvation before the pandemic are now facing a crisis, making them most vulnerable. The agency has communicated that “it is getting worse out there[…] our hardest work is yet to come”. Moreover, the pandemic is severely affecting low income states, preventing them from recovering economically and socially. The number of people in need of humanitarian aid transcended to the millions across different areas of the developing world. On the other hand, the world is encountering the threat of terrorism. Terrorism transcends borders as ISIS, for example, has established into different areas of Africa and spread its ideology across the globe. 

In parts of West Africa, state authority has been replaced by militias or armed groups. Robert D. Kaplan, in his article “The Coming Anarchy”, writes; “Sierra Leone is a microcosm of what is occurring in West Africa, and much of the underdeveloped world: the withering away of central governments, the rise of tribal and regional domains, the unchecked spread of disease, and the growing pervasiveness of war”. In fact, many people migrate or seek aid for reasons of security, shelter, violence and climate catastrophe. Climate change, Covid-19 and terrorism are the challenges to the post cold war world. 2020 is almost over and in the developing world, people in need of humanitarian assistance is rising to the millions.

Graduating Online

Graduating Online

Mary Okorie

This year graduation is going to seem weird and different from the rest of past graduations because of Covid-19 and the restrictions that come with it. Students graduating in the coming year must have been looking forward to an in-person graduation ceremony, spending their last day in school with their classmates while taking pictures to make memories. It is quite sad that those dreams might have been shattered and now graduating ceremony is online where everyone is distanced. Some graduating students might not even be eager to attend anymore. Even with all that is going on, our health should be our top priority and students have to understand that doing the graduation ceremony online is the best way to ensure social distancing and keep everyone safe. Graduating students should try their best to attend as this might be their last graduation. They can also see their fellow classmates online and try to connect with them. 

Graduating online might not be the best graduation ceremony but the students have to understand why it is important for graduation to be online and try their best to make good use of the ceremony. Let us all try to look at the good sides of things and always remain positive.

Pass/No Credit Grading Option for BU Students

Pass/No Credit Grading Option for BU Students

By: Maria Garcia Manzano, AEIC of The Quill

With the end of the fall semester upon us, the approaching exam dates are beginning to stress BU students. It is important to remember however, that Brandon University has taken precautionary measures to alleviate some of the stress that this year has caused. This year the stress caused by exam dates will be amplified due to the unprecedented times the world is facing as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Therefore, in anticipation of these stressful times the BU Senate has decided that once again students will be given the opportunity to take the Pass/No credit option. This option will also be given at the end of the winter term as a way to ease unnecessary stress caused by the situation we find ourselves in. 

What exactly is the Pass/No credit option? This is what BU has called a “compassionate grading policy” (Brandon University Registrar’s office) that will allow students to choose whether they wish to convert their final letter grade into a Pass/No credit instead; depending on the grade you receive on each course, you will be able to decide if you wish for that mark to appear on your transcript. Students will be able to first see their final letter grade and then decide on a course by course basis whether they prefer to take a simple Pass/No credit. Requesting a ‘Pass’ conversion means that you have met the minimum requirements for passing the course and can therefore receive the credited hours -- receiving a P grade does not count towards your GPA. While a ‘No credit’ grade means that you did not meet the minimum requirements to pass the course, however your GPA will not reflect a failing mark. The No credit options functions the same way as the Voluntary Withdrawal option and you will not receive those credit hours toward your degree.

It may be tempting to take the Pass/No credit option however, there are some downsides to this policy. The main one being that, if the course you are wanting to use the Pass/No credit option for is a pre-requisite course in which you need to obtain a certain grade in order to enroll into the next level course, you will not be able to use the Pass/No credit option. Furthermore, in case you are interested in applying to a professional or graduate program you should inquire about their admission policies as it pertains to Pass/No credit grades. Another aspect that is worth mentioning in regard to this grading policy is that if you chose to employ it, there will be no tuition reimbursements if you choose to use the No Credit option – although this applies if you fail a course anyways.

In order to take advantage of this grading policy you must email: registrar@brandonu.ca with your name and student number, and a list of the courses you wish to apply the Pass/No credit grade option to. For the fall semester this must be done no later than January, 20, 2021 in order to have your grades converted.

How to Xmas Shop this Year: A Quick Guide for Student’s

How to Xmas Shop this Year: A Quick Guide for Student’s

By: Maria Garcia Manzano, AIEC of the Quill

Since Manitoba has new restrictions and retailers are currently not allowed to sell non-essential goods in-person, here at the Quill we’ve come up with some alternatives for students to complete their Xmas shopping. These are hard times and with the first semester coming to an end many will be beginning to wonder where they can shop for family and friends given the current situation. In my case I began writing a list of all the presents I needed to buy and started shopping early. I did this because Canada Post announced in the beginning of October that gifts must be ordered early this year because they were expecting high volumes of packages and partnered with the Pandemic, delivery times might be delayed. Thus, I am almost done my Xmas shopping and I am currently tracking my packages obsessively. 

However, if before this week you had not began to think about Xmas presents and are now wondering whether your packages will arrive in time, do not panic. There is still plenty of time to order gifts and have them delivered before Xmas. Furthermore, there are alternatives to having your presents shipped to you. Brandon has a variety of stores and while all of them cannot currently sell non-essential goods in person, they can deliver locally or have curbside pickup. 

An example of one location is The Shoppers Mall as it has many stores offering curbside pickup and have designated many parking spots throughout the different parking sections for this purpose. (See picture attached at the end.) Therefore, you can shop online through one of the stores located at shoppers and in order to do curbside pickup, when you reach the checkout area make sure to select “pickup at store”. I have used curbside pickup for a few of my presents and it is a simple and fast way to get your gifts. All you need to do is call the store once your package is ready to be picked up, give your name, order number and your vehicle make and your package will be brought out to you and placed beside your vehicle. This is a fast and easy alternative to having your package shipped to you because depending on when you placed your order you are able to pick it up 1-2 hrs after placing your order. As I mentioned before, Shoppers Mall is one example as there are other stores that are offering this service. 

If you would like to shop locally and support local Brandon businesses many are offering local delivery and curbside pickup. The process is slightly different as many have not yet set up their websites, however you can call the store and place your order. A complete list of local businesses offering these services can be found at: https://starfm.ca/trending-online/trending-blogs/we-love-local-blog. However, if you would like to instead gift homemade presents or goodie baskets these can also be achieved by using curbside pickup. Michael’s offers curbside pickup and you can buy a variety of arts & crafts supplies to make your homemade presents. As for the goodie baskets, snacks and other candies are considered essential goods so all you would need to do is find a basket/box to place your goodies in and fill it with delicious snacks.

Photo Credits: Shoppersmallbrandon.com

Five Must-Watch Netflix Shows

Moses Aisida

Five Must-Watch Netflix Shows

Since COVID has forced us all into staying home and operating from home, a lot of things we usually do to be occupied at home would become more relevant. One of them is watching movies and shows, and a leading platform for this activity is Netflix. Netflix is host to several movies and shows that cut across different genres and languages, giving its viewers diversity in choice.

While not all shows on Netflix are hits, a good number of them are, and today’s article will reference five must-watch shows on Netflix. This list is based on my opinion and personal recommendations. The shows are

1. Modern Family: An American sitcom comedy classic that highlights three related nuclear families and their interactions as an extended family. The show has eleven seasons from 2009 till 2020, documenting the growth of the members of the family individually and collectively. There are so many lessons on love, trust, mistakes and forgiveness, and the true essence of family.

2. Peaky Blinders: Take a trip to the early 90s in Birmingham, England. This Crime TV Drama reflects on the actions of a local English family gang called the Peaky Blinders, their leader, Thomas Shelby, and his rise from local street thug to the heights of politics. There are currently five seasons, with a sixth scheduled to air in 2022.

3. Money Heist: If you are a fan of heists and robberies, this Spanish TV thriller is for you. La Casa de Papel, as initially named, features a gang of misfit criminals who are brought together by a highly intelligent leader called Professor. Watch this four-part show that mixes robbery with a revolution against a corrupt government. Watch how these criminals set aside their clash in personalities for a common goal.

4. Ozark: Marty is forced into money laundering for a ruthless cartel. To successfully achieve this, he has to abandon his old life and move to a new town with his disgruntled family. Watch as Marty fights all odds to please his cartel boss, steer through storms in this new place, and keep his family together in this American TV Drama.

5. The Get Down: A mix of musicals, fashion, exotic dance, and the troubles that come with being a black person in the Bronx around the 70s, this show is one of Netflix’s most expensive shows. It got canceled after just a season to the dismay of fans but, the one season is good enough to watch. It features love, drama, crime, betrayal, and so many thrilling moments to dazzle you.

There you have it. Five Netflix shows that are guaranteed to make you stay glued to the TV and wanting more. I hope you enjoy watching them, and maybe someday I would make a list that is more genre-specific. Until then, keep warm, stay connected with friends and family, stay positive, and be safe out there. Ciao

I Am Not an Optimist, but I believe in Progress

I Am Not an Optimist, but I believe in Progress

           While looking back upon the year 2020, it has been a terrible year for everyone. However, there have still been some impressive advancements despite the hardships of this year. 

           For one, this year SpaceX has launched their first astronaut crew into space with the Dragon rocket. Just earlier this month SpaceX has also launched astronauts to the International Space Station. These are examples of the first time a non-government or a private company has sent people into space. In terms of space innovation, this is a huge step forward to one of the major goals of humanity – which is becoming a multi-planetary civilisation. One of SpaceX’s major goals is to get a colony on Mars, the fabled red planet next door. 

           Another example of progress is the technological advancements on the general scales made in a short time. If one asked people a year ago if they would see entire universities, jobs, and businesses go online, there would probably have rather large doubts about this. Yet, a year into the future almost exactly just that has happened. As a result, significant technological progress was made with video conferencing and online teaching. 

           Even for the engines, it has been a good year. After watching the Computer Chess Championship in November, the strength of the engines due to ideas of neural nets has made jumps in the Elo ratings of the engines in a short time. A little over a year ago, just before Google DeepMind’s AlphaZero, the top chess engine Stockfish or “The Fish” for short had an Elo rating of about 3400. For comparison, the top-rated human player Magnus Carlsen has an Elo of about 2860. Based on the previous rates of improvements in the rating of the engines, a 4000 Elo rated engine looked very far in the future. After AlphaZero brought along neural nets, the top engines of now have gotten ratings of 3800 Elo in a little under a year! Years of expected performance happening in the span of months. Back then I kept trying to imagine 4000 rated Elo machines, simply because they felt so out of reach, but now it is not far in the horizon. 

           Unfortunately, the pandemic has brought a lot of grief and un-needed stress, but one can argue that advancements in medicine have also been made. I was not expecting to see any vaccines until at least May or June of 2021, based on similar pandemics; already, due to intensive research, some places in the world might be getting a decent vaccination by early 2021. Yet again surprising progress being made where some did not expect. Although these new vaccines will get to some places in 2021 people should still practice all the safety measures. I do not think the pandemic will start to fully resolve until 2022, and it is better to prepare for worst-case scenarios.  

           All these examples bring me to my final points. I do not see the future very optimistically; I can already see worse problems on the horizon for humanity. Some of these future problems are now just starting to present serious threats of extinction. Global warming is one such problem that is apparent. The energy crisis is another. Despite these grim realities of the future, I can also see many potential areas of innovation that will help humanity. For example, nuclear fusion looks like a promising solution to the energy crisis, and it is one of my main motivations for studying physics. A large number of problems can be solved by looking backwards in history, but some problems can only be solved by looking forwards. Simply trying to imagine how our future civilisations have already solved our problems can provide direction and insight into how to approach the problem. Though there are things beyond the imagination of any of us now.  Imagine trying to explain aircraft to people in ancient Rome. Similarly, there will be technology that is far outside of our sight right now. So, I do expect worse problems to arise, but I also am expecting unimaginable innovations to follow in response. This is not optimism but rather, futurism.

 I spend most of my time trying to imagine such future innovations and it is what dominates my thinking. Hence, the “futurist” written beside my name. I think it would be helpful to adopt a futurist view rather than an optimistic view. In the optimistic view, one imagines the good and pleasant, the futurist imagines the unknown and unknowable. One will see the problems and solutions and the other will remain blind to them. 

N. Monk, Philosopher and Futurist

The Haunting of Hill House - A Review

The Haunting of Hill House - A Review 

By: Mallory Johnson 

I recently watched the Netflix show The Haunting of Hill House, and really enjoyed it. This show is season one of The Haunting anthologies, with season two being The Haunting of Bly Manor, which I have also watched (and reviewed). The two shows are unrelated, so you can watch them in any order. I found myself making connections between the two shows. Hill House stars Victoria Pedretti (Bly Manor, You), Hendy Thomas (Bly Manor, E.T.), Carla Gugino (Bly Manor, Gerald’s Game), and more. It follows a family who grew up in a haunted house, and it flashes between past and present. I just want to say right now: MAJOR SPOILER ALERT. I will be discussing major plot twists that happened in the show, so please beware. Also, I want to put in place some trigger warnings for: suicide (it is GRAPHIC, PLEASE be careful), murder, animal abuse (not shown, but discussed), possession, death, ghosts, mental illness, funerals, vomit, overdose, alcoholism, addiction, needles, poison, bugs, thunderstorms, blood, cheating, jump scares, fighting, grief, gaslighting, miscarriage, sexual assault (not shown, but described), incest, child abuse, flashing lights, a skeleton, and gore. 

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed The Haunting of Hill House. As I said in my review for The Haunting of Bly Manor, I am not a big horror fan. But Hill House reminded me of the show This is Us (except minus the ghosts and haunted house), which I love. What pulled me into the show was how it flashed between two different time periods. It follows the main five cast members as kids, and then as adults. I really liked how it showed just how dramatically all their trauma affected them. I saw on the Internet that each kid represents the five stages of grief: Nell is acceptance, Steve is denial, Shirley is anger, Theo is bargaining, and Luke is depression. 

I was absolutely BLOWN AWAY by the plot twists in this show. The two that shocked me the most was the revelation of the Bent-Neck Lady’s identity, and the revelation of the Red Room. I did not see either of these twists coming, (even though the red room one was hinted at a few times during the show). The writers and directors are truly very creative people. Something that also blew me away in the show was how episode six was shot in only a few long takes. This was Mike Flanagan’s choice, and he wrote, created, and directed the show (and he is also married to Kate Siegel). 

Another thing I loved about this show is the familiar faces I saw from Bly Manor. Victoria Pedretti (Dani) played Nell, Kate Siegel (Viola) played Theo, Carla Gugino (The Narrator) played Olivia, Henry Thomas (Henry) played Hugh, Oliver Jackson-Cohen (Peter Quint) played a much more likeable Luke, and Katie Parker (Perdita) played Poppy. 

This show was darker, less romantic, and more emotional throughout than The Haunting of Bly Manor. I really enjoyed how it also had LGBTQ+ representation (although I enjoyed the Bly Manor relationship more than the Hill House one). I loved this show, and my overall rating is a solid 9/10. I highly recommend it! 

Celebrating Christmas during isolation

Celebrating Christmas during isolation

Mary Okorie 

Christmas is fast approaching and with the looks of it, this Christmas might be a little different from how other Christmas’s were celebrated, due to Covid-19. How can we make Christmas celebrations fun without breaking rules or being in a large gathering of family and friends?

Whether you live alone or with a few family members, Christmas should be made special. With restrictions put during these periods, watching a nice Christmas movie would be a nice way to celebrate Christmas; select a good Christmas movie that helps to improve the mood. You can also connect with friends via social media to watch the movie and discuss it as you would if they were there in person. Also, cooking a nice dinner would help to put you in the Christmas mood. Talk to your other family members that are not there to celebrate with you. Decorating your apartment, even if it’s just Christmas lights or a Christmas tree is also a nice way to celebrate Christmas with so many restrictions. You can also engage in other Christmas activities virtually. Try out some new things such as baking and maybe making a few snowballs or a snowman if you are able to.

Christmas is a special holiday and should be celebrated in a special way despite the circumstances and restrictions. It might not be as wonderful as other Christmas’s celebrated with family and friends, but we should look at the bright side and try to make the best of what we have. 

Tips on Writing University Essays

Tips on Writing University Essays

By Mary Uchechukwu Okorie 

Writing essays can be really difficult and stressful and it might not be easy to get good grades on them. There are some tips provided here that might help to reduce the stress and difficulty level of writing essays.

• Write down your ideas on a paper

• Make sure to follow guidelines and instructions from your professor

• Go to class and watch some videos

• Review and discuss your paper with a writing specialist

Since we are now learning online and essays must be typed, writing down the rough draft on a piece of paper can go a long way when writing an essay. Your thought needs to be out on paper even if it is not organised yet. After writing down your thoughts, you can do research if the paper requires it, adding this information under your thoughts. Make sure not to plagiarize when citing the sources. Read this rough draft again and start looking for ways to make it more organized and concise. It will help reduce the stress when it is time to type it up.

Furthermore, following the guidelines and instructions from your professor will also help to improve your grades, as this ensures you are doing things correctly and to the standards of each professor. Do not do the opposite of what they ask. If they want a particular writing format, be sure to write in that format so that you do not lose marks.

Going to class and watching videos on how to write good essays are very helpful. People might think that it is just writing and there is no use for going to class, but this is an incorrect notion. Professors can explain what they are looking for in an essay, or what to avoid when writing essays. For thesis statements, which many professors say is the most important part of an essay, and the part students might find difficult to write; make sure to listen to them and if you still do not understand, after the class you should watch videos or ask the professor directly for clarification. That might help to clarify your misunderstanding.

In addition, reviewing and discussing your paper with a writing specialist is a great advantage when writing a paper. They are there to help you discuss your ideas and make sure you are on the right track and not writing off topic. They also offer suggestions of what could make a better essay. I find this resource very helpful and it makes me feel more confident about my essay. They are of great help if you have any difficulties.

In summary, reviewing and discussing your paper with writing specialist, attending class and watching videos, following the instructions and guidelines of professors, and writing down your ideas on paper are tips that can be of help when writing university essays. There is a high probability of reducing difficulty levels and achieving better grades on an essay when using these tips.

On the History and Horrors of The Demon Core

On the History and Horrors of The Demon Core

By N. Monk, Philosopher, Futurist, and Physics Student

*Disclaimer: I am not an advocate of nuclear weapons used in any scenario; the purpose of this article is for educational purposes. No number can be put on the devastation caused from nuclear warfare. The topic of nuclear weapons should always be taken seriously. *

While discussing other physics phenomena in my day-to-day life, the topic of a particular 6.2 kg or 14 lb ball of plutonium came into discussion. Later, after doing further research into this particular ball it became more apparent just how dangerous working with nuclear materials can be. 

Many people likely remember only two nuclear bombs in WWII -- Little Boy and Fat Man. Both of which resulted in the deaths of countless innocent people. However, there was in fact a third nuclear bomb that thankfully was never detonated. Even though it was never truly detonated it still resulted in at least two deaths due to an accident, giving it the name “The Demon Core”. 

A question remains on some people’s minds, ‘just how dangerous would the third bomb have been?’. If one were to look up the Demon Core, they would find little to no information on such question. However, I argue that the answer to this question should be known, so that future world leaders will better consider never using nuclear weapons. Just from knowing how much plutonium was in the ball I was able to put a rough estimate on the strength of the Demon Core. After getting my calculations checked, I estimated that the Demon Core would have the energy of about 84 TJ or 8.4*10^13 Joules of energy. Which is almost identical to the strength of Fat Man which was about 88 TJ or 8.8*10^13 Joules of energy. For a more understandable interpretation of those numbers: that would be about 21 kilotons of TNT. For reference, if the Demon Core were detonated on a city it would likely result in a similar scale of deaths as Fat Man which caused over 100,000 deaths. 

Thankfully, no country saw the third mushroom cloud. However, the Demon Core would still result in a few fatal accidents. The first being on August 21, 1945, when a nuclear physicist, Harry Daghlian was doing research on it. While working with the Demon Core, Daghlian accidently dropped a block of Tungsten Carbide on the mass causing it to go super-critical. Daghlian quickly knocked the brick of Tungsten off of the plutonium mass to stop the reaction, but his fate was already sealed from extreme radiation poisoning, and he died 25 days after the accident. A security guard, Robert Hemmerly sitting about 10 to 12 feet from the Demon Core at the time was exposed to enough radiation that would ultimately result in his death as well.   

After the incident some new safety features were put in place to prevent further accidents, but one should keep in mind that the Demon Core was deliberately designed to have a small safety margin, so anyone working with it would already be taking a huge act of bravery exposing themselves to it.

 The second incident would occur on May 21, 1946. When a brilliant Winnipeg-born scientist, Louis Slotin was giving a demonstration of the Demon Core to the newcomer Alvin Graves. Slotin had done this demonstration many times before and was known by his colleagues as being a virtuoso at handling the Demon Core. While giving the demonstration Slotin’s hand slipped while handling it, resulting in the Demon Core going super-critical again. Due to Slotin’s quick thinking he stopped the core from continuing to remain in super-criticality which could have resulted in a nuclear explosion. Slotin was also said to have shielded most of the radiation exposure from reaching Graves who was standing behind him. Due to his quick thinking Slotin also saved the lives of six other scientists in the room, but at the cost of his own life. Slotin would die from radiation poisoning nine days later. 

After looking through newspaper archives, I found two articles on the incident. One in the Winnipeg Free Press and another in The Winnipeg Tribune. Looking into Slotin, I found that he was born in Winnipeg and got both his bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Manitoba, before going on to work in the Manhattan Project. 

Despite the Demon Core never being launched, it still resulted in horrible deaths. From this it should be more apparent just how dangerous working with nuclear materials can be. Due to the nobility and sacrifice of the lives of these scientists researching nuclear effects with The Demon Core, many major contributions were made. Such as nuclear reactors, nuclear energy, advancements in medicine, and even household items like smoke detectors.

Louis Slotin on the left, and Harry Daghlian on the right. 

The Experience of Online Midterms and the Programs Being Used

The Experience of Online Midterms and the Programs Being Used

By: Maria Garcia Manzano, Assistant Editor-in-Chief

Reading week has come to an end and for many, which means it’s midterm time or a continuation of midterms. I was lucky enough (or unlucky according to some) to have several midterms before the break, therefore I have a pretty good idea of which platforms professors are using for their tests. I have taken midterms for a few different Psychology courses and my professors used “TopHat” and “Moodle” for their tests. “TopHat” provides proctored exams and, in my case, Moodle exams were not proctored since they were open book. All of my exams were multiple choice and therefore, my experience is different than others whose tests may have short and long answers or essay questions. 

“TopHat”, as mentioned before, provides proctored exams. Using the program “Proctorio” professors are able to view your computer screen while having access to your camera and audio. In order to take a test through “TopHat”, the first step I had to follow was to ensure all of my tabs were closed with only the exam being open. I also had to ensure that I had a strong enough WIFI connection and that I have a webcam. Another requirement needed was having Chrome as “Proctorio” will not work on other browsers. These requirements enable you to be recorded while you take the exam and your professors are able to monitor for any flag raising behaviour which can be: opening other websites, looking at your notes, or talking. Once the test begins you have an allotted time to answer the questions. On your screen you can see yourself through your camera and the amount of questions the test has. Every time you answer a question on “TopHat” it is saved and if you leave a question unanswered it lets you know before you submit the test. “TopHat” also lets you know how many questions you have answered and how many more you still need to answer. This feature is located at the top of the exam and is easy to keep track off. Once you have finished your exam, the program asks for confirmation to make sure you are ready to submit the full test. Once it is submitted you cannot change your answers, the website exits, and you are taken back to the “TopHat” home page. Your test results may take anywhere from a few hours to a few days to be uploaded. Some professors allow you to review the test on “TopHat” and you are able to see which questions you got wrong or right while other professors may not allow this and only your mark is displayed. 

For “Moodle” exams as mentioned before, mine were not proctored because they were open book. The multiple choice set up was relatively the same to “TopHat” with the main difference being “Moodle” does not let you know the fraction of questions you have answered. Instead, it displays all the questions that the exam has in small numbered boxes and as you answer the question the number box gets checked off. “Moodle” also asks for confirmation before submitting test answers and as with “TopHat”, some professors may allow you to review the test while others do not. I have found Moodle to be faster in reporting test scores as I have only waited a couple of hours for my test results to be displayed. However, if the professor has the program mark the test, scores may be given immediately after the conclusion of the test.

Overall, both platforms have fundamental components of the remote learning approach and once one exam has been taken and you know the procedure, anxiety is decreased because you have familiarized yourself with what is expected of you. Goodluck to anyone starting or continuing exams!

Inside Johnny Depp’s Ongoing Crisis: What We’re Learning and Truth VS Lies

Inside Johnny Depp’s Ongoing Crisis:

What We’re Learning and Truth VS Lies

By Zach Roozendaal, contributor

(Photo Credit: Creative Commons_shahanaj27)

Many people have seen at least one film from Johnny Depp. The actor has starred in many great films over the years, from playing the swashbuckling pirate Captain Jack Sparrow in The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, to the flamboyant confectionary connoisseur Willy Wonka in the remake of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, as well as sadistic psycho Sweeney Todd, and also the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland.

            More recently, however, are the troubling and ongoing issues from beyond the silver screen or red carpet that the acclaimed actor has faced, as well as shocking twists and turns in regards to what is happening and the situation he’s in. For those of you who aren’t up to date with what’s going on, let me run you through the timeline of events.

            Depp’s ex wife, actress Amber Heard, allegedly was physically abused and claims that Depp beat her senselessly while under the influence of drugs and alcohol, and had been abusing substances and became violent while impaired. She had filed for both a divorce and restraining order following one incident so serious, she called 911, however Depp claims that it was actually the other way around. Now, in the wake of the #metoo movement, many may have been quick to jump on the bandwagon with Heard, seeing Depp as trying to preserve his career and that Heard was simply a brave individual who came forward about her domestic abuse from her ex-husband, however things have been quite shocking as of recently. Heard was quick to deny her former lover’s claims of any and all violence or aggression against him. Many people took her side, at least until recently.

            Leaked audio of an altercation between Heard and Depp suggests the opposite of Heard’s claims against her former spouse, with Heard becoming physically and emotionally aggressive and violent against Depp. Many celebs have been quick to voice their support of Johnny following the leak of the audio, including singer/songwriter Sia, and Depp’s co-star from the movie Mordecai, Paul Bettany. Others to voice their opinions on the matter was Stranger Things star and Depp’s former partner Winona Ryder, who sided with Depp, as well as Depp’s own daughter through a post on Instagram, although that post has since been taken down for unknown reasons. His daughter described him as being a kind and gentle person, and a loving father to her and her younger brother.

            According to Depp’s Lawyers, Heard was only looking to benefit from her claims, both from the attention, and so she could attempt to secure a premature financial resolution by alleging abuse. There is some behaviour that caused people to be skeptical of Depp however, and that was the fact that Depp had admitted to being addicted to Roxicodone since about early 2010, which is a powerful opioid. A journalist for the Rolling Stone, Stephen Rodrick, claimed that Depp had used Hashish in his presence.

            Heard had testified her abuse claims while under oath at a divorce court deposition. The media was abuzz after hearing Heard’s claims and other celebs who haven’t been so positive include former reality show star and former passenger of the Crazy Train, Sharon Osbourne, stating that both Heard and Depp are as bad as each other, and she knows exactly how they are because they apparently behave the way she and her ex-husband, rock ‘n roll legend and man who’s mouth is an occasional guillotine for animals, Ozzy Osbourne. People will point out that he and Sharon are both crazy as hell, but to the extent of abuse? Who knows?

            Depp has been fired from working on the next Fantastic Beasts film, a series that takes place within the same universe as the Harry Potter franchise, and was also created by British author JK Rowling. There has been much uproar as a result of this, especially considering the leaked audio of Heard’s abuse against her ex-husband.

            As if the actor couldn’t catch a break, Depp also lost a libel case earlier this month after he sued a British newspaper known as The Sun in the UK following an article they published that described Depp as a wife beater. The courts are also siding with Heard, as they see her being extremely vulnerable as a woman and Depp as a liar who’s far too concerned about his image and preserving his career than being honest. Depp may be a bit of an oddity, but following the leaked audio, and also the many character witnesses, I’d say it’s likely that he’s not exaggerating his claims. But as for whether or not Heard’s claims are totally invalid is completely up for debate.

            Abuse of any form is a very touchy subject and can be extremely difficult to talk about, and although sometimes it’s obvious to recognize it in an external sense, such as being friends with the victim and witnessing it or the effects of it on the victim, when a person themselves is a victim of it, it can be hard to recognize the signs of it, especially if the abuse is psychological or emotional. Abuse isn’t something that’s restricted between romantic relationships. It can be between friends, coworkers, colleagues, classmates, teachers and students, parents and children, roommates, and the list goes on.

            For anyone who isn’t sure if they are a victim of abuse and are wondering what the signs are, please make sure to visit www.canada.ca/en/public-health/topics/how-recognize-abuse.html as abuse can take on many different forms, whether it be leaves obvious signs like physical abuse or more subtle and harder to see such as emotional and psychological and even sexual abuse.

If you ever feel that your life is in danger from an abuser, always make sure you dial 911. If you’re not in immediate danger, and the abuse is more psychological, sexual or psychological, then you can call this number toll free 1-877-977-0007 for the Stop The Violence Manitoba Domestic Abuse Hotline. Domestic abuse isn’t limited to physical harm, or between romantic partners, and no one will fault you for calling it if you genuinely feel you need to. November happens to be Domestic Abuse Awareness Month, so if you or someone you know is in an abusive situation, refer them to that helpline or call it yourself.

Sometimes the scars we bear are psychological, and they don’t always heal fully, just like physical scars, and they can run deep as any cuts we’ve gotten, but it doesn’t mean a person’s not strong. Abuse victims come in all shapes and sizes.

And now as always, it’s time for my final thought.

Things aren’t always as they seem, but the truth is always worth chasing, because truth leads to justice, and justice leads to closure.

Stay safe out there, take care of each other, stay at home unless you absolutely have to go out, wear a mask, wash and sanitize your hands often, and social distance, and follow guidelines.

Until next time, I’m Zach Roozendaal. Goodbye for now.

Differentiating the Seasonal Flu from COVID-19

Differentiating the Seasonal Flu from COVID-19

Written by Moses Aisida

It is flu season again as we approach wintertime in a year that is a lot different from previous ones. The rapid, global emergence of the COVID-19 virus in the first quarter of the year has seen soaring numbers of infected persons and, as we approach flu season, these numbers seem to be rising at a more rapid rate than ever. With November ushering us into the winter season, the fear of having the flu will drastically multiply, and this is because of the similarities between influenza (flu) and COVID-19.

Differentiating between the flu and COVID-19 virus will be a challenging task for health practitioners and citizens as the mode of transmission of both viruses is similar. They are both airborne, transmitted through respiratory droplets, and are transmitted through the mouth and nose while coughing, talking, sneezing, or releasing saliva into the atmosphere. These similarities extend to the symptoms, as both viruses share the same manner of symptoms, which may include:

· Acute Fever

· Cough

· Sore throat

· Runny or stuffy nose

· Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

· Tiredness or body pains

· Headache

· Nausea 

Both viruses can also lead to severe complications if not treated in time. The similarities in the transmission and symptoms between these illnesses make it challenging to differentiate between the viruses. While this might be the case, there are still lots of differences between the flu and COVID- 19. 

They include:

1. Mortality Rate: COVID-19 is a deadlier virus than the flu with a mortality rate of 3-4% compared to the flu, which reportedly has a death rate of below 1%.

2. Vaccination: There are currently annual vaccines available to combat the seasonal flu. However, COVID-19 has no vaccine as of yet.

3. Symptom Occurrence: Both viruses have different manifestation times. COVID-19 has a symptom range of two to fourteen days, while the flu lasts between a day and five days from the time of exposure. COVID-19 also has other unique symptoms like loss of taste and smell.

4. Adverse Effect: COVID-19 can lead to permanent lung damage and other long term health conditions which are still being researched and realized.

5. Spread: The flu does not spread as fast as COVID-19, and it has lesser secondary transmission than the COVID-19 virus.

In Conclusion, COVID-19 and seasonal influenza (flu) are very similar in symptoms, occurrence, and mode of transmission. However, the death rate, occurrence of symptoms, and other important details differentiate both viruses. Understanding the differences between COVID-19 and the flu can help to predict accurate treatments for both and subsequently save lives.

Remembrance Day; To Take Part

Remembrance Day; To Take Part

By Ronnie Kayla Neiman

Remembrance Day has been an active part of Canadian lives since 1931. The tradition of Remembrance Day evolved out of Armistice Day, which began at the end of the First World War. It officially became ‘Remembrance Day’ a few decades later prior to the Second World War. 

Each year at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month (i.e. November 11, 11:00 am), Canadians gather in memorial parks, community halls, workplaces, schools and homes to stand in silence in honour of all those who have fallen and defended our country. Together we observe a moment of silence, a total of two minutes to mark the sacrifice of the many who have fallen in the service of their country, and to acknowledge the courage of those who still serve.

Royal Canadian Legion members take pride in organizing Remembrance Day Ceremonies in over 1,400 branches across Canada and abroad. Through each branch, the Legion continues the traditions of Remembrance so that Canada “never forgets”.

Even this year, with the pandemic surging throughout Manitoba and Canada, people are still finding ways to honour those who have sacrificed and defended for our country. Virtual events are being held across the Canada.  

The Brandon University Archives has a letter from the Brandon University President in 1945, which emulates the feeling many of us are having, not only towards the emotions around war and the acknowledgment of sacrifice, but also towards the feeling of helplessness in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. It speaks to the need to go on and resume a feeling of normalcy. 

Remembrance Day is part of that normalcy even as the world changes around us.

Preparation for winter

 Preparation for winter

By Mary Uchechukwu Okorie, Reporter

(Photo Credit: Ronnie Neman)

(Photo Credit: Ronnie Neman)

As we know, winter is fast approaching, and Brandon winter can be quite brutal. We have to stay safe during this season so that we do not fall ill. Here are some tips on how to prepare for winter for both students new in Brandon and students who have been here for quite some time.

• Dress in layers when going out

• Get a heater if the apartment you are staying at does not have an effective heater

• Try not to stay out too long

• Wear thick socks and winter boots

Winter is a very cold season and few clothes, even if they cover the whole body, will not be enough protection against the cold. It is highly advised to dress in layers, starting from small, light clothing to heavier options and make sure winter coats are thick enough to help reduce the cold. Also, wear gloves if possible, in layers if the cold is strong enough to penetrate through one pair. In addition, try to protect necks and heads with mufflers and head-warmers and try not to expose body parts. 

Dressing in layers allows choice. When your destination is reached and the place is warm, one can remove some of the clothing and if it’s colder, one can add more clothing. Also, remember to check the weather before leaving the house to ensure that you are well prepared.

Moreover, try not to stay out too long during winter. If a lot of time is spent outside, especially without proper dress, it is very likely to catch a cold. If you are using the bus system, be sure to be at the bus stop when the bus is close by so that you do not have to wait out for too long. If it is a close by place that does not require transportation, try to walk quickly so you can reach it faster and this will allow your muscles to generate some heat to help keep you warm. Once again, try to limit the amount of time you spend in the cold.

Furthermore, not all shoes are suitable for winter, especially in Manitoba. The ground can be really slippery and shoes that have enough friction and stick to the ground will be more suitable and always make sure to watch your steps to avoid falling. For students who use car, be sure to check the tires of the car before heading out to avoid accidents; use of winter tires is highly advised. Warm socks should also be worn to keep the legs extra toasty. For people going through ear pains because of the cold, earmuffs are recommended to protect the ears.

As mentioned before, there are some houses or apartments that do not have effective heating systems. If there are no good heaters in your home and you feel cold inside the house, I advise that you buy a good heater to keep yourself warm in the house. You do not want to feel cold outside and then come home and there is not much difference. 

Buy an additional heater, suitable shoes and socks, avoid being out for long, and dressing in layers are tips on how to prepare for the coming winter season.