Editor:
I am writing in response to the cuts to the Political Studies department. As you know, the university administration has decided to cut the tenure track position that was to replace Dr. B. Bartmann in his retirement. The Administration, in the past, has offered a replacement ten month teaching contract; this time the administration did not even do that. With the financial times troubling the world currently, I can understand their position and I would fully expect the university to make due with an increase in sessional lecturers to pick up the slack. In this case, the university did not even meet my expectations—sessionals have been cut back.
The actions of the university administration have left the department with only three professors, one short of its previous compliment and leaving it unable to adequately teach the discipline. What is forgotten in the slalom to a balanced budget is the first responsibility of a university. Every Canadian has the right of Good Government, and rights entail duties. It is the requisite of a good society for a good government, and the key to a good society is a well educated population. The university has a duty to educate those who enter its walls, and I am at loss to see how cutting a department's resources is achieving this goal.
There are solutions to this problem, I empathize with the position of the university, money is tight currently, and everyone has to tighten their belts, but it is in this case that the university must find additional sources of funding, the annual collection campaign seems to do well for itself. New buildings, some even gilded in copper, have popped up on campus. Perhaps if the university spent less money on buildings and more on funding for each department (not each faculty) then things wouldn't be so bad.
UPEI's ranking, according to Macleans, has risen one place since last years rankings. This is an admirable trait, but surely with the cuts to departments across the board, and a weakening in the course offerings at the university such a place cannot be maintained.
The money has to come from somewhere, this I do understand. Between the massive donations that UPEI gets every year and the revenue from the provincial government, the university should be able to pay its staff to teach its students. If this means that the university runs at a loss for a few years, then so be it. The education of the students comes first and foremost. That is the duty of a university; to teach.
Mike Dunn
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
...
Editor,
I would like to thank Matt MacKay for discovering the childhood obesity problem and subsequently solving it. Maybe next Matt can explain to the Isrealites and Palestinians how he decided not to fight with his little sister anymore
Sincerely,
Ben Gates
I would like to thank Matt MacKay for discovering the childhood obesity problem and subsequently solving it. Maybe next Matt can explain to the Isrealites and Palestinians how he decided not to fight with his little sister anymore
Sincerely,
Ben Gates
CSJ offends
Editor:
I have been a fan of the Semantic since the first issue hit the UPEI Campus. At first, I enjoyed it a lot more than I have enjoyed reading the Panther Post the last couple of years. But thanks to Craig St. Jean's article in issue 7, I am a fan no more. His article was rife with profanity and bad mouthed Paige Matthie. Now, I really only read his reviews because I found them humerous, I never took his article seriously and I find it hard to believe that he thinks that he was ever taken serious. Half the time I can't tell if he is serious about the food he is writing about or if he is just mocking it and making a joke of the places he choses to dine at. Paige Matthie on the other hand is someone that I take seriously. She has yet to steer me wrong. And best of all, she's willing to talk about the prices and how the average student would fare.
I honestly can't take anyone serious when they feel the need to take a piece out of a rival reporter. There's no pride in that. In fact, it only results in making the paper look ridiculous. Thanks Semantic, you've proved to me again why I should only take you at face value.
"So let's get to the reason why you picked up this paper in the first place: to find out WHAT CRAIG ST. JEAN IS EATING." Nope. I've never picked up "this" paper for that reason -- and thanks to St. Jean, I'll never pick it up again.
And oh, St. Jean, you spelled Matthie's name wrong.
Respectfully,
Ashley McLellan
Ashley,
Respectfully,
Ed. (& CSJ)
I have been a fan of the Semantic since the first issue hit the UPEI Campus. At first, I enjoyed it a lot more than I have enjoyed reading the Panther Post the last couple of years. But thanks to Craig St. Jean's article in issue 7, I am a fan no more. His article was rife with profanity and bad mouthed Paige Matthie. Now, I really only read his reviews because I found them humerous, I never took his article seriously and I find it hard to believe that he thinks that he was ever taken serious. Half the time I can't tell if he is serious about the food he is writing about or if he is just mocking it and making a joke of the places he choses to dine at. Paige Matthie on the other hand is someone that I take seriously. She has yet to steer me wrong. And best of all, she's willing to talk about the prices and how the average student would fare.
I honestly can't take anyone serious when they feel the need to take a piece out of a rival reporter. There's no pride in that. In fact, it only results in making the paper look ridiculous. Thanks Semantic, you've proved to me again why I should only take you at face value.
"So let's get to the reason why you picked up this paper in the first place: to find out WHAT CRAIG ST. JEAN IS EATING." Nope. I've never picked up "this" paper for that reason -- and thanks to St. Jean, I'll never pick it up again.
And oh, St. Jean, you spelled Matthie's name wrong.
Respectfully,
Ashley McLellan
Ashley,
Respectfully,
Ed. (& CSJ)
An Ode To Nightlife in Charlottetown
by Monica Thibaudier-Ness
We’ve all done it. Gone out in downtown Charlottetown. There is the Wave, for the social University academic-atmosphere, Olde Dublin Pub for the Irish gig dancers, Baba’s Lounge for those who enjoy the more intimate atmosphere of a smaller bar, and Hunter’s Ale House for those who desire more of a bang for their buck so they may have more beer in their mug. There is also Velvet Underground, or ‘The Dirty’ as some prefer to call it, for the gyration of the hips and neon lights and also for those who enjoy staring themselves down in the mirrors on the club’s dance floor. Then there is the Gate for anyone that likes a more ‘mature’ environment. And then there are the seasonal bars that revive in the spring time at the rate of flowers blooming such as Fishbones and Peakes Quay. When it comes down to it, there is choice for everyone. So where is the appreciation?
As a bartender, I find myself far too often serving folks who lack appreciation for the bar they are dwelling and I hear complaints: “Euuuuuuugh… what am I doing here?”. What are you doing here? I often want to ask but I don’t because I want to make money. Seriously. What are you doing at a bar if you are going to complain the whole time? This happens far too often, and many complain that there is no where good to go in this town. Okay, so maybe we’re not in Berlin or New York City and our selection of places to go out are not vast like they are in larger cities but who cares! But bars and clubs are meant to be fun! Far too often, I find myself watching people, admiring the fact that they are out for the wrong reasons: 1) To be drunk and disorderly; 2) To find love in the club, or maybe to pick up would be the more honest way to put it; 3) To forget your problems and complain about life in general. There are far better reasons to go out to bars, and they go beyond inebriation, fornication, and depression.
As I mentioned in the previous paragraph, I am a bartender at one of the local taps in Charlottetown, therefore I don’t get many opportunities to go out. But when I do, I make the most of it. I don’t like to feel rushed, so I tend to take my time getting ready. Hair, nails, makeup. Boys, I guess you’d resort more to a good shave or trim or whatever and maybe a slick of gel and squirt of cologne. Then, I lay out my best duds; dress, jeans, shirt, shoes, whatever. Some people don’t enjoy this part, but I think most do. It’s fun, and it makes you feel good – not only good, but sexy! Most of the time, I meet with friends before I go out. Some like to call this “pre-drinking”, I like to call it “Hour of Diplomacy”, we get together, we mix our drinks and discuss all things delicate in our lives with some good background music. Most of the time, individuals prefer the get-togethers before the bars, but I also love going out for that whole social atmosphere of meeting people. You can meet plenty of interesting people when you go out with your friends. I mean, most people complain because they never meet anyone new when they go to bars in Charlottetown, but are you honestly going to meet anyone new if you go to the same bar every weekend? No. Open your horizons! And if you are not into the whole social aspect, then there are plenty of other things to do at bars too such as dance and or listen to music. It just requires venturing to different hospitable accommodations.
All the bars I mentioned in my opening paragraph offer an amazing array of entertainment in Charlottetown, which is great! St. Jame’s Gate and Olde Dublin Pub offer more traditional jams by their live bands. Olde Dublin also is much more Celtic in their vibe but their very own website says it is “Foot Stompin’ Fun!” and it’s true! Nothing like letting out your Celtic roots. Make your ancestors proud! Then there is a great selection of venues for local bands and live music such as The Wave, Baba’s Lounge and Hunter’s Ale House. I am sure many of you who have friends in a band have frequented these spots to listen to your pals strum their instruments and belt out some original lyrics.
The Wave and Baba’s Lounge, as well as The Velvet Underground, are also great for cutting some rug! Velvet Underground offers a lot of Top 40 recent favourites one may have, and the DJ is always ready to take requests, and sometimes they come out with some surprises with old classics ranging from Snoop to Michael Jackson. Baba’s Lounge has Indie Pop Night every few Saturdays where DJ Bones will pump out songs that people can come up and request. Got a CD with your favourite jam on it? Come to Baba’s during IPN and request your song. Dj Bones will play it. I said I wanted to hear Kid Sister once and he said he couldn’t play it because he didn’t have the song on his computer but if I had the CD there with me, he would of played it! And then I would have danced my rump off to Girlierock (which is, by the way, a great tune).
So you see, nightlife in Charlottetown offers a lot more than one would expect, as there is much to do. Ranging from gyrating with your pals in your best dancing shoes, to simply lounging with an ol’ wobbly pop in hand with a good friend while listening to some mellow tunes, to simply lingering on the bar ordering drink after drink from the bartender. My only message is, is that there a lot of things that you can do rather than simply retorting to just getting fucked up and attempting to score. There is the social and cultural part to going out: you get to dress pretty, meet new people, and listen to good music, and even get a dance workout! Life is not just about double rum and cokes and black outs, with the next morning topping off your night laying next to a swamp monster you went home with, but don’t recall. That can get old after a while, so appreciate what is offered.
We’ve all done it. Gone out in downtown Charlottetown. There is the Wave, for the social University academic-atmosphere, Olde Dublin Pub for the Irish gig dancers, Baba’s Lounge for those who enjoy the more intimate atmosphere of a smaller bar, and Hunter’s Ale House for those who desire more of a bang for their buck so they may have more beer in their mug. There is also Velvet Underground, or ‘The Dirty’ as some prefer to call it, for the gyration of the hips and neon lights and also for those who enjoy staring themselves down in the mirrors on the club’s dance floor. Then there is the Gate for anyone that likes a more ‘mature’ environment. And then there are the seasonal bars that revive in the spring time at the rate of flowers blooming such as Fishbones and Peakes Quay. When it comes down to it, there is choice for everyone. So where is the appreciation?
As a bartender, I find myself far too often serving folks who lack appreciation for the bar they are dwelling and I hear complaints: “Euuuuuuugh… what am I doing here?”. What are you doing here? I often want to ask but I don’t because I want to make money. Seriously. What are you doing at a bar if you are going to complain the whole time? This happens far too often, and many complain that there is no where good to go in this town. Okay, so maybe we’re not in Berlin or New York City and our selection of places to go out are not vast like they are in larger cities but who cares! But bars and clubs are meant to be fun! Far too often, I find myself watching people, admiring the fact that they are out for the wrong reasons: 1) To be drunk and disorderly; 2) To find love in the club, or maybe to pick up would be the more honest way to put it; 3) To forget your problems and complain about life in general. There are far better reasons to go out to bars, and they go beyond inebriation, fornication, and depression.
As I mentioned in the previous paragraph, I am a bartender at one of the local taps in Charlottetown, therefore I don’t get many opportunities to go out. But when I do, I make the most of it. I don’t like to feel rushed, so I tend to take my time getting ready. Hair, nails, makeup. Boys, I guess you’d resort more to a good shave or trim or whatever and maybe a slick of gel and squirt of cologne. Then, I lay out my best duds; dress, jeans, shirt, shoes, whatever. Some people don’t enjoy this part, but I think most do. It’s fun, and it makes you feel good – not only good, but sexy! Most of the time, I meet with friends before I go out. Some like to call this “pre-drinking”, I like to call it “Hour of Diplomacy”, we get together, we mix our drinks and discuss all things delicate in our lives with some good background music. Most of the time, individuals prefer the get-togethers before the bars, but I also love going out for that whole social atmosphere of meeting people. You can meet plenty of interesting people when you go out with your friends. I mean, most people complain because they never meet anyone new when they go to bars in Charlottetown, but are you honestly going to meet anyone new if you go to the same bar every weekend? No. Open your horizons! And if you are not into the whole social aspect, then there are plenty of other things to do at bars too such as dance and or listen to music. It just requires venturing to different hospitable accommodations.
All the bars I mentioned in my opening paragraph offer an amazing array of entertainment in Charlottetown, which is great! St. Jame’s Gate and Olde Dublin Pub offer more traditional jams by their live bands. Olde Dublin also is much more Celtic in their vibe but their very own website says it is “Foot Stompin’ Fun!” and it’s true! Nothing like letting out your Celtic roots. Make your ancestors proud! Then there is a great selection of venues for local bands and live music such as The Wave, Baba’s Lounge and Hunter’s Ale House. I am sure many of you who have friends in a band have frequented these spots to listen to your pals strum their instruments and belt out some original lyrics.
The Wave and Baba’s Lounge, as well as The Velvet Underground, are also great for cutting some rug! Velvet Underground offers a lot of Top 40 recent favourites one may have, and the DJ is always ready to take requests, and sometimes they come out with some surprises with old classics ranging from Snoop to Michael Jackson. Baba’s Lounge has Indie Pop Night every few Saturdays where DJ Bones will pump out songs that people can come up and request. Got a CD with your favourite jam on it? Come to Baba’s during IPN and request your song. Dj Bones will play it. I said I wanted to hear Kid Sister once and he said he couldn’t play it because he didn’t have the song on his computer but if I had the CD there with me, he would of played it! And then I would have danced my rump off to Girlierock (which is, by the way, a great tune).
So you see, nightlife in Charlottetown offers a lot more than one would expect, as there is much to do. Ranging from gyrating with your pals in your best dancing shoes, to simply lounging with an ol’ wobbly pop in hand with a good friend while listening to some mellow tunes, to simply lingering on the bar ordering drink after drink from the bartender. My only message is, is that there a lot of things that you can do rather than simply retorting to just getting fucked up and attempting to score. There is the social and cultural part to going out: you get to dress pretty, meet new people, and listen to good music, and even get a dance workout! Life is not just about double rum and cokes and black outs, with the next morning topping off your night laying next to a swamp monster you went home with, but don’t recall. That can get old after a while, so appreciate what is offered.
Patio vs.Carver: Life Solutions
Q: I am going to the Farmer's Market for the first time this Saturday. What should I get?
P: Whoa. Whoa. Dude. What is wrong with you? Are you the same guy that keeps asking what the meaning of life is? Knock it off with the hard questions, you're making us look bad.
C: Buy a Chocobanana Smoothie and then hit up a chicken shawarma. After all that time in the line you will need another smoothie. Purchase one. Now we're off to what I call Farmer's Market blitz time. Take a $5 and buy as much as you can in three minutes. Get a Propeller root beer, blitz four more times, and your paycheque should be down to about nothing. Go home. Nap. I have a detailed map if you would like to know how to fully experience the farmer's market.
Q: I spent all my student loan money on books. I can't afford to heat my apartment. How do I stay warm on a student's budget?
P: In a situation such as yours, all you can do is ask WWSD. What would Survivorman do? "Gots ta do what it takes to survive!" Even if it means burning your precious books.
C: You, me, a portable heater, Ed MacDonald's "If You're Stronghearted" and a bag of cheezits. Let the fires ignit. We will be selling Patio Patent WWSD bracelets bracelets Tuesdays and Thursdays in Main 125 during my Moran history class. 25 bones.
Q: I go to all the totally amazing, sold out Absolute Glow Dance Parties at The Wave on Saturdays. I take part in the outstanding price drink specials, dance to DJ Singles (5th Year Psychology Student/UPEI SU President's moonlight job) but I can't pickup a fine shorty. Have any advice? Signed, D.J. TooSingle
P: Well, fine sir. I'm not a huge fan of the really short women. But what I suggest is you dedicate a lovely ballad or love song to the shortest girl in the crowd. May I suggest, "God Must Have Spent A Little More Time On You", made famous by *NSYNC. Or maybe that song from Titanic? She's really look up to you for that.
C: You've made the first step in the right direction for you by not going to the dirty (VU's streetname). I think you need to stare down the ladies for a good hour before you approach. Not too long though or people in white shirts will remove you from the establishment. But just long enough so the interest is known.
Q: I just got a car last week and I already have five tickets! Is there any way to make parking on campus easier? Signed, Loading Zone.
C: I have spent sixteen years mapping out the Parking Ticket Person (PTP as I like to call them), and yes, in sixteen years I have yet to come up with a better name for them. This year has been especially difficult to avoid tickets due to the PTP receiving Ice Cube's repo'd ride.
P: Screw it, just tell 'em.
C: Use my map or never register your car with UPEI and they'll never be able to send you a bill for the tickets. PTP can't ticket what don't exist in the database, y'all!
P: Whoa. Whoa. Dude. What is wrong with you? Are you the same guy that keeps asking what the meaning of life is? Knock it off with the hard questions, you're making us look bad.
C: Buy a Chocobanana Smoothie and then hit up a chicken shawarma. After all that time in the line you will need another smoothie. Purchase one. Now we're off to what I call Farmer's Market blitz time. Take a $5 and buy as much as you can in three minutes. Get a Propeller root beer, blitz four more times, and your paycheque should be down to about nothing. Go home. Nap. I have a detailed map if you would like to know how to fully experience the farmer's market.
Q: I spent all my student loan money on books. I can't afford to heat my apartment. How do I stay warm on a student's budget?
P: In a situation such as yours, all you can do is ask WWSD. What would Survivorman do? "Gots ta do what it takes to survive!" Even if it means burning your precious books.
C: You, me, a portable heater, Ed MacDonald's "If You're Stronghearted" and a bag of cheezits. Let the fires ignit. We will be selling Patio Patent WWSD bracelets bracelets Tuesdays and Thursdays in Main 125 during my Moran history class. 25 bones.
Q: I go to all the totally amazing, sold out Absolute Glow Dance Parties at The Wave on Saturdays. I take part in the outstanding price drink specials, dance to DJ Singles (5th Year Psychology Student/UPEI SU President's moonlight job) but I can't pickup a fine shorty. Have any advice? Signed, D.J. TooSingle
P: Well, fine sir. I'm not a huge fan of the really short women. But what I suggest is you dedicate a lovely ballad or love song to the shortest girl in the crowd. May I suggest, "God Must Have Spent A Little More Time On You", made famous by *NSYNC. Or maybe that song from Titanic? She's really look up to you for that.
C: You've made the first step in the right direction for you by not going to the dirty (VU's streetname). I think you need to stare down the ladies for a good hour before you approach. Not too long though or people in white shirts will remove you from the establishment. But just long enough so the interest is known.
Q: I just got a car last week and I already have five tickets! Is there any way to make parking on campus easier? Signed, Loading Zone.
C: I have spent sixteen years mapping out the Parking Ticket Person (PTP as I like to call them), and yes, in sixteen years I have yet to come up with a better name for them. This year has been especially difficult to avoid tickets due to the PTP receiving Ice Cube's repo'd ride.
P: Screw it, just tell 'em.
C: Use my map or never register your car with UPEI and they'll never be able to send you a bill for the tickets. PTP can't ticket what don't exist in the database, y'all!
Touched by an Uncle Victorious!
by Sarah MacDonald
Think you're smarter than your professors? Well, if you hadn't showed up to the Professor VS Student Trivia Game then you missed your chance to show it. The event was attended by all walks of the campus life. As some teachers strolled in wearing customized "The Triviators" t-shirts, it was clear - this was a serious matter.
With Joe Velaidum hired as the Director for Student Engagement this academic year, more activities have been occurring on campus. The trivia game held Friday, January 16th was one of Joe's pet projects with his new role. Velaidum, with help from the UPEI Student Union, organized a very elaborate night for students and professors alike. The grand prize for the winning team? An iPod touch for every member!
So, with stakes so high, there had to be rules. Cell phones were completely banned and put in metal buckets to block incoming data. There was a strict set number of four team members (forcing one team to have a "coach" who stood idley by). Even bathroom breaks were not tolerated during actual trivia rounds. This was serious stuff! Many teams trained before they headed over the The Wave. "I spent most of the day doing ... trivia online. Oh, and I ate a granola bar," said winning-team member, Matthew Morrison.
The final outcome was a win by a student team. However, the race was a close one. A professor team (seemingly captained by Dr. Shannon Murray) came a hair behind Morrison's team by only a half of a point. The runners-up enjoyed such amenities as Alexander Keith's glasses that lit up, and other beer paraphernalia. When asked about a student team winning, Morrison replied, "It sets the bar for next year. It shows that students have a chance to beat their professors."
The night did not go on without controversy. Many students thought the music was too dated, while the professors weren't fans of it either. Perhaps they simply forgot the tunes in their old age? Besides, there were a few academic disclaimers that the hosts were not used to. Whether or not Gilgamesh was an English epic (when it was translated into English) was a prevalent issue. But, perhaps the biggest dispute of the night was how many points should be accrued if your team knows the names of all four Teletubbies.
As most of you wait on baited breath to hear the secrets of how Morrison's team won, he responded, "We answered more trivia questions right then [sic] the other teams."
Think you're smarter than your professors? Well, if you hadn't showed up to the Professor VS Student Trivia Game then you missed your chance to show it. The event was attended by all walks of the campus life. As some teachers strolled in wearing customized "The Triviators" t-shirts, it was clear - this was a serious matter.
With Joe Velaidum hired as the Director for Student Engagement this academic year, more activities have been occurring on campus. The trivia game held Friday, January 16th was one of Joe's pet projects with his new role. Velaidum, with help from the UPEI Student Union, organized a very elaborate night for students and professors alike. The grand prize for the winning team? An iPod touch for every member!
So, with stakes so high, there had to be rules. Cell phones were completely banned and put in metal buckets to block incoming data. There was a strict set number of four team members (forcing one team to have a "coach" who stood idley by). Even bathroom breaks were not tolerated during actual trivia rounds. This was serious stuff! Many teams trained before they headed over the The Wave. "I spent most of the day doing ... trivia online. Oh, and I ate a granola bar," said winning-team member, Matthew Morrison.
The final outcome was a win by a student team. However, the race was a close one. A professor team (seemingly captained by Dr. Shannon Murray) came a hair behind Morrison's team by only a half of a point. The runners-up enjoyed such amenities as Alexander Keith's glasses that lit up, and other beer paraphernalia. When asked about a student team winning, Morrison replied, "It sets the bar for next year. It shows that students have a chance to beat their professors."
The night did not go on without controversy. Many students thought the music was too dated, while the professors weren't fans of it either. Perhaps they simply forgot the tunes in their old age? Besides, there were a few academic disclaimers that the hosts were not used to. Whether or not Gilgamesh was an English epic (when it was translated into English) was a prevalent issue. But, perhaps the biggest dispute of the night was how many points should be accrued if your team knows the names of all four Teletubbies.
As most of you wait on baited breath to hear the secrets of how Morrison's team won, he responded, "We answered more trivia questions right then [sic] the other teams."
New music in five easy sites
by Mikey Wasnidge
Since the dawn of the internet, mix cd’s, and 80+ gig hard drives, music lovers have sought endlessly to fill their music libraries with more variety than ever thought possible. For some, this means every top 40 single to climb the charts since junior high. If this is the case for you, any radio station will be helpful. If you are like me however, you appreciate putting a bit of work into finding the newest and bravest music out there. So, born out my own frustration with trying to sift through the plethora of sites with either poor quality music, 30 second samples, or Canadian “licensing restraints”(thanks Pandora.com), I figured a list of the most useful music discovery websites could help an individual who is in need of a new music fix, but has no idea where to start.
Deezer.com has changed my life. This site has many great features, but the best one is that ability to stream any full album from its extensive library for free!!!! Deezer is 100% legal, and has a great selection. You can also sign up for free, and create playlists so that you can listen to your pre-organized favorites from any computer that you have access to. Not only can you listen to, and organize music on this site, but you can also use this as a tool for finding some great stuff. Before the Ting Tings jumped on the iPod commercial bandwagon, they were featured on Deezer. Want to listen to the 6 CD’s worth of the newest Kink’s compilation; it is currently featured on Deezer. This site should be bookmarked by everyone who has a computer.
Before Facebook became social networking king, Myspace kept people connected with each other. It was also, and still is, renowned for allowing musicians to post their music on their Myspace page. While the Facebook community grows, Myspace is still the best way to hear even the most independent artist’s latest recordings. For this reason, it also is the easiest way to expose yourself to local maritime artists. Recently they have reformatted their music player to allow artists such as Ben Folds to upload their entire album for your listening pleasure. They also have featured artists, which can be very helpful when looking for new artists, and unlike Deezer, you can find out a lot of information about the bands that you like.
Insound.com is an online CD, vinyl and MP3 retailer based out of New York. When I first started listening to indie-rock, I found this site very useful because of how beginner friendly it is. Band supported MP3 downloads, links to similar bands, and honest artist profiles made it easy to find out what I liked and what I didn’t. If you are a vinyl collector, as I fancy myself to be, Insound offers the largest selection of indie albums at the most affordable price on the Internet.
Last.fm is a “music community website.” What does this mean? Well you can find an online radio, artist profiles, music videos, weekly charts, and basically everything music. It also offers a useful music suggestion radio popularized by the American only website Pandora.com. This application allows you to type in an artist whom you enjoy, and it will randomly play songs by similar artists. This is a great music discovery tool, and has a very large music library to draw from.
The last website on this list is pretty straightforward. Throughout the day, Hype Machine will post the most popular songs that are posted or discussed on thousands of MP3 blogs.
This is for a fan of pretty obscure new music. Not to say that they don’t often feature popular artists, but only the most elitist of music fans will know most of the music posted. This is why Hypemachine is so great! You can find some interesting tracks on this site, and then use any of the previously mentioned sites to listen to more from them. You also only have to wait minutes before new songs are added
Inaugeration Live Blog
by Connor Simpson
So its 12:42 and we're just getting on our way. I've already polished off a thing of walking nachos. My aunt and I are lounging in my living room. This is the Semantic's officially-inaugurated liveblog. Let's get this thing under way!
12:42: People are being taken to their seats. There's Biden and Cheney, who is in a wheelchair oddly enough. The announcer tells us its from, "when he was moving boxes while moving into his new home." Right. And there's Nancy Pelosi, who is really over with this crowd. She just got a huge ovation.
12:43: "And I am proud to introduce, Barack H. Obama!" It was probably a good call leaving out the Hussein. Obama is shaking every hand he can. He finally takes his seat... and everyone holds their breath!
12:44: Obama! Obama! Obama! First Obama chant of the broadcast.
12:46: I can't be the only person who thinks Michelle Obama is a babe. Right?
12:47: Right now there's some lady talking who I really can't bring myself to care about. She keep referencing MLK, which I guess is fairly fitting [note for readers: the day before the inauguration was Martin Luther King Day]. Obama should start his speech with, "Four score and seven years ago, my ancestors had a dream!"
12:52: All this christian prayer must be a little weird considering Obama's a muslim and all... I wonder how he feels about it. (...don't hit me.)
12:54: Jesus, Aretha! We know you can sing, but what the HELL is on your head?! That thing looks like the entrance to a christmas present casino. Also, would it kill you to skip dessert once in a while?
12:55: ringringringring! let it- let it- let it- let it- let it- let it- let it- let it- riiiiing! Sing it, Aretha!
12:57: I think we're running slightly behind. Obama is officially the new president in three minutes and Biden is still on stage. Get the man out here!
12:58: Hehe, Biden just said "faithfully discharge the duties." What's that? It's coloring time? AWESOME.
1:00: And they officially have a new president. He hasn't actually been sworn in or anything yet. Yo-Yo-Ma is doing his thing on the cello. It's a really depressing song, you'd think they'd pick something a little more upbeat. They had marching bands before, can we get them back? Or what about Stevie Wonder? Wouldn't Stevie Wonder rule right now?
1:03: A stool? They just brought out a stool for him to stand on while he gets sworn in. I thought he was a good basketball player. How is he so short?
1:05: He's now actually giving his speech. Holy crap. This is insane. I can't even handle it. I've already got gnarly goosebumps already. Ahhh! Those cannons are making me way too nervous.
1:10: Those are some big promises he just made. Like, holy smokes. Education, health care, and the economy: through the first thirty seconds of his speech and he's already promised to fix all of them. "America, you're all too dumb! But we will overcome!"
1:12: kbrb, he's talking.
4:00 Okay, so after he finished talking and the benediction wrapped up, I had a nap. I feel like the nap took away from it somehow, but I mean, I just watched history! History is surprisingly tiresome.
It would have been cool if Wilco or Jay-Z got to play the inauguration. He's admitted to being a fan of both: Wilco used to play fundraisers for him all the time back when he was still Senator Obama, and there were huge rumors that Jay-Z was begging and pleading for that spot. Wouldn't it have been cool if he played "Dirt of Your Shoulder" right before the swearing in? Or what about "99 problems, but my pres ain't one"? Jay-Z is clever like that.
Yo-yo Ma is cool and all (see: safe for white people), but you know that Obama is cooler than he's allowed to be.
But that was pretty fun while it lasted, wasn't it?! No one got shot, his speech ruled, and his new limo is fly as hell. I would write a big, slobbery "omg Obama, I luuurv you" piece, but there's probably way too much of that going around anyways. Ciao!
WHAT CRAIG ST. JEAN IS EATING
UPEI's most self-serious scribe got greazy, got dirty, and got himself 3 plates of rinkfries
by Craig St. Jean
Brace yourselves for the main event! I'm back, much to the chagrin of recent letter-writers who were either enlisted by rival reporter Page Mahttee, or chose to cower in pseudonymity. Eat me. For those of you who haven't been driven to Anti-Semanticism ('sup Ashley? You're not reading this, right?) by frustration at your comparative ineptitude, let me extend a hearty welcome, but also a due disclaimer: This column routinely contains fucking profanity, sexual innuendo, an inflated sense of self-worth, a blatant disregard for the concerns of others, an (apparently far too trusting) assumption that readers will get it, and egregious amounts of GREEAZE. Occasionally it contains useful information. This time around it mostly just contains a shit-ton of gravy.
After a bevy of fan mail (most of which is never published, since the majority comes from girls trying to find a way to taste my large fry) requesting that I do this, I have finally done it. I went on a RINKFRIES ADVENTURE, and I'm here to report on my experience with this most essential piece of edible Canadiana. The premise: To trek between several rinks in one day, pound rinkfries into my gut at each pitstop, digest, shit, reflect, report. The people: I traveled with a group of about 5 hangers-on. They're not really an entourage so much as they are sycophants who are mesmerized by my stardom. Whatever, they buy my food for me. I've started insisting that they address me as The Messiah. I have names for them too: The Hulk, Sick Chris, Renee, Janis, and Holly. The places: We hit up the CARI Complex, Simmons, and the APM Centre, in that order.
Apparently we picked the most frigid day of the year (January 18th) to do this, because we were shaking like junkies without smack just walking from the car to the sports centre. We were dismayed to see the size of the crowd (out for some intense ringette action, I guess) and I started to feel a little on-edge because I only had about 4 xanax left by that point, but we quickly filed into queue anyway. I just tried to remind myself that the overly long line up was our rainbow and the fries that lay beyond were going to be our pot of gold. Shaking off the cold with fries swimming in steaming gravy is what the experience is all about, and as tasty as UPEI's iteration of this classic dish was, Simmons truly got this point and outdid them by a long shot. This brings me to my most important observation: It's NOT about the fries themselves. It's about why you're getting them and where you're getting them. At Simmons, we devoured our fries right next to the ice, while incubating underneath chickenlights-- seemingly the only form of heat in the venue. We lol'd @ toddlers who could barely skate while slurping down gravy and ketchup. Somehow this infused our orders with a magic that would never be expected from what I can only assume originated as a bag of McCain's frozen fries.
The day's final stop at the APM Centre proved eventful as Sick Chris wrestled a hockey mom over some pocket change that she dropped shortly following our arrival. Wow, did he ever lose that bout. While he was transported to the locker room for stitches, the rest of us dug into our third plate of rinkfries each. Because of Chris's altercation, we were confined to the lobby, seriously detracting from the experience and resulting in the fries starting to lose their appeal a little sooner than anticipated. I tried to use my status to influence the staff and gain us entry into the actual rink, but no one seemed to have heard of me. I mean, seriously now. What rocks have these people been living under??? Ones that hopefully roll over and crush them, I guess. The only redeeming quality about the APM Centre is that they have a set of defibrillator pads placed thoughtfully next to the canteen. I shit you not. I'm sure they realize as well as anyone that gravy consumption can get out of control on these sub-sub-sub zero Sundays.
All in all, the day was a success....except for Chris. Come to think of we left him there. Whatever, these people can tag along with me if they want, but I don't have time for deadbeats.
by Craig St. Jean
Brace yourselves for the main event! I'm back, much to the chagrin of recent letter-writers who were either enlisted by rival reporter Page Mahttee, or chose to cower in pseudonymity. Eat me. For those of you who haven't been driven to Anti-Semanticism ('sup Ashley? You're not reading this, right?) by frustration at your comparative ineptitude, let me extend a hearty welcome, but also a due disclaimer: This column routinely contains fucking profanity, sexual innuendo, an inflated sense of self-worth, a blatant disregard for the concerns of others, an (apparently far too trusting) assumption that readers will get it, and egregious amounts of GREEAZE. Occasionally it contains useful information. This time around it mostly just contains a shit-ton of gravy.
After a bevy of fan mail (most of which is never published, since the majority comes from girls trying to find a way to taste my large fry) requesting that I do this, I have finally done it. I went on a RINKFRIES ADVENTURE, and I'm here to report on my experience with this most essential piece of edible Canadiana. The premise: To trek between several rinks in one day, pound rinkfries into my gut at each pitstop, digest, shit, reflect, report. The people: I traveled with a group of about 5 hangers-on. They're not really an entourage so much as they are sycophants who are mesmerized by my stardom. Whatever, they buy my food for me. I've started insisting that they address me as The Messiah. I have names for them too: The Hulk, Sick Chris, Renee, Janis, and Holly. The places: We hit up the CARI Complex, Simmons, and the APM Centre, in that order.
Apparently we picked the most frigid day of the year (January 18th) to do this, because we were shaking like junkies without smack just walking from the car to the sports centre. We were dismayed to see the size of the crowd (out for some intense ringette action, I guess) and I started to feel a little on-edge because I only had about 4 xanax left by that point, but we quickly filed into queue anyway. I just tried to remind myself that the overly long line up was our rainbow and the fries that lay beyond were going to be our pot of gold. Shaking off the cold with fries swimming in steaming gravy is what the experience is all about, and as tasty as UPEI's iteration of this classic dish was, Simmons truly got this point and outdid them by a long shot. This brings me to my most important observation: It's NOT about the fries themselves. It's about why you're getting them and where you're getting them. At Simmons, we devoured our fries right next to the ice, while incubating underneath chickenlights-- seemingly the only form of heat in the venue. We lol'd @ toddlers who could barely skate while slurping down gravy and ketchup. Somehow this infused our orders with a magic that would never be expected from what I can only assume originated as a bag of McCain's frozen fries.
The day's final stop at the APM Centre proved eventful as Sick Chris wrestled a hockey mom over some pocket change that she dropped shortly following our arrival. Wow, did he ever lose that bout. While he was transported to the locker room for stitches, the rest of us dug into our third plate of rinkfries each. Because of Chris's altercation, we were confined to the lobby, seriously detracting from the experience and resulting in the fries starting to lose their appeal a little sooner than anticipated. I tried to use my status to influence the staff and gain us entry into the actual rink, but no one seemed to have heard of me. I mean, seriously now. What rocks have these people been living under??? Ones that hopefully roll over and crush them, I guess. The only redeeming quality about the APM Centre is that they have a set of defibrillator pads placed thoughtfully next to the canteen. I shit you not. I'm sure they realize as well as anyone that gravy consumption can get out of control on these sub-sub-sub zero Sundays.
All in all, the day was a success....except for Chris. Come to think of we left him there. Whatever, these people can tag along with me if they want, but I don't have time for deadbeats.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Patio and Carver: Life Solutions
Q: What happened to Joey and Lloyd's advice column that was in The Semantic? -signed J&L
Pat: They took our advice...
Carver: ...and hit the road
Q: I am a first year student finding it hard to fit into University social life. What can I do? -signed New Res Room # 132
Pat: Why try and fit in? Try standing around campus yelling at passers by. Once enough people see you doing this it'll become the hip new thing, and you will have no problem fitting in with the rest of your creepy new friends.
Carver: Buy a Mac laptop, tight jeans, an expensive and difficult-to-pronounce coffee. Then sit away your University career in Mac Hall...oh and have obscure music, which you found in some indie magazine under "The Next Big Thing", playing from your new laptop at all times.
Q: I hate UPASS; I have to pay $25 to use the bus! - signed UPISSED
P: I'm not overly fond of your mom, but I still pay $25 every time we meet.
C: How about you take advantage of your unused $75 UPEI gym pass, and train on the treadmill. Then buy a rickshaw.
Q. How do I get a date for Wintersleep? - signed Winterlonely
P: Do you have $25? UPISSED's mom will go with you
C: Pay for my ticket, take me to Dairy Queen, and refill my REVs when I am running low.
Q. Where is the library? - signed Ace Johnson, 6th Year Undeclared.
P: 5th floor of Main.
C: Go to the SU; take a left at the pool, and then talk to a guy name Doug. He will take you to the cave where the books live.
Pat: They took our advice...
Carver: ...and hit the road
Q: I am a first year student finding it hard to fit into University social life. What can I do? -signed New Res Room # 132
Pat: Why try and fit in? Try standing around campus yelling at passers by. Once enough people see you doing this it'll become the hip new thing, and you will have no problem fitting in with the rest of your creepy new friends.
Carver: Buy a Mac laptop, tight jeans, an expensive and difficult-to-pronounce coffee. Then sit away your University career in Mac Hall...oh and have obscure music, which you found in some indie magazine under "The Next Big Thing", playing from your new laptop at all times.
Q: I hate UPASS; I have to pay $25 to use the bus! - signed UPISSED
P: I'm not overly fond of your mom, but I still pay $25 every time we meet.
C: How about you take advantage of your unused $75 UPEI gym pass, and train on the treadmill. Then buy a rickshaw.
Q. How do I get a date for Wintersleep? - signed Winterlonely
P: Do you have $25? UPISSED's mom will go with you
C: Pay for my ticket, take me to Dairy Queen, and refill my REVs when I am running low.
Q. Where is the library? - signed Ace Johnson, 6th Year Undeclared.
P: 5th floor of Main.
C: Go to the SU; take a left at the pool, and then talk to a guy name Doug. He will take you to the cave where the books live.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Cheap and Easy: The Green Way
Everyone at a university is at least aware of the impact that their consuming habits have on the environment, but few people actually take any steps to make a difference. If a failing environment is not enough to convince people to use wisely and put some thought into the waste they produce then perhaps a failing economy will do the trick. This is just a reminder of the personal economic impact of the waste we each produce. Poverty may be the thing to give us the push we need to lessen our combined environmental foot-print.
When many if not most university students go to the grocery store many of us go for what ever is easiest, not thinking of the long term, perhaps this is a sign of naive youth. The most obvious way to save money while helping the environment is walking to the store instead of driving. I know, this is obvious and for most people walking to the store is not an option. But for many of us walking is an option that we simply choose not to use because it is easier to just hop in the car. Everyone knows that cars are expensive, this is more about the little things that wear away at your cash.
A six pack of paper towel costs from $6.00 on sale to like $11.50 for the good stuff. This is money that is lost once you spend it. The average paper towel use uses two sheets, and there are about 50 sheets in the average roll of paper towel. Each roll of paper towel can be used to clean, then, an average of 25 small messes, and if you spent $8.00 on the package that is 150 messes a package at just over fivecents a clean up. That is five cents that is lost and you will never get back. Even when you get the cheapest kind of paper towel all money spent is lost, not to mention that if you get the cheep kind you would need a lot more to clean up the same mess. A more economically sound choice is to buy a bundle of cotton rags, on http://www.allrags.com/cotton_mixed.htm . You can pick up a 50lb bag of cotton rags for $30. If we assume that each rag will weigh about ounce there will be over 700 uses from that one $30 purchase. Alright, that is four cents each, the first time through. BUT WAIT! It is not only less expensive per clean-up, they are also washable. If you take the cloths and throw them into the laundry hamper instead of the garbage can you can wash them and use them over and over again for next to nothing! So you are not only saving the environment by producing less waste, you are saving money. Using cloth rags is like having FREE paper towel around the house. Who knew?
Zip lock bags are another wasteful product that is more expensive than its more environmentally conscious alternative. Zip lock bags are about $2.70 a box, and there are 20 bags in the box. It is costing you over 13 cents a bag. Why waste 13 cents, when for $20 you can buy a set of 24 microwave safe, freezer safe Rubbermaid containers that you can wash out and re-use for less than a penny a use? (that penny is me working in the cost of dish liquid). The initial cost of the Rubbermaid containers is less than a dollar each, so if you use them five or more times each they have more than broken even with the plastic baggies.
The last, most wasteful, and expensive product is a Swiffer. This is a no-brainer people, you have to buy a special handle, and a new mop head every time you clean the floor. You also have to buy the cleaning fluid for the special mop head. A Swiffer starter kit costs about the same as a traditional mop, except you have to pay almost a dollar every time you do the floors from then on, to pay for the over-priced mopping pad. If you buy a traditional mop and bucket there is no cost after the additional precise. As an added money saver you can use vinegar instead of floor cleaning solution. Vinegar is very cheap when you buy it in large quantities, as you would if you were using it to clean. Vinegar is also non-toxic so it will not harm your pets or children. If you have a dog, or a little human you don’t have to worry about if they go around licking the floors and counters.
So there you have it - living a greener life by eliminating some disposable products from your life can save you some real money. It is the beginning of the year and that means that it is the best time to try to make a change in your life. Every change makes a difference, even small ones. Once you start to change and see how easy it really is to live a greener life, I’m sure that you and your bank account will be much better off.
When many if not most university students go to the grocery store many of us go for what ever is easiest, not thinking of the long term, perhaps this is a sign of naive youth. The most obvious way to save money while helping the environment is walking to the store instead of driving. I know, this is obvious and for most people walking to the store is not an option. But for many of us walking is an option that we simply choose not to use because it is easier to just hop in the car. Everyone knows that cars are expensive, this is more about the little things that wear away at your cash.
A six pack of paper towel costs from $6.00 on sale to like $11.50 for the good stuff. This is money that is lost once you spend it. The average paper towel use uses two sheets, and there are about 50 sheets in the average roll of paper towel. Each roll of paper towel can be used to clean, then, an average of 25 small messes, and if you spent $8.00 on the package that is 150 messes a package at just over fivecents a clean up. That is five cents that is lost and you will never get back. Even when you get the cheapest kind of paper towel all money spent is lost, not to mention that if you get the cheep kind you would need a lot more to clean up the same mess. A more economically sound choice is to buy a bundle of cotton rags, on http://www.allrags.com/cotton_mixed.htm . You can pick up a 50lb bag of cotton rags for $30. If we assume that each rag will weigh about ounce there will be over 700 uses from that one $30 purchase. Alright, that is four cents each, the first time through. BUT WAIT! It is not only less expensive per clean-up, they are also washable. If you take the cloths and throw them into the laundry hamper instead of the garbage can you can wash them and use them over and over again for next to nothing! So you are not only saving the environment by producing less waste, you are saving money. Using cloth rags is like having FREE paper towel around the house. Who knew?
Zip lock bags are another wasteful product that is more expensive than its more environmentally conscious alternative. Zip lock bags are about $2.70 a box, and there are 20 bags in the box. It is costing you over 13 cents a bag. Why waste 13 cents, when for $20 you can buy a set of 24 microwave safe, freezer safe Rubbermaid containers that you can wash out and re-use for less than a penny a use? (that penny is me working in the cost of dish liquid). The initial cost of the Rubbermaid containers is less than a dollar each, so if you use them five or more times each they have more than broken even with the plastic baggies.
The last, most wasteful, and expensive product is a Swiffer. This is a no-brainer people, you have to buy a special handle, and a new mop head every time you clean the floor. You also have to buy the cleaning fluid for the special mop head. A Swiffer starter kit costs about the same as a traditional mop, except you have to pay almost a dollar every time you do the floors from then on, to pay for the over-priced mopping pad. If you buy a traditional mop and bucket there is no cost after the additional precise. As an added money saver you can use vinegar instead of floor cleaning solution. Vinegar is very cheap when you buy it in large quantities, as you would if you were using it to clean. Vinegar is also non-toxic so it will not harm your pets or children. If you have a dog, or a little human you don’t have to worry about if they go around licking the floors and counters.
So there you have it - living a greener life by eliminating some disposable products from your life can save you some real money. It is the beginning of the year and that means that it is the best time to try to make a change in your life. Every change makes a difference, even small ones. Once you start to change and see how easy it really is to live a greener life, I’m sure that you and your bank account will be much better off.
Here's a Tip: Just Do It
by Sarah MacDONALD
The elusive fifteen percent is under attack. As school-goers struggle with finances, economies wane . . . it’s easy to see why there may be a problem with student tipping in restaurants and other fine establishments. Despite this, many at UPEI are sticking by their guns claiming, “Hey, I can pay.”
Many questions arise when dealing with tipping. In a society that happens to have the custom, we are met with issues: Social expectation is more prevalent than anything when it comes to the matter. While students are sometimes looked at as the poorest of the poor in society, some wonder why they have to bother tipping. It is generally viewed that students do tip less. With that said, should we not tip at all? The Semantic explores the issue around UPEI.
Justin Douglas, a 5th year Honours student, believes that there’s a bit of leeway. “It depends on the restaurant,” he claims. Some establishments cater specifically to a certain clientele, and some of those are for students. Douglas also mentions the point that students are quite often those serving. “It’s probably a student working. If you’re tipping it’s probably to other students who need them.”
Some view the issue as perhaps even insulting to students. As it’s typical for students to tip less, it gives them a bad reputation in restaurants and bars. “If a waiter or waitress sees a group of teens walking in [they] know they won’t be getting a tip so they feel no need to go out of their way and help us,” explains 1st year Arts student, Chris Francis. He goes on to explain, “…it just casts a negative shadow.” With stigma attached, Francis believes this isn’t fair to the servers. “Why should we be any different? [They] do the same work they would for older folks.”
Tristan Gray, a new student to UPEI, claims that there’s a reason why there is a typical percentage for tipping and not a dollar amount. “Since you’re a student,” he argues, “you’re probably not getting a full meal.” Appetizers or snacks cost less and therefore would result in a smaller tip if measured by the usual fifteen percent. This accounts for students having less money than the usual customer in a restaurant.
There seems to be the delusion that tipping is mandatory. It is a gratuity based on the service provided. You, as a student or any other member of society, are giving a token of thanks for how courteous, friendly and efficient the server is. Gray argues and further claims, “Really, you should start at fifteen and either go up or down depending on the quality of service.”
Despite all of this, there are those who sympathize with students’ strife. “I think you should tip but only as much as you can afford, if you can afford it,” says 4th Year Business student, Asher Fredericks. Fredericks explains that there are people who cannot pay, and it is not obligatory to, in fact, give a tip. It seems that servers may take this into account as well. “Waiters, I think, do assume that certain patrons may be students and their tips may not be large,” elaborates Mike Carver, fifth year History student.
The general consensus on campus appears to be – do what you can. While servers may know you’re a student and cut you some slack, tipping is socially expected. The people waiting on you are providing you with a service no matter who you may be. As best put by Carver, “Tip what you can, for they will be less likely to spit in your food.”
The elusive fifteen percent is under attack. As school-goers struggle with finances, economies wane . . . it’s easy to see why there may be a problem with student tipping in restaurants and other fine establishments. Despite this, many at UPEI are sticking by their guns claiming, “Hey, I can pay.”
Many questions arise when dealing with tipping. In a society that happens to have the custom, we are met with issues: Social expectation is more prevalent than anything when it comes to the matter. While students are sometimes looked at as the poorest of the poor in society, some wonder why they have to bother tipping. It is generally viewed that students do tip less. With that said, should we not tip at all? The Semantic explores the issue around UPEI.
Justin Douglas, a 5th year Honours student, believes that there’s a bit of leeway. “It depends on the restaurant,” he claims. Some establishments cater specifically to a certain clientele, and some of those are for students. Douglas also mentions the point that students are quite often those serving. “It’s probably a student working. If you’re tipping it’s probably to other students who need them.”
Some view the issue as perhaps even insulting to students. As it’s typical for students to tip less, it gives them a bad reputation in restaurants and bars. “If a waiter or waitress sees a group of teens walking in [they] know they won’t be getting a tip so they feel no need to go out of their way and help us,” explains 1st year Arts student, Chris Francis. He goes on to explain, “…it just casts a negative shadow.” With stigma attached, Francis believes this isn’t fair to the servers. “Why should we be any different? [They] do the same work they would for older folks.”
Tristan Gray, a new student to UPEI, claims that there’s a reason why there is a typical percentage for tipping and not a dollar amount. “Since you’re a student,” he argues, “you’re probably not getting a full meal.” Appetizers or snacks cost less and therefore would result in a smaller tip if measured by the usual fifteen percent. This accounts for students having less money than the usual customer in a restaurant.
There seems to be the delusion that tipping is mandatory. It is a gratuity based on the service provided. You, as a student or any other member of society, are giving a token of thanks for how courteous, friendly and efficient the server is. Gray argues and further claims, “Really, you should start at fifteen and either go up or down depending on the quality of service.”
Despite all of this, there are those who sympathize with students’ strife. “I think you should tip but only as much as you can afford, if you can afford it,” says 4th Year Business student, Asher Fredericks. Fredericks explains that there are people who cannot pay, and it is not obligatory to, in fact, give a tip. It seems that servers may take this into account as well. “Waiters, I think, do assume that certain patrons may be students and their tips may not be large,” elaborates Mike Carver, fifth year History student.
The general consensus on campus appears to be – do what you can. While servers may know you’re a student and cut you some slack, tipping is socially expected. The people waiting on you are providing you with a service no matter who you may be. As best put by Carver, “Tip what you can, for they will be less likely to spit in your food.”
Monday, January 12, 2009
Library Science Power Up
Robertson takes on two huge projects this semester
UPEI’s librarians will be busier than average in the upcoming months. The university has decided to undertake a couple of huge commitments.
The projects, called Island Lives and Island Newspapers respectively, aim to publish hundreds of years of island texts on the internet.
The first project, Island Newspapers, will include scanning some 70 years worth of Guardians and former Cadres. The Semantic very much wants to be included, please.
These newspapers will be accessible via UPEI servers. Chief librarian Mark Leggott is quick to note that there is nothing new about digitalizing newspapers, but that he thinks it will greatly enrich the island community.
The second project, Island Lives, aims to digitalize more than 300 community histories. This includes histories of many local churches, founding families, and education. Many self-published books will be included.
For students, this newly available research will be invaluable. Easy-to-operate searched will facilitate quick searches. One insider claimed that it would be “Easier than Wikipedia”
The Semantic is skeptical.
UPEI’s librarians will be busier than average in the upcoming months. The university has decided to undertake a couple of huge commitments.
The projects, called Island Lives and Island Newspapers respectively, aim to publish hundreds of years of island texts on the internet.
The first project, Island Newspapers, will include scanning some 70 years worth of Guardians and former Cadres. The Semantic very much wants to be included, please.
These newspapers will be accessible via UPEI servers. Chief librarian Mark Leggott is quick to note that there is nothing new about digitalizing newspapers, but that he thinks it will greatly enrich the island community.
The second project, Island Lives, aims to digitalize more than 300 community histories. This includes histories of many local churches, founding families, and education. Many self-published books will be included.
For students, this newly available research will be invaluable. Easy-to-operate searched will facilitate quick searches. One insider claimed that it would be “Easier than Wikipedia”
The Semantic is skeptical.
UPEI: Significantly Better than Average
Or so claims Controversial Macleans Undergrad Ranking Issue
by Kate McKENNA
Two Thousand and Eight saw a slight jump for UPEI in the Macleans Magazine 18th Annual University Rankings. UPEI tied with Lethbridge University as the seventh best primarily undergraduate school in Canada. Mount Allison rose to the top, ousting Acadia, with whom Mount A shared the prime spot, for the number one seat. The issue hit newstands in November. Since 2000, UPEI has steadily risen in the rankings, peaking at 5th in 2005.
Consensus among students is that the climb has been deserved. Most students point toward the friendly and engaging faculty as reason for the steady climb. First year business student Matt MacKay is pleased with UPEI’s result, saying, “I don’t know why people say it’s a bad school”. Discussing the criteria for which UPEI did well, he elaborated: “. . . I would not be comfortable being in a class room with 200 plus people and being known by number and not by name. I know I need to let go of high school, but having the one-on-one relationship with my teachers is what helped me get the marks I needed to get into university, and it will help me get through university.”
Second year arts student Fierah Livingstone agrees wholeheartedly with MacKay. “I've been at UPEI for three semesters and I'm still surprised at how caring my profs are,” she said, “...out of the 13 different professors I've had, there are only two or three who didn't call me by name and make conversation with me. And many of them went far above and beyond basic responsibilities to make sure I was understanding the material [and] getting assignments in.”
UPEI Alum Eagan Boire was quick to agree. “I've gone to UPEI three times by now, so it must be doing something right - both in the Engineering and Business faculties. What kept me coming back was definitely the small class size mixed with the quality of teaching staff. I couldn't care less if the basketball team was losing, I was going to school for education not entertainment.”
Of course, not all institutions look favourably on the Macleans rating system. The judging - including a merit based on student/faculty ratio, feeling of inclusiveness, engagement, and general student satisfaction - inherently favour smaller universities. Lo, a great number of Canadian Universities have opted not to participate directly in the survey, including institutions such as McGill and University of Ottawa, Dalhousie, Queen’s, and Carleton. Since those universities, and a great few more, do not give information directly to Macleans, some concern has been raised over the quality of the information used in the survey.
UPEI was less receptive of the survey in 2000, when it placed 18th. Then, said president Wade MacLauchlan, “The general sentiment in my discussions with colleagues is that this does not reflect either the absolute or the relative quality of UPEI.” Oh, how times have changed.
by Kate McKENNA
Two Thousand and Eight saw a slight jump for UPEI in the Macleans Magazine 18th Annual University Rankings. UPEI tied with Lethbridge University as the seventh best primarily undergraduate school in Canada. Mount Allison rose to the top, ousting Acadia, with whom Mount A shared the prime spot, for the number one seat. The issue hit newstands in November. Since 2000, UPEI has steadily risen in the rankings, peaking at 5th in 2005.
Consensus among students is that the climb has been deserved. Most students point toward the friendly and engaging faculty as reason for the steady climb. First year business student Matt MacKay is pleased with UPEI’s result, saying, “I don’t know why people say it’s a bad school”. Discussing the criteria for which UPEI did well, he elaborated: “. . . I would not be comfortable being in a class room with 200 plus people and being known by number and not by name. I know I need to let go of high school, but having the one-on-one relationship with my teachers is what helped me get the marks I needed to get into university, and it will help me get through university.”
Second year arts student Fierah Livingstone agrees wholeheartedly with MacKay. “I've been at UPEI for three semesters and I'm still surprised at how caring my profs are,” she said, “...out of the 13 different professors I've had, there are only two or three who didn't call me by name and make conversation with me. And many of them went far above and beyond basic responsibilities to make sure I was understanding the material [and] getting assignments in.”
UPEI Alum Eagan Boire was quick to agree. “I've gone to UPEI three times by now, so it must be doing something right - both in the Engineering and Business faculties. What kept me coming back was definitely the small class size mixed with the quality of teaching staff. I couldn't care less if the basketball team was losing, I was going to school for education not entertainment.”
Of course, not all institutions look favourably on the Macleans rating system. The judging - including a merit based on student/faculty ratio, feeling of inclusiveness, engagement, and general student satisfaction - inherently favour smaller universities. Lo, a great number of Canadian Universities have opted not to participate directly in the survey, including institutions such as McGill and University of Ottawa, Dalhousie, Queen’s, and Carleton. Since those universities, and a great few more, do not give information directly to Macleans, some concern has been raised over the quality of the information used in the survey.
UPEI was less receptive of the survey in 2000, when it placed 18th. Then, said president Wade MacLauchlan, “The general sentiment in my discussions with colleagues is that this does not reflect either the absolute or the relative quality of UPEI.” Oh, how times have changed.
Letters to the Editor
Editor,
What the fuck - I logged on to facebook the other day and half my friends list had Semantic vs Cadre statuses. Is this some sort of harebrained Semantic marketing rouse? I don’t get it. Both of the newspapers deny a rift. The Semantic refused to go on CBC to talk about it - why? How about both newspapers just grow the fuck up and stop writing about yourselves? This kind of senseless bickering is what made the Cadre suck as hard as it has for ten years.
Louis Yetinski
Alumni
Louis - Lou, baby, let’s talk this out.
First, let me congratulate you for having an excellent facebook friends list. I don’t doubt that you are a popular man with many literate, articulate friends . . . many of which probably write for The Semantic.
Addressing the issue at hand, there’s not - no, really - a rift between the newly christened Panther Post and us. I was going to go onto the radio and say as much, but I figured it would fuel more of that “senseless bickering” you so loathe. I suppose there’s been published animosity on both ends, but we try and keep it light-hearted. Who wants to read a newspaper that writes about itself? Who wants to read a newspaper that writes about other newspapers? Surely not you, Lou. And surely not the rest of UPEI. Sadly, few care of the politics of student newspapers . . . we felt it best left unreported. Hence our decision not to go forward with the CBC interview. That, and I sound like a dweeb on the radio (see: September interview with Matt Rainnie).
I believe, in an exercise in faith, that there’s mutual respect from both newspapers. Lucas (PP editor) and I are friendly. Our tones, obviously, are quite different. And I’m sure you remember, Lou, it’s not as though university students have enough to read already . . . har.
All the best,
-Ed.
What the fuck - I logged on to facebook the other day and half my friends list had Semantic vs Cadre statuses. Is this some sort of harebrained Semantic marketing rouse? I don’t get it. Both of the newspapers deny a rift. The Semantic refused to go on CBC to talk about it - why? How about both newspapers just grow the fuck up and stop writing about yourselves? This kind of senseless bickering is what made the Cadre suck as hard as it has for ten years.
Louis Yetinski
Alumni
Louis - Lou, baby, let’s talk this out.
First, let me congratulate you for having an excellent facebook friends list. I don’t doubt that you are a popular man with many literate, articulate friends . . . many of which probably write for The Semantic.
Addressing the issue at hand, there’s not - no, really - a rift between the newly christened Panther Post and us. I was going to go onto the radio and say as much, but I figured it would fuel more of that “senseless bickering” you so loathe. I suppose there’s been published animosity on both ends, but we try and keep it light-hearted. Who wants to read a newspaper that writes about itself? Who wants to read a newspaper that writes about other newspapers? Surely not you, Lou. And surely not the rest of UPEI. Sadly, few care of the politics of student newspapers . . . we felt it best left unreported. Hence our decision not to go forward with the CBC interview. That, and I sound like a dweeb on the radio (see: September interview with Matt Rainnie).
I believe, in an exercise in faith, that there’s mutual respect from both newspapers. Lucas (PP editor) and I are friendly. Our tones, obviously, are quite different. And I’m sure you remember, Lou, it’s not as though university students have enough to read already . . . har.
All the best,
-Ed.
Letters to the Editor
Editor,
Is it just me; or is the percentage of overweight kids in this country rapidly getting higher? It’s a puzzling thing really, it seems the deadly sin of sloth is making a comeback, and with a vengeance. With the popularity of “Real TV,” and the raging excitement of the internet, no one really needs to get off their fat asses anymore. Kids are spending an average of 20-30 hours in front of the TV per week. Nearly 10 times as much as they average kid spends on homework, or doing physical activities. But they aren’t the only ones, the average American adult watches 6 hours of TV a day.
Don’t get me wrong, I love TV and internet, but why spend hours on end sitting there doing nothing? Can we please ride bikes, and not just sit inside all day? We’re letting the “fresh” Canadian are go to waste. The US is ranked the most overweight country in the world, at 30% of the people being overweight, and the percentage is still rising. But who’s to blame? Is it the fast food companies who push and shove us around into eating their crappy fast food? No! Is it the uninterrupted TV we can watch 24 hours a day ; 7 days a week? No! Is it the fact that we can get everything we want, when we want, just by pressing a few buttons causing us all to be lazy slobs and have no motivation to do anything? No! It is we, the people. It is our decision to eat the food. It is our decision to spend hours sitting on the couch watching TV or surfing the web, and it was MY decision to get off my ass, and do something, and everyone should be making that decision. I’m not asking you to get up and run 20k a day. I’m asking you to turn off the TV, and get some exercise for half an hour a day. That’s all it takes to make a difference. Walk the dog - play catch with the kids; anything. It all helps. So I’m inviting you, my fellow North Americans, to come play some ball. Take it or leave it, it’s your heart attack, not mine.
Matt MacKay
1st Year Business Student
Dear Matt,
Duly Noted.
-Ed.
Is it just me; or is the percentage of overweight kids in this country rapidly getting higher? It’s a puzzling thing really, it seems the deadly sin of sloth is making a comeback, and with a vengeance. With the popularity of “Real TV,” and the raging excitement of the internet, no one really needs to get off their fat asses anymore. Kids are spending an average of 20-30 hours in front of the TV per week. Nearly 10 times as much as they average kid spends on homework, or doing physical activities. But they aren’t the only ones, the average American adult watches 6 hours of TV a day.
Don’t get me wrong, I love TV and internet, but why spend hours on end sitting there doing nothing? Can we please ride bikes, and not just sit inside all day? We’re letting the “fresh” Canadian are go to waste. The US is ranked the most overweight country in the world, at 30% of the people being overweight, and the percentage is still rising. But who’s to blame? Is it the fast food companies who push and shove us around into eating their crappy fast food? No! Is it the uninterrupted TV we can watch 24 hours a day ; 7 days a week? No! Is it the fact that we can get everything we want, when we want, just by pressing a few buttons causing us all to be lazy slobs and have no motivation to do anything? No! It is we, the people. It is our decision to eat the food. It is our decision to spend hours sitting on the couch watching TV or surfing the web, and it was MY decision to get off my ass, and do something, and everyone should be making that decision. I’m not asking you to get up and run 20k a day. I’m asking you to turn off the TV, and get some exercise for half an hour a day. That’s all it takes to make a difference. Walk the dog - play catch with the kids; anything. It all helps. So I’m inviting you, my fellow North Americans, to come play some ball. Take it or leave it, it’s your heart attack, not mine.
Matt MacKay
1st Year Business Student
Dear Matt,
Duly Noted.
-Ed.
Reunion Tour for UPEI?
Students Demand Not Being an Aside, Want Band at Our (Re)construction Site
Rumours of popular indie band The Weakerthans playing at UPEI have been rampant since the band posted Maritime tour dates on their official website. The band is playing in Halifax, Saint John, Sackville, and Fredericton over the course of March 19th through 23rd. The tour does not include a show on the 24th, however, the band has another show booked in Quebec City on the 25th. Immediately the issue was brought to the Student Union in hopes of the band being booked in Charlottetown.
Student Union President Justin Douglas declined comment, claiming, “When more becomes solidified one way or another, I will be sure to pass the word along.”
As far as is officially announced, nothing is planned for The Wave that night. Weakerthans fans must remain patient until the Student Union makes an official announcement.
Rumours of popular indie band The Weakerthans playing at UPEI have been rampant since the band posted Maritime tour dates on their official website. The band is playing in Halifax, Saint John, Sackville, and Fredericton over the course of March 19th through 23rd. The tour does not include a show on the 24th, however, the band has another show booked in Quebec City on the 25th. Immediately the issue was brought to the Student Union in hopes of the band being booked in Charlottetown.
Student Union President Justin Douglas declined comment, claiming, “When more becomes solidified one way or another, I will be sure to pass the word along.”
As far as is officially announced, nothing is planned for The Wave that night. Weakerthans fans must remain patient until the Student Union makes an official announcement.
Don't Write in My Honesty Box
an exercise in human nature as explored by Connor Simpson
I spend a lot of time on Facebook. I have a problem. It's an addiction, like crack or heroin. I need my fix, and I'll break promises and friendships to get it. Are there meetings I can go to for this kind of thing? In peak creepiness, I can figure out who wrote in my Honesty Box by cross referencing the writing style to who I think it is, and then checking the time stamps of the Honesty Box message and the other Facebook activity of my suspects. I probably watch too many detective shows, but that's for a different time and place - and possibly an example of denial. The point is, I have a problem, and unlike Dexter, there are not hot women who can sponsor me in my addiction.
Like crack and heroin, my addiction is detrimental to my social life - don't worry, it’s not because I'm selling myself for friend requests or wall-posts. It's because I'm starting to know people before I even meet them.
I went to Dal last semester*, so, you know, I didn't live here. I did, however, grow up here, go to school here . . . so every time I looked through my friends' photo albums, there would be new faces with whom I’m completely unfamiliar. So, being a curious person by nature, I would click on their profile if not set to private (and seriously, who doesn’t have their profile set to private these days?). Who are these new people? Are they good enough for my friends? I would ask someone on MSN who they are, what they're like, where they came from, who has crushes on them, etc. etc. But then I'd start asking myself things like, "Am I being replaced? Is there still room for me when I get home? Will people even remember me?" Flashback to grade two, sitting in the sandbox alone - Shut up, Connor, I'd remind myself, people love you.
Back to my problem. Once I came home from school, I was confronted with actually having to meet these people. But I already knew them? I knew their names, where they're from, what people find annoying about them. It’s like we'd already met. I made the mistake of saying to one of them, "Oh hey, I recognize you from Facebook." That was a bad idea. As a heads up, social stars, saying, "I know you from the internet," to someone is the creepiest thing you can possibly do, regardless of how innocently you meant for it to be. "But you're in all of my friends photo albums!?" Doesn't matter. You can't win. That person is going to look at you like you farted for the rest of the night. Take it from me, gentle readers. Facebook etiquette, as you no doubt know, is imperative in contemporary internet society.
I quickly learned that the best thing to do is play dumb. Act like you've never heard that person's name before. "Hm, you're who? I've never heard of you ever before! You hang out with my friends all the time now?! This is news!" And I can continue to live with my addiction in peace. I think I've met everyone. But its not like I'd actually tell you that. I've never met you before in my life. You're who?
*Say hi to me on campus, please. I'm new and don't know where I'm going. Directions are appreciated.
I spend a lot of time on Facebook. I have a problem. It's an addiction, like crack or heroin. I need my fix, and I'll break promises and friendships to get it. Are there meetings I can go to for this kind of thing? In peak creepiness, I can figure out who wrote in my Honesty Box by cross referencing the writing style to who I think it is, and then checking the time stamps of the Honesty Box message and the other Facebook activity of my suspects. I probably watch too many detective shows, but that's for a different time and place - and possibly an example of denial. The point is, I have a problem, and unlike Dexter, there are not hot women who can sponsor me in my addiction.
Like crack and heroin, my addiction is detrimental to my social life - don't worry, it’s not because I'm selling myself for friend requests or wall-posts. It's because I'm starting to know people before I even meet them.
I went to Dal last semester*, so, you know, I didn't live here. I did, however, grow up here, go to school here . . . so every time I looked through my friends' photo albums, there would be new faces with whom I’m completely unfamiliar. So, being a curious person by nature, I would click on their profile if not set to private (and seriously, who doesn’t have their profile set to private these days?). Who are these new people? Are they good enough for my friends? I would ask someone on MSN who they are, what they're like, where they came from, who has crushes on them, etc. etc. But then I'd start asking myself things like, "Am I being replaced? Is there still room for me when I get home? Will people even remember me?" Flashback to grade two, sitting in the sandbox alone - Shut up, Connor, I'd remind myself, people love you.
Back to my problem. Once I came home from school, I was confronted with actually having to meet these people. But I already knew them? I knew their names, where they're from, what people find annoying about them. It’s like we'd already met. I made the mistake of saying to one of them, "Oh hey, I recognize you from Facebook." That was a bad idea. As a heads up, social stars, saying, "I know you from the internet," to someone is the creepiest thing you can possibly do, regardless of how innocently you meant for it to be. "But you're in all of my friends photo albums!?" Doesn't matter. You can't win. That person is going to look at you like you farted for the rest of the night. Take it from me, gentle readers. Facebook etiquette, as you no doubt know, is imperative in contemporary internet society.
I quickly learned that the best thing to do is play dumb. Act like you've never heard that person's name before. "Hm, you're who? I've never heard of you ever before! You hang out with my friends all the time now?! This is news!" And I can continue to live with my addiction in peace. I think I've met everyone. But its not like I'd actually tell you that. I've never met you before in my life. You're who?
*Say hi to me on campus, please. I'm new and don't know where I'm going. Directions are appreciated.
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