The Classic Novel Files: Outlander

For the second entry of my novel segment, I wanted to include an experience I had a few weeks ago, and promote my favourite author. At the beginning of October, I discovered that Diana Gabaldon would be at McNally Robinson Bookstore on the 16th for a book signing. I eagerly went to school the following day, convinced that some of my classmates would want to come with me. The response to my excited inquiry was actually quite surprising, and NO ONE had ever heard of her! Considering that she has now written SEVEN books in the Outlander series, I felt this was a complete injustice to a talented writer! Therefore, I will try to make this post as interesting as possible, so everyone who reads it will want to run out and purchase one of her novels.

The main reason why I love Gabaldon's books is because they are a mixture of historically accurate information, fictional characters, and cool science fiction twists. The first book, "Outlander," is set in the Scottish Highlands. Claire Randall, a woman in her mid twenties, has just reunited with her husband, Frank, at the conclusion of World War II. The year is 1945, and the couple are spending time together in Scotland before they re-enter the civilized post-war world. Claire is English, a nurse, and also has a love for botany and plants. It is precisely this love that takes her to a stone circle, in search of specimens. She does not realize, however, that this stone circle is magical. Claire touches one of the stones, and is transported back to 1743.

I know, you must be sceptical, but trust me. The books are incredible. The facts are historically accurate, the writing is entertaining, and the characters come to life through Gabaldon's descriptions. Oh yes, and the man that Claire meets - redhead Scottish warrior Jamie Fraser - is the single most incredible man you will ever read and fantasize about. It is worth reading the books just to read a bit about Jamie, and you will NOT be dissapointed. If the Outlander books were ever to be made into a movie, NO ONE could play the role of Jamie Fraser. He is too damn sexy. Really.

There are currently seven books in the series, as the last one has just been released. At her reading, Gabaldon stated that she is working on another, so you better get reading! The novels are as follows:

• Outlander


• Dragonfly in Amber


• Voyager


• Drums of Autums


• The Fiery Cross


• A Breath of Snow and Ashes


• An Echo in the Bone

I could provide a synopsis of every single book, but that would take awhile, and most people would stop reading this blog entry.

For me, the highight of the book signing was being able to actually meet Diana Gabaldon. It was after reading her first book, when I was about 10 or 11 years old, that I realized people actually COULD write books about history. From that moment on, I truly wanted to be an author. I still do.

Gabaldon was a lovely woman. She was gracious, kind, and took a moment to acknowledge every fan. I was fortunate to be at the front of the line, and both my mom and I took a quick picture with her. I also was able to chat with her for a moment.

One day, Gabaldon will come to one of MY book readings, and hopefully say something along the lines of: "Oh yes, I remember. You were that girl who asked if my face hurts from smiling so much. You also said history rules. Gone and become an author, have you? You did say you were going to do something like that. Did you create a character like Jamie Fraser?"

Hatred Squared

Supremely satisfying,
our senses mingled,
suspending time
and life.

The musical melodies
of our uncontrollable urges,
shatter the illusion,
ending the night.

A drastic decision,
a calculated choice,
disappearing decidedly
and taking flight.

Leaving you stranded with
heart-pounding rage,
my bitter betrayal has
set the stage, for
the creation of a cold,
calculated exterior
necessary to bury a
softened interior.

Love is wrong and restricting
and wasteful and revolting,
It engulfs like a flame,
always hazy,
always choking.

Hypnotizing, bastardizing,
it bends, it breaks
the will of the weak,
by plunging one deep
and mesmerizing
and hypnotizing,
suffocating with lust,
a loss of ones self, by
breaking the trust.

Maddening motivations
numb your mind,
as you realize
I left you behind.

Alone, forgotten,
always and forever, lost
to a foreboding shift
in fate.

Just Plain WOW!

This video made me smile more than I have smiled all week. I'm not even going to write about it, because when I stumbled upon it, I had no idea what the video was. Which made it even more impressive...




I love the jock in the audience who is totally interested and involved... Don't you wish jumping rope had been as much fun when we were kids?

My Quest for the Perfect Greek Salad

Last week, Jeff and I were making tacos, and I was explaining to him the details of my love affair with tomatoes. It began as a mild flirtation this summer while I was in Europe, and evolved into a complete, passionate, all encompassing infatuation. I could probably eat tomatoes every single day for the rest of my life, and be completely content. That being said, I also have a great love for Greek salads.

My love of tomatoes is the reason why I started eating Greek salads in the first place. I was in Greece, and "salad" was the only thing I could somewhat recognize on the menu. I had heard about Greek salads before, but never actually tried one.

A REAL GREEK SALAD is nothing like what the majority of restaurants serve here in Canada. There are THREE main differences, which are as follows:

1. The salads consist of tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, red onion, and NO lettuce! (If they are putting lettuce in there, it's a filler because they are too cheap to buy enough fresh vegetables, and it is NOT a "Greek" salad!)


2. Oil, vinegar, and oregano are the only acceptable dressings (except maybe another type of seasoning.)


3. Feta cheese MUST be present in some way, shape or form. I mostly saw a large block of feta placed on top of the salad, but already crumbled and mixed in is also acceptable, yet not recommended.

If a salad does not follow all three of the above criteria, it is not a traditional Greek salad.

MY QUEST: Over the next two years, as I plow my way through CreComm, I will rate every Greek salad that I eat. I will try as many restaurants as possible, and I will report my findings, both positive and negative. I will provide a "quality analysis" of each salad, and will then provide an overall score out of 5. My quality analysis will take into consideration the following aspects:

• Vegetable usage (variety of different kinds)


• Oil and vinegar presentation (is it already put on the salad, or do I have the opportunity to do so myself)


• Feta organization (large cube or small pieces)


• Freshness (are all of the ingredients fresh, or do they look like leftovers from other dishes or other days)


• Presentation (does this look like a salad I want to marry)

After going through the above checklist, I will give a final rating out of five:

• 5 - the salad is absolutely fabulous, and I forgot that I was back in Canada while eating it


• 4 - above average, no complaints


• 3 - fine, it's a salad


• 2 - could use some work


• 1 - i'm slightly depressed about my salad experience


• 0 - i'm going to slap the chef and cry in a corner

If you know of a Greek salad I should look into, please send me a comment and let me know. I visited the Princess Street Breakfast & Lunch place a few weeks ago, and tried their Greek salad. Unfortunately, I would only give it a 2 out of 5. Not a great start...

The Monster Mash

I don't CARE what anyone else says, but Halloween isn't Halloween without the Monster Mash. This song has been around forever, and everytime I hear it, I smile. Memories of swing dancing at junior high dances with my girlfriends come to mind, as well as listening to the radio as my mom drove me to school. I figured I might as well include the video, so everyone out there can enjoy it too!





I think the Monster Mash is to Halloween like A Christmas Story is to Christmas...

Mr. Woodnote ft. Dub Fx

Here is another awesome video I saw last week. He is a loop artist, and in this clip, they were performing in the street. The clip is long, about 9 minutes, but keep watching, it's worth it!

Trash the Dress!

I was looking at random pictures the other day, and I came across a page with the most interesting wedding photos I have ever seen. Instead of your customary bride looking at groom, groom looking at bride, or wedding party looking at bride and groom photos, these shots focused mainly on the bride alone. And the kicker was that in each picture, the wedding dress was being destroyed. There were a number of water shots, some with the groom and some without. There were others with paint or dirt splattered all over the dress. My personal favourite was the shot of a bride lying in the middle of a train track.

Maybe I am morbid, or maybe I am artsy, but I firmly believe this is a perfect end to a wedding dress. Women who say they will wear their dress again are nuts, unless you are planning some really cool Bride of Chucky Halloween costume. I have never been sentimental about clothing, and I don’t think it is necessary to spend thousands of dollars on a gown. I would rather take that money and put it towards a meaningful honeymoon. In my opinion, doing something creative with ones dress after its purpose has been fulfilled is a really fun, interesting, and original way to say goodbye to the garment a woman wore on the most important day of her life.

The Projector: Round Two

Well, the second issue of the Projector came out, and I was fortunate enough to have another story published. This story was about H1N1, and focussed on RRC specifically. I wanted to write about the symptoms of H1N1, and also wanted to inform students about measures that would be taken if a pandemic broke out. I had to do a ton of digging, and I am quite satisfied with the finished product! Enjoy!

As the outside temperature slowly drops, students at Red River College prepare for the rapidly approaching winter. This season, in addition to regular cold and flu precautions, students must be ready for the second wave of the H1N1 flu virus. A vaccine will be made available to all Manitobans in November, yet it is important to understand who H1N1 affects and what precautions should be taken.

When asked to explain his knowledge of H1N1, Digital MultiMedia Technology student Colin Scarfe responded with, “I have no idea.” Andrea Klaverkamp, a first year Business Administration student, commented that newspapers don’t offer much information about H1N1. “I know some people are terrified.” Amanda Misir, also a Business Administration student, explained that “…people should be more informed about what it is, and what people can do to prevent it.” Regarding a RRC Pandemic Plan, Misir also added “I have no idea.”

RRC is currently monitoring absenteeism for both students and staff, and a weekly totally is recorded. The college is currently operating normally, yet all programs may be shut down if a pandemic warning is issued by the Manitoba government. Courses will not be taught through alternate means, such as the internet, during a shut-down period, but communication with students will continue through the media, email, and the RRC website.

David Clark, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator for RRC, explained that “although it is a possibility, I believe the chances of Red River College closing due to flu are extremely remote at this point.” He also recommended students “check for new information weekly” on the RRC Website, as updates about the virus will be posted there.

H1N1 may initially seem like a regular flu, but symptoms such as fever, aching joints, and fatigue are warning signs that an individual may have contracted the virus. Symptoms usually last between three to five days, yet cases are rarely life-threatening. Debbie Houston, a Registered Nurse, explained that H1N1 usually has a “72-hour incubation period. Not everyone exposed to the virus will become ill, yet the virus is still in a person’s system, making it possible to pass to others.” H1N1 targets people between 18-50 years of age, putting RRC students and staff in the “primary target” area.

When asked her advice about how RRC students can minimize the second wave of H1N1, Houston’s response was “stay home and take care of yourself.” Following proper etiquette for coughing and sneezing is important, as well as frequent hand washing. Houston also pointed out the importance of hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes, “particularly where there are shares workstations.” Houston’s final advice was that “the message has to be about keeping everyone healthy, and knowing what preventative measures to take.”

Shower Epiphany

It happened twice before I clued in that something strange was going on. I would be standing in the shower - first thing in the morning - and would get this "great idea." It would come to me as I was shampooing my hair; the lightbulb would just turn on. Desperate to catch my great idea before the moment passed, I would jump out of the shower, barely dry myself off, and race for the bedside table where I always hide a pen and paper. Scribbling madly, I would try to write down the idea before it passed through my mind.

It was this weekend - the third time I had an epiphany in the shower - when I realized what was actually happening. The fact that I had two, and now THREE, moments of brilliance in the last few weeks, and all of them were in the shower was quite interesting. As I toweled off, I started thinking about my new, shower epiphany phenomenon.

I realized that over the course of my entire life, I have ALWAYS had my best ideas come to me in the shower. Sometimes, I wouldn't write down the idea until much later in the day. But, the actual idea itself entered my mind first thing while I woke up under a spray of warm water, and hid in my brain until I decided to pull it out, hours later. I began to wonder what it was about the shower that promoted deep thought...

The only thing that I can come up with is that it is a private, quiet place where an individual can be completely alone with their thoughts. No one can bother you, ringing phones can't be heard, and of course, a person can't be doing homework when they are taking a shower. My conclusion is that I plan to spend more time in the shower, alone with my thoughts. Who knows what I will come up with next?

Comsumers Beware: Weight Loss Programs May NOT Be For YOU!

Now that I have your attention, let me explain what I am ranting about. The past few weeks, my classmates and I have been working on a project titled "Buyers Beware." Our task was to come up with an idea of a product, business, or promotion that we felt was not legitimate, research it, and determine whether consumers are being taken advantage of. I was grouped with three other girls: Tiffany, Tammy, and Melissa. After about an hour of throwing around ideas, we began circling around weight loss programs. One idea led to another, and gradually we solidified a concept. Our purpose was as follows:

A comparison of the selling tactics at both Herbal Magic and LA Weight Loss centres to determine whether or not each business is operating legitimately. Also, a determination of whether or not each company is up front with pricing, product, and program information. The overall goal is to prove to consumers that using a weight loss program such as Herbal Magic or LA Weight Loss is not the healthiest way to lose weight, and that each company is intentionally deceptive in order to make money.

We decided as a group that our primary research would be to visit both Herbal Magic and LA Weight Loss as customers, so we could understand what advice each company provides. The fact that all 4 of us girls are healthy added an interesting twist. Would they still tell us that we could lose weight?

The short answer is yes! At Herbal Magic, I was told that I could lose 9 lbs. I was not allowed to lose more, because that would put me underweight. LA Weight Loss did not give me a specific amount of weight to lose, yet explained that if I went on the Rapid Results Program, I could lose even more weight faster. Herbal Magic used a Body Mass Index (BMI) chart to determine if I was underweight, healthy, overweight, or obese. I have a BMI of 20, and a "healthy" weight range is between 18.5 and 24.9.

For those of you who believe that a BMI score actually means something, please read this next section carefully. A BMI rating is calculated by dividing an individuals height by their current weight. The result is a number. That number corresponds to a number on a BMI chart, and that chart apparently will show a person where they fit into the weight spectrum.

What bothers me about using BMI as a measure for weight loss is that muscle weighs more than fat. Meaning, if you are a healthy, athletic individual with a high muscle mass, your BMI may quite possibly indicate that you need to lose weight. In reality, you don't. You just have a lot of muscle, and there is nothing wrong with that! The problem lies in the fact that many men and women are convinced they are overweight because of their BMI results. In actuality, they may be completely healthy, and just slightly larger than society's current standards.

To further illustrate the above example, our group tallied and cross-referenced the BMI's of four males in our class. The results are as follows:

• Emmanuel @ 5'1" and 130 lbs = overweight
• Steve @ 5'7" and 177 lbs = overweight
• Mike @ 5'10" and 175 lbs = overweight
• Neil @ 6' and 200 lbs = overweight

Each of the above mentioned males are very athletic and in great shape. Because muscle weighs more than fat, they are categorized as overweight. In reality, there is nothing overweight about them!

Something else that bothered me was the fact that both weight loss centres explained that customers could lose LOTS of weight in the first few weeks of their program. Herbal Magic went up to about 3 lbs a week, but LA Weight Loss stated that by using the Rapid Results Program, one could lose over 8lbs a week! For someone like myself, who is already borderline underweight, this is frightening to hear. I did some additional digging, and came up with the following quotes from nurses regarding weight loss:

• "1 to 1.5 lbs a week is the standard amount of weight a person should lose. Anything over that is not healthy for the body."
• "1 to 2 lbs a week should be all a person loses."

I then asked the above nurses what problems could result from rapid weight loss. I received the following list:

• weight gain after a program has been completed
• damage to health
• gallstone formation
• gallbladder disease
• dehydration
• digestive problems
• lack of nutritional balance in body

Herbal Magic and LA Weight Loss pride themselves on rapid weight loss, but do you really want to sacrifice health to be thin? I know that I don't want digestive problems or a lack of nutritional balance in the body!

Another aspect of our findings that really bothered me was the lack of information regarding the supplements provided and both Herbal Magic and LA Weight Loss. Neither company provided detailed information about their products. To be fair, Herbal Magic did provide a leaflet containing names of the products and descriptions. The descriptions, however, explain what the supplements do for a person. They do NOT explain what medicinal ingredients are inside. LA Weight Loss would not even provide a leaflet, and needed a person to sign up for the program before learning more. On top of all of that, products had names such as "Lean Extreme, " and "Chromagic," which made it very difficult to search for.

Determined to find something that would prove Herbal Magic and LA Weight Loss were operating illegally, I spent an entire evening pouring over the Canadian Food and Drug Act (FDA). I am sad to say that there was only one passage of interest:

• Part 1, Section 9 (1) states that: "no person shall label, package, treat, process, sell or advertise any drug in a manner that is false, misleading, or deceptive or is likely to create an erroneous impression regarding its character, value, quantity, composition, merit or safety."

Herbal Magic and LA Weight Loss supplements could be considered to be in violation of this regulation, because as mentioned above, products are renamed and do not provide a list of medicinal ingredients. This could potentially be misleading to a consumer.

Something else that I found to be very interesting occurred during our visits to Herbal Magic and LA Weight Loss. We were informed that it was not necessary to consult our family physician about the program. One of my group members brought up that she was on numerous medications, and asked whether she should inform her doctor to ensure the supplements would not counteract her meds. Our counsellour assured us that they were qualified in the centre to "look up" customers' medications, and cross reference them with the program supplements to ensure it was a safe combination. I don't know about you, but if someone tells me NOT to talk to my doctor, I am immediately going to be suspicious!

The last point I would like to make is about the minimum program age. At Herbal Magic, 12 is the youngest age a child may begin the program. At LA Weight Loss, the minimum age is 13. This literally means that children can start either weight loss program before they have fully matured. I feel this age is far too low, and it is only promoting poor self esteem and body issues in the next generation.

Overall, the conclusions my group made are as follows:

• The selling tactics vary between Herbal Magic and LA Weight Loss, yet they share the overall theme of intending to manipulate consumers.
• Pricing and product information vary, both within the company and between companies.
• Discounts are available for students and groups, yet it is impossible to document a standard cost at each centre.
• List of products and supplement ingredients were unavailable, making it impossible to investigate the legal aspects.
• Products are also renamed, which is both misleading for the consumer and difficult to analyze.

I hate to announce that it was determined that both Herbal Magic and LA Weight Loss are not involved in any directly illegal business practices. This does not mean, however, that they are ethical. We as a group thoroughly believe companies such as these play on individual insecurities and use coercion to sell their products and programs. It is important consumers become educated about the tactics used to promote weight loss programs, and also be educated about healthy ways to lose weight.

I urge each and every one of you trying to lose weight to carefully read this blog entry before making the drastic decision to join a weight loss program such as Herbal Magic or LA Weight Loss. In the long run, it is not worth it. Visit your health care provider. A doctor can provide a wealth of information about how to lose weight and STAY HEALTHY at the same time. I will end off this blog by including my testimonial about how visiting both weight loss centres made me feel.

I must admit that I left the clinics feeling unsure about my weight. If my BMI is within a healthy range, why do I need to lose more? I understand now why people sign up for these programs. They are completely cut down during their consultation, and are made to believe that joining a program is the only chance they have to lead a healthy life. I have been reassured by family and friends that I AM healthy, but for a few days, I actually started to believe that maybe Herbal Magic and LA Weight Loss knew something I didn't. This was a crazy thought to have. I am 5'9" and 135 lbs. I refuse to let companies such as these win, and I refuse to let them tell me that I can lose weight...

I urge all of you out there to do the same...

Live with ME!

This past week I was given the opportunity to be a news reader for 92.9 KICK FM, the Red River College Students Association's radio station. I was thrilled to have the chance to work with real radio equipment, and to have my voice broadcasted on air. I was also very anxious, as I had never done anything like this before and had no idea what to expect. I am one of those types of people who thrive on throwing themselves into uncharted waters in as attempt to wade through the unknown towards success, so I was determined to do the best job possible.

Monday morning, 5:04 a.m. The alarm forced me into a half-aware consciousness, and I instantly hated the radio station. Arriving at school early enough to compleate the news reading meant taking the early bus, which left at 6:04 in the morning. I despise you, Whyte Ridge.

I arrived at school around 6:50 a.m., ready to go, minus the fact that I was still half asleep. Tony, the security guard at RRC who works until 8 a.m., kindly filled out the radio access log for me because he could obviously see that my mind hadn't yet turned on for the day. He's a really nice guy. I think i'm going to buy him coffee.

After a few moments, I was on my way with the card to access the radio edit suites burning a hole through my hand. Determined to wake my butt up and not make a mess of the opportunity bestowed on me, I purposely marched towards the edit suites. My speedy gait lasted all of 30 seconds, as I quickly realized I could not, for the life of me, remember where the edit suites were located on campus.

What a STUPID problem to have a 7 a.m. on a Monday morning when I had places to go, things to do, and a quickly diminishing time constraint in which to accomplish everything. I walked up the stairs, then down the stairs. Up another flight of stairs, and down another flight of stairs. I had been shown where the suites were, but really could not remember where to go. Getting frustrated, I remembered I had printed out steps to record the news the night before. Maybe that would help...

I plopped down on a bench and tore apart my binder (the same one I admitted to throwing down the stairs in an earlier blog). Sure enough, halfway down the first page it was written exactly which rooms could be used, and where they were located on campus. Idiot.

Once I actually sat down in the edit suite, everything came naturally. Writing the news for the day was no problem, as I love to write and already had an idea of the format I would use. Reading was a bit more challenging, mostly because I hate the sound of my recorded voice. The early mornings were the worst part, yet thankfully my parents took pity on me and drove me to school a few times. I recommend anyone who has an opportunty to read news for a radio station does it, because it is an interesting experience you can add to a resume.

Now, the only thing I need to work on is the early morning part... Still not a fan...

My Mom is my Hero

Don't laugh... this is supposed to be fun! It has been about a month since semester one of CreComm began. I can happily say that my mother has made a name for herself as a person who posts on my classmates blogs as "Amanda's Mom." Initially, she did it to be funny, but now people are asking me when "Amanda's Mom" will post on their blog. After I told her that, mom decided it was a silly idea, and that she wouldn't do it anymore. Thankfully, I was able to convince her how cool she is, and the "Amanda's Mom" posts will continue!

My mother is someone who has always been interested in what I am doing, and I don't see anything wrong with that. I think parents and children sometimes lose sight of one another, and more often than not, end up living very separate lives. I like sitting down to dinner with my family, and sharing information about our respective days. I like watching television together in the evenings, and commenting about the characters and commercials. I know once I move out I will lose most of this time together, so i'm trying to make the most of it now.

So, if my mom wants to post on my blog, or anyone elses blog, that's just fine with me! Parents just want to know what their kids are up to, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that...

Another Greatest Thing Ever...

Here is another video that made my day. The reason why I included this video is because it was students from a creative program (much like CreComm) who pulled it off. They planned a HUGE lip sync video with their entire class, and used the entire school. Only ONE camera was used, and everyone had arranged where they would be waiting to jump in the video.

This video was featured on TV, and I BET CreComm could do something just as cool...

The Greatest Thing I've Ever Seen...

And if this video doesn't make you laugh out loud, there is seriously something wrong with you!

This video takes place at the Central Train Station in Antwerp, Belgium. Over 200 dancers perform a choreographed routine to "The Sound of Music." The greatest part about it is that they are all dressed in every day attire, and join in sporadically throughout the routine. The group only had 2 rehearsals, and they are AWESOME!

Here you go...


Now, to my CreComm section one classmates... think we should try something like this? I bet it would make an awesome project for broadcasting...

October = Time for Halloween Pranks

In the spirit of October, the following is a video I absolutely love. My brother sent it to me about a year ago, and I have wanted to pull this prank in a library ever since. I think that a library was also the perfect location for a loud, over the top stunt. It was around Halloween, which means midterms. There were probably a lot of stressed out, ready to jump out a window students in the library who really needed a good laugh. I know that if I witnessed something like this in person, it would make my day!

Enjoy!