People always look at me with a hint of skepticism and disturbance when I tell them just how much television I watch on a weekly basis. It’s true that the amount is substantially higher than that of the average passing university student, but there’s also the generations-old stigma attached to television that calls it an inferior art form and insists it is essentially trashy. What these people don’t seem to realize is that over the past few years television has changed drastically. New shows like Breaking Bad and The Good Wife present all the drama, profundity, and depth of character of cinema while others like Community take full advantage of their self-aware medium and present smart, funny comedy on a weekly basis. With the end of the calendar year, mid-season schedule changes will replace old shows that were floundering in the ratings (among them Glee and, unfortunately, Community) with these new, exciting, television programs:

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For those of you keeping track at home, this latest snowfall marks the first substantial temperature drop of the season, which means that Toronto winter has finally begun. For international students, this is extremely important; students who’ve lived in Toronto for a while may also benefit from a little warm-up (hehe) on some of the dangers of a Toronto winter:

Black Ice
‘Black ice’ sounds like the name of a Marvel super-villain circa 1975, but it’s real – and dangerous. The term refers to very thin layers of invisible ice that form when dew and condensation freeze in a sudden temperature drop. Black ice is not only hard to detect, but it is also more slippery than other types of ice as it constantly melts and re-freezes without any tread.
Stay off the roads at all costs – automobiles lose all control when they hit a patch of black ice (or snow, or slush… it might be a good idea to avoid roads as much as you can throughout the winter). Keep your eyes out for glossy, wet-looking pavement; that’s the best way to spot black ice in the day. Buy a pair of large winter boots with good traction and be extra weary at night.

Frost Bite
Frost bite is the destruction of skin and tissue due to prolonged exposure to low temperatures. Though less common in Toronto than some colder regions of Canada, Toronto paramedics and hospitals still see quite a few cases of frost bite each year, some of which end in the removal of skin or tissue. Extremeities, such as fingers, are particularly prone.
Wear warm gloves and hats whenever you go outside. (Surprisingly high-quality gloves can be found at Dollarama.) If you’re out in the cold for an extended period of time, pop into a heated building every half-hour or so to raise your body temperature. And remember: a hat is not a hat unless it covers your ears.

Seasonal Affective Disorder
Though not recognized in DSM-IV as its own condition, SAD is now widely regarded as a real, common mental disorder with symptoms similar to depression but limited to certain parts of the year. As our winter is about about half the year, Torontonians affected by this season find it very difficult to deal.
A number of treatments have been tried for SAD, with varying degrees of success. Adding extra lighting to a room and increasing the intake of Vitamin D have been shown to be effective. If it gets unbearable, it may be worth scheduling an appointment with CAPS and, if you have any thoughts of suicide or harming anyone else, you should call the Gerstein Centre‘s 24-hour crisis line at 416-929-5200.

Definition: GLHP= Girls Leaving the House Pantless

It is getting cold. It is cold. Yet strangely the levels of GLHP have (as it seems to me) increased over the last month. So I feel the need to state my opinion that:

• Leggings ≠ pants
• Tights ≠ pants
• Pantyhose ≠ pants

But seriously, I’m not about to write a post detailing what clothing choices are appropriate.  If you feel like leggings are more comfy than jeans, well, it’s your life. But I would strongly encourage you to watch out for just how revealing these non-pant things are.

Ever seen those guys who wear extremely loose pants? Good for them, they have their own fashion. But if you’re wandering around a respectable university campus like that… well… I think it just seems a bit inappropriate.

Also: IT’S WINTER (or will soon be winter)! Time to grab scarves and mittens and hats and coats and earmuffs and down-filled jackets and snow pants and self-heating gloves! IT’S A CANADIAN WINTER PEOPLE!

But I exaggerate, according to the weather network’s 14 day trend for Toronto (as of Nov. 5), in the next 2 weeks the lowest temperature will not go below zero… yet. According to experts we are also predicted to have a generally mild winter, similar to the one last year… Global warming?

And with that cheery note I’ll leave you with a wonderfully helpful diagram on how to avoid GLHP syndrome!

Photo copyright of gawker.com

Yesterday, Canadians were shocked by the news that Jack Layton, leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada and the official opposition, passed away from cancer. As a member of ‘Laytontown’, I have no doubt that the loss of his indomitable and optimistic presence is deeply felt by every resident of the riding, regardless of political conviction.

I remember the election in 2004, when the winds of change had finally brought him to be the Member of Parliament for our riding. I was still young then and, as far as I could remember, many people were fed up with the previous Liberal MP who didn’t seem to be doing anything for us. Since then, it has felt as though our riding could vote nothing but NDP.

While I didn’t have a good understanding of political ideology when I was young, I did know that Jack had beliefs that were very similar to the ones we were taught in school. Our neighbourhood believed in the beauty of diversity and the value of respect for all. In grade five, I remember having trouble sleeping at night, troubled by the fact that other people didn’t have the rights and comforts that we enjoyed, and that we were ruining ourselves by ruining the environment. Jack Layton’s vision for the future seemed to fit with the values that we grew up with and we firmly believed that Jack was someone who could represent us well and bring about that ideal future of equality, sustainability, and hope.

At the same time, it seemed as though Jack really understood the character of the riding. Although it is part of the largest city in Canada, the neighbourhood in which I grew up had the good qualities of a small town – you knew who your neighbours were and you would help each other at the best and worst of times. It was always a comfort to know that, no matter what happened, your neighbours were there for you, even if they weren’t family or even close friends. In that sense, Jack was always there for us, despite his busy career as leader of the NDP. He attended every one of our Canada Day celebrations in the local park and I once had the fortune of shaking his hand at a local charity auction. He gave my friends and I great praise for being volunteers at a community event and chatted with the attendees like they were old friends. At the same event, the organizers informed him of another upcoming event, and he pulled out his Blackberry and noted it down in his calendar. He said that, although he may not be able to attend the entire event, he would try to come. Later in the year, one of the staff, who is a close friend, said that Jack did attend a portion of the event as promised.

Jack Layton was truly a great man who gave us reason to believe that the world could be changed for the better. He was an optimist, a leader with integrity, a fighter, and an affable politician (something that is almost an oxymoron) who fought valiantly against all odds to try to make Canada, and the world, a better place. His passion and commitment to his work will always be remembered and appreciated.

Rest in peace, Jack Layton, you will be missed.

Read Jack Layton’s final letter to Canadians here.

There is an exciting new program for Canadian university students who have aspirations of being Canada’s next great entrepreneur. The program is called The Next 36. The goal of The Next 36 is to help launch the careers of 36 of Canada’s most promising and innovative undergraduates.

The Next 36 is now accepting applications from students across the country. The program that will take place next summer and it will give students the academic foundation, practical skills, role models and networks to become Canada’s next generation of entrepreneurial leaders. Students should expect to be pushed out of their comfort zone, gain skills vital to entrepreneurs and nation builders and have their expectations for themselves increased dramatically. Each student selected into the program will receive a $25,000 scholarship to attend, as well as $50,000 in seed capital per team to research, develop, prototype and pilot a new mobile application.

Deadline for applications: October 17th, 2010

Check out this video to hear what U of T president David Naylor and the co-founder Reza Satchu are saying about this program:

picture from maplesyrupfest.com

The Sugarbush Maple Syrup festival at Bruce’s Mill was not just a time to drink maple syrup (the best syrup I have ever tasted by the way!), eat pancakes, pet animals, and learn the good ol’ Canadian tradition of getting our beloved Maple sap, but it was also a time to rejoice and bring people of all backgrounds together.  I went with my family and boy did we have great time. (more…)

photo from blogTO.com

What can I possibly say that could even remotely capture the feeling that was the 2010 Olympic games? For seventeen days, this entire nation, the entire world, was glued to their TVs reveling in all the competition and the excitement. For seventeen days, Canada demonstrated to the world its incredible hospitality, the amazing talent of its athletes, and the absolute spirit of this great nation. For seventeen days, it was as if all the citizens of Canada were as one. We celebrated together when Bilodeau won that first gold on Canadian soil.  We mourned with Joannie Rochette after hearing about her loss and cheered her on as she courageously took the ice. We drank with Jon Montgomery as he marched the streets of Vancouver. Our hearts went a flutter watching the heavenly Virtue and Moir. We randomly burst into song, belting out our national anthem night after night. We rejoiced and wept together every time our athletes won (or lost). We groaned and moaned collectively when Parise scored that wretched goal in the last few seconds of last night’s game. And of course, we screamed, drank, celebrated and paraded down the streets together when Sid the Kid won us that glorious hockey gold! It has been riveting. Electrifying. Straight-up magical. Never before have I ever felt so proud to be Canadian and I can’t even count the number of times I’ve gotten misty eyed because of all this pride welling up inside of me! With a total of 14 gold medals, not only have our athletes set a personal best for our nation, they’ve set a record that the entire world has yet to beat! It’s been an amazing ride and regardless of whether you were watching the games from Vancouver, the local pub, or just your own living room, the feeling of euphoria has been undeniable and unstoppable.

And so, if I may indulge myself for one last time (everyone shout it with me now)…CA-NA-DA! CA-NA-DA! CA-NA-DA!

photo from blogTO.com