I know every one of you has a class that faces the quad. When was the last time you looked out there? Students have thrown their pop cans, candy wrappers, chewed up pieces of gum, and if you had the chance you would probably throw your used condoms out there, too.
Take a good look out there! Look at the bags of garbage by the English book room, look at the old desks, chairs, pop cans, candy wrappers, imaginary condom wrappers, oh and the BABY DUCKS!
That's right! Thirteen baby ducks (and their momma) playing in your garbage! I'm sure they are extremely thankful for the unclean habitat. It's not bad enough that they have the equivalent of an open garbage bag for a home, but now it's getting close to being a dump for those helpless things. Please, the next time you're eating, drinking or even imaginary condom using, don't throw your trash outside! Think of something else besides yourself.
Shortie
P.S. Now that I'm on my ranting spree, someone whould get out there and clean that place up. I'll help!
P.P.S. According to a learned member of the faculty, the duck actually migrated there herself, and laid her eggs.
P.P.P.S. Quack, quack.
Are you against animal cruelty? Would you be willing to give up all animal products for just 24 hours? If so, then go see Johnson H. or Sarah M. for more information regarding this worthwhile event.
The objective of the day will be four-fold:
rainbo brite and Q
It's that time of year again. SAC elections are just around the corner and I am trying to muster up great expectations. Will this year's set of candidates leave a lasting impression? Will they change the ways that have been handed down to us year after year; force-fed for lack of a better option? Sadly, I am almost certain that the chains of tradition are too strong. I am setting myself up for a disappiontment to even think of the mere possibility of a revolution/evolution. Crowded into the auditorium like a herd of cattle, I for one will walk my own path, following the herd is not my style and never will be. Maybe some of you will join me, casting a meaningful vote based on the merits of the individual running. Precedent dictates, however, that the one with the most entertaining speech, the great singing voice, the impersonations, and various other stage antics will win the crowd's heart and capture the vote. Politically savvy are we? I think not, more like popularity conscious. Our student leaders are reduced to nothing but mere stage performers; with their sights set on nothing but the next dance. More substantial, widespread issues and concerns are ignored for the 'traditional' petty ones. For example, why don't they address the neglected arts and drama department? Or our outdated and inadwquate library? Why haven't student leaders raised a cry against Nike sponsorship? Think about that... before you waste your vote on the next [censored] that amuses you. Food for thought, enjoy!
Nexus
Hello, boys and girls. So if you're really stupid, you probably have no friggin' idea that we're approaching the end of the year. And you know what that means, OAC students...that's right! IT'S PARTY TIME! P-A-R-T-why? Because we're OACs, that's why! Now if you're really stupid, then you probably wouldn't know what I'm talking about. THE FORMAL! (Never say prom!!)
So why am I writing about the formal? Well I'm sort of pissed off (for lack of a better word) at what I've been hearing so far. The formal ticket price is going to be around $80. Sure they're about the same as usual. But why is it $80? I've talked to other kids from other schools and they told me their prom only costs about $65! They said that this was only possible because their SAC paid for some parts of it. So I decided to do a little research on my own.
What I discovered was horrible, outrageous, and more corrupt than the Clinton sex-scandal. Does anybody have a clue of how rich our SAC is? We're talking about five digit figures! I'm not saying that the SAC should pay for our entire formal, but it would be nice if they paid a little bit of it, so, perhaps, our ticket prices could be reduced to...say...$65?
Just think about it. Most of us have spent the last five years at this school supporting the SAC. I think we deserve a little something in return. Don't get me wrong, though. I think our SAC has done a fabulous job (with the help of our fabulous president) of keeping up school spirit and bringing exciting events to our school. Anyway, I talked to a SAC member and this person (she is under the school's witness protection program, so I can't reveal her name) told me that the SAC has tried numerous times to reduce the prices of the tickets.
However, it appears that there is a higher power than the SAC. Oh my gosh, am I hearing correctly? Is there actually someone within our school more corrupt than our SAC? Apparently so. The lady - we'll call her Mrs. "X" has no idea of the struggles we go through. For one reason or another, she doesn't want the SAC to lower ticket prices.
You might think that this is a joke, but it's not. I'm only reporting the truth. I warn the younger generation to take notice of this. You might think that it doesn't concern you, but wait 'til you get to OAC. Act now, act fast.
Austin 3:16
Am I the only one who's completely fed up with the butt inconsideration some people have been showing these days? For instance, a few weeks ago, a group of school musicians from Chicago came to MAC for a concert. Throughout the entire performance, I could hear people (who I honestly thought weren't the rude, obnoxious people they proved themselves to be) about three rows back talking non-stop about Brad Renfro and Leo DiCrap (of all people!) over the performers. Now, going to a concert isn't exactly my cup of tea either, but I'd hope that at the relatively respectable age the audience was, they would have the self-control and decency to shut the hell up for an hour or so! I felt sorry for the obviously exasperated conductor, who, during the intros had to stop talking many times for all the noise everyone was making! The whole incident pissed the crap out of me! For gawd's sake, the AMERICANS were better behaved than us Canucks!
Or like the other day, for no good reason, a "friend" totally screamed at me in a quiet, crowded, public place! I was so embarassed! And she still has not made any move to apologise! It just showed me how damned insensitive people can be, not admitting when they've been wrong, or owning up to how much they've hurt someone's feelings (sniff, sniff).
I know as well as you do that the world isn't perfect, but guys, show a little plain niceness - it never hurt anyone - and maybe stop making such disgustingly rude remarks and everything may just turn out okay.
But in the meantime: people, smarten up!
Qu
(Here's an article that just "appeared" in the MacNews folder. It's dated April 1997. The source is not known. Though over a year old, we feel that it is excellent, and still has a great deal of mertt Let us know what you think. Sofi ed.)
What's the most important part of your body? Your mind, right? Well you'd better protect it. Becaust something is trying to get it. That something is a shoe company called Nike.
Considering a recent commercial featuring black baseball stars thanking Jackie Robinson for breaking the colour line. It is a touching tribute, grainy film footage mixed with heartfelt messages. It looks like some philanthropic foundation put it together. But when the moment peaks, and your heart is open, what's the last thing you see?
A Nike swoosh.
Same way you see a Nike swoosh after those Tiger Woods commercials, in which the children of the world - all races, mind you - dream of being Tiger.
You'll notice these ads do not try to sell you shoes or clothing - which are, after all, what Nike makes. But that should be your first warning. By its founder's admission, Nike is no longer in the shoe business; it's in the image business. It wants you to feel a certain way. It wants you and your kids to desire the swoosh subliminally, under the skin, without even knowing why.
Call it planned addiction. First, Nike wants your mind. Then it takes your wallet.
Well, I don't like anyone playing with my brain. And while it's not my place to correct history, I will if it is being manipulated.
So let me make two points here:
Exploiting labour
A recent report revealed that Nike's factories in Vietnam are treating women like slaves, paying them $1.60 a day in wages - not even enough to buy three meals of rice and vegetables. These women are limited to one bathroom break per eight-hour shift, and two drinks of water. If they make a mistake, they are slapped. They spend 60 hours a week making shoes like Air Jordans, which sell for about $150 a pair.
Ask Michael Jordan the last time he got slapped for talking.
Ask Phil Knight why none of the cute kids in his commercials is seen hunkered over a machine, stitching shoes.
Oh, I forgot. It's not the right "image".
But it is the truth. Nike has been exploiting cheap labor for years.
It started in other countries, South Korea, Taiwan, but as those countries developed and workers rightfully demanded more, it moved to the next foreign haven. Nike ducks criticism by saying "We're no worse than anyone else" - which has always been the lamest defense. Yes, many athletic shoe companies are guilty of such practices, as are many apparel makers.
But Nike is special. No other company tries to paint itself as such an angel, while doing so much of the devil's business.
Feigning disbelief
Remember. folks, this is the same company that prices shoes up to $180 a pair, limits the quantity
This is the same company that targets inner-city youths who can't afford their shoes - then feigns disbelief when someone gets shot for a pair.
"We're not gouging anybody," Knight has said. At $180 a pair? Paying workers $1.60 an hour? With a report this week that shows Nike's earnings this quarter alone jumped 77 percent, while profits rose to $237 million? Not gouging? You're right, Phil. We need a stronger word than gouge.
Now, I doubt this column will make a dent in people's Nike habits. They didn't stop buying Nike when it gave money to TonyaHarding's defense fund, or when it jumped into bed with Jerry Jones of the Cowboys - defying the NFL - or when it threatened the Olympic medal ceremony because Dream Team members would have to wear a rival's sweatsuits.
So why should people stop buying Nike because some Vietnamese girls half a world away are being treated like human garbage? What do we care, right? We live here, in Happy Land, where every kid can Be Like Mike, just plunk down $150 and come on board.
Nike knows this. They know you don't care. They wouldn't dare try it here, with American worders. They're not dumb.
Well, I won't be dumb, either. I have purchased my last pair of Nike anything. They may own every famous athlete, every pro and college team. They may spend billions on brainwashing disguised as advertising, sticking their swoosh on every noble thing that happened in North America and claiming it as their own.
But they're not getting my mind. It's the only thing I have left to detect evil. I plan to protect it.
I suggest you do the same.
Mitch Albom
It's no surprise that Sloan's latest album, Navy Blues is pure melodic brilliance. I wouldn't have expected anything less from the Halifax quartet, who are known for penning memorable sugary-pop tunes. In comparison to previous albums, however, this one is somewhat heavier.
She Says What She Means sets the tone of the album with riffs that wouldn't be out of place on a Lenny Kravitz record. Keep On Thinkin' is one of those all-too-catchy songs that you'll find yourself humming for days until someone counteracts it with that new Spice Girls song about a traffic sign or something (note: that's not a GOOD thing...)
Other highlights include the schizophrenic Suppose They Close The Door, the colourfully entitled Chester the Molester, and the first single, Money City Maniacs (yep, the coke fizz song). On The Horizon is sponge-worthy....I, uh...mean...single-worthy (sorry, I have to fit the mandatory Seinfeld references in this issue. We have quotas to fill and such...) as well, as it has fun and quirky lyrics, yet another familiar Sloan trademark.
Though nearing artistic perfection, Navy Blues loses points in my books for two things: the sparse liner notes, and the fact that Iggy & Angus is basically a rip-off of The Beatles' hit You Won't See Me. Oh well - at least Sloan know a good song when they hear one. They also know that music doesn't have to be angst-ridden and meaningful all the time. Sometimes it can just be fun.
Sofi