Month: November 2000

By Mike Bowerman

The spirit of Christmas is still alive and well for those who did their shopping at Project Ploughshares 17th annual Holiday Peace Fair. Dubbed an "alternative Christmas shopping experience" the event gave Calgarians an opportunity to learn about and support not-for-profit groups working on peace, social justice and environmental issues while getting some holiday shopping… Continue reading Turning shopping trips into ploughshares

By Rowena Sampang

Nobel Peace Prize nominee Denis J. Halliday spoke on behalf of Iraqi people on Nov. 18, giving audience members an alternative perspective to what is regularly portrayed in the media. Halliday’s lecture was titled "Genocide in Iraq: What Can We Do To Stop It?" Halliday, a former United Nations Assistant Secretary General and Humanitarian Coordinator… Continue reading Nobel nominee opposes Iraqi sanctions

By Rob South

Though Learning Minister Lyle Oberg received thousands of postcards last week, they weren’t from people on vacation. Oberg was lobbied to freeze tuition by university and college students across Alberta. "We wanted to have a clear way of demonstrating student support," said University of Alberta Students’ Union President Leslie Church. Close to 25,000 postcards were… Continue reading Postcards from the edge

By Mike Bowerman

The University of Calgary announced a breakthrough in research on Type 1 diabetes by Faculty of Medicine researcher Dr. Ji-Won Yoon. "After 25 years of trying to find causes and cures for diabetes, this discovery is one of the high points of my scientific career," said Yoon. "We expect this breakthrough to pave the way… Continue reading Big breakthrough in diabetes

By David Kenney

Usually Ron Sexsmith is a lyrically introverted, bashful guy. An offer to co-write with Elvis Costello scared him. Content alone, the humble singer/songwriter writes his simple songs of insecurity, longing and delicate moments for himself, on his own time. That is, until recently. Watching Canadian jazz chanteuse Diana Krall on TV inspired Sexsmith to do… Continue reading The Whereabouts of Ron Sexsmith

By Jan Creaser

During the holidays, many people nostalgically reflect upon their lives, remembering the good times, the hard times and ultimately, their personal journey filled with both difficult and easy decisions about what direction their lives should take. This year, the Cappucino Musical Theatre Group tries to capture those moments of reflection and the emotion of tough… Continue reading Promising play

By Stephanie Foster

A huge proponent of experimental, bold filmmaking, even I found myself gagging during Requiem for a Dream, Darren Aronofsky’s technique-laden, indulgent new film about the horror of drug addiction. Aronofsky, who also directed the 1998 independent hit Pi, may be attempting to move the medium forward, but does so at the expense of the story… Continue reading Requiem a nightmare for anyone not stoned

By Daorcey Le Bray

"Gee whiz, we like what you do! What’s your name?" This is the reality of what comedian Ron James calls "the oxymoron" known as Canadian stardom. Even though the born-and-raised maritime comic is an alumnus of Second City Television and has appeared on CBC’s Just For Laughs, Comics! and Made in Canada, he still gets… Continue reading Ron James: you’ll laugh til you pee

By Chris Simmons

Our culture abounds these days with dystopic visions of modern society. Yet the dystopic visions offered by Radiohead or Fight Club or Office Space have the uncanny ability of showing a vision of the world as grey, dreary drudgery without simply affirming your psychotic whisper, "yes, everything is pure shit." Fortunately for the fate of… Continue reading U of C succumbs to Temptation