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1 The Newspaper of the University of Waterloo Engineering Society Volume 29 Issue 12 | Wednesday, october 8, 2008
Connect to The Iron Warrior Point Vs. Counterpoint: Basic Fix-Its: with SOEIE Should Voting Be Mandatory? Plumbing for Plummers
Page 8 Page 11 Page 12 http://iwarrior.uwaterloo.ca Detecting Extrasolar Planets Om Patange due to the presence of an orbiting planet. and using an instrument that fit on an 3B Nanotechnology This wobble is the effect used for the de- optical breadboard of a few meters tection of the majority of planets found squared. The first general meeting of the term so far. At UW, Prof. Hajian will continue for the Waterloo Space Society took The task of measuring these changes his research in astrophysics as well as place on Wednesday, September 24. New in distances, explained Prof. Hajian, is embark on the development of new arrival to Systems Design Engineering, made even harder if optical methods are kinds of medical detection systems. Professor Arsen Hajian, gave a presenta- used, such as optical Doppler shifts. This Prior to Prof. Hajian’s lecture, the tion on methods of detecting extrasolar is due to the wavelength of the light that WSS executive introduced them- planets. is used to make the measurements, which selves, showcased past events and Prof. Hajian hails from the US Na- is on the order of 500 nm. Traditionally, promoted various events they hope to val Observatory where he was leading for astronomical observations, the opti- run this term. A very eclectic group of a group in the detection of extrasolar cal equipment has been large enough to people comprise the executive rang- planets using a novel spectrometer he fill a small tutorial room in RCH. Thus, ing from an English major to Engi- invented – the dispersed Fourier Trans- a small change in temperature over time neering students. The message of in- form Spectrometer. and distance of the machine will cause clusivity was made very clear – all are His interest in extrasolar planets was fluctuations in the dimensions of the welcome to join the WSS. spurred by discussions he had during equipment that are on the order of the Some events to keep an eye out for his graduate work at Cornell University. wavelength of the light. So, the signal include field trips to space-compa- At that time he realized how difficult measured will have drastic errors. nies, seminars, rocketry workshops, it was to measure distances concerning Prof. Hajian’s dFTS instrument solved and a University Rover Competition celestial bodies from our planet. As an these problems by being small and fast. entry. If you are interested in getting example of this, consider that stars are Using the concept of an artifact that dis- involved in this exciting campus-wide 13 Om Patange on the order of many light-years (~10 perses the light at the output of a tra- club, visit http://spacesoc.uwaterloo. Dr. Hajian discussing his work km) away from us. On the other hand, a ditional FTS, Prof. Hajian was able to ca/index.html and be sure to attend finding extrasolar planets star will wobble on the order of 103 km make measurements 11,000 times faster their next event. Dana Porter Renovations Planning Begins for joan ang doors. 2B systems design Overall, I was very impressed with the new Engineering VI look and feel of the main floor. During the For those new or returning to campus, find- tour, one thing that left an impression was the matthew casswell Chemical Engineering Dept. to be the ing out that the main floor of the Dana Porter amount of natural sunlight and the view of the 2a civil sole occupant the building. Library was closed for renovations may have surroundings from inside the library. The other IW: What are some of the new facili- come as a surprise and inconvenience. thing that excites me is the new lounge space With the construction of the Engineer- ties and features that the new E6 building Well there’s good news! The renovations and how the walls around Graphics help cre- ing V building already well underway will bring to UW? are approaching completion. ate the space. The walls will prevent the dark- across from the Davis Centre, the atten- DK: I can’t give specifics as to what The renovation plans, announced earlier this ness and feeling of emptiness that occurred tion of the University is turning to the new facilities will be there (I don’t know year in January, were guided by five principles: when the Copy Centre is closed (if you don’t next phase of its expansion, the Engi- the specifics at this point). What I can creating a welcoming vital space, opening up know what I’m talking about, check out the neering VI building. The Iron Warrior say is that the current ChemEng spaces exterior views to the public, increasing the DC library at night). had the chance to sit down and ask B-Soc are around 50 years old and any new fa- amount of public space, encouraging informa- With most of the work complete, the car- User Committee Student Representative, cilities in E6 will be an improvement to tion discovery and maximizing flexibility in pet and furnishings are being installed, books David Kadish some questions. Additional those current facilities. physical design. During the planning stages, are returning to their shelves and the floor will information came from Sue Gooding and IW: Is there going to be any direct con- input from students, faculty and others was soon be open to staff. Ron Venter. nection (ie. tunnel or bridge) connection collected via surveys, informal interviews, a And the question that still remains…when Iron Warrior: Is the new E6 build- from E6 to E5/E7? furniture charrette, and a six-week “mini case” will the main floor reopen to students? ing going to be solely occupied by the DK: At the moment there are no plans done by students in Systems Design 348. Tuesday, October 14th! Chemical Engineering Department upon for a direct connection to E5/E7 that I am On October 1, I had the opportunity to tour For pictures, updates and more information the buildings’ completion? aware of. the mostly finished floor with Alex McCul- on the renovations visit: http://www.lib.uwa- David Kadish: Yes. The plan at the IW: The new building would be locat- loch, Chair of the Renovation Planning Team, terloo.ca/porter_reno/index.html moment - pending funding - is for the ed on the far east side of campus, away and Nancy Collins, Communications and Li- from the current cluster of engineering aison Librarian. buildings. Are there any current plans to For the most part, McCulloch explained, the try and better integrate the new building services offered and layout of the floor have with the rest of campus? not changed, as they worked well before. The DK: The building is located where it is most noticeable changes are the increase in simply because there is no space left in- student space and the relocation of the Adap- side Ring Road to develop new buildings. tive Technology Centre. There are now three I’m not completely sure what you mean main areas for students, one for individual by integrating new buildings with the rest study, one for group study and a lounge by of campus. East campus - currently home Browsers Café and Graphics Copy Centre. to Fine Arts and the under-construction The Adaptive Technology Centre is no longer E5 and the likely location for E6 - will be beside Graphics, but is now located across and connected to E3 via an enclosed bridge to the right of the main entrance. that runs over the railroad tracks. Other Of course there are many other changes. than that, I’m not aware of any additional The number of work stations has increased, integration plans. electrical and network connections are avail- IW: Are there any cost estimates for able at all study tables and also in the lounge to the building right now? accommodate laptops, the bookshelves have been refinished, furniture has been replaced Dana Porter Renovations Team See E6 On THE HORIZON or refurbished and main entrance has sliding The new Circulation and Reserves desk at Dana Porter library. on Page 13 wednesday, october 8, 2008 Letter from the Editor Be Thankful this Weekend! The Newspaper of the University roes of our squeaky clean North American municate are growing fewer and fewer. of Waterloo Engineering Society lives. Knowing What Time of Day It Is STUART Those Little Plastic Things on the End I went camping once and I forgot my PEARSON of Your Shoelaces watch at home. With no way to mark the Editor-in-Chief EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Called an aglet, that little plastic bit passing of time, I decided to adapt by cre- Stuart Pearson is an integral part of the device. Once it ating a makeshift sundial (ie. ramming a Hi everyone! I hope that your term is breaks, I usually just replace my laces be- stick into the ground). However, I neglect- Assistant Editors going well so far and that you’re not too cause as far as I’m concerned, they’re es- ed to account for cloudy skies and found Michelle Croal stressed out just yet. September is already sentially useless without them. They fray myself staring at a shadowless stick in the David Morris over, October is whizzing by and midterms and become difficult to thread through the ground with no idea of how long I had been are practically on top of us. The Iron War- holes or even to tie. Then they begin to fall there. When you have no means of gaug- Layout Editor rior has seen tremendous growth this term, apart and start flopping around, eventually ing how much time has elapsed, minutes Trevor Jenkins so our new issue is bursting at the seams breaking. You never really notice them turn quickly into hours, and it doesn’t take with great submissions. We have informa- while they’re doing their job, but only long for your sanity to abandon you. Copy Editor tion about the new E6 building, updates on once they’re gone can you appreciate how Clean Water Mikayla Micomonaco renovations to the Dana Porter library, and much they help. We just turn on a tap and out comes more about everything that has happened Pavement water. We drink it, bathe in it, wash our Photo Editors around campus in the past two weeks. My appreciation for asphalt has noth- dishes with it, and probably never really Michael Seliske Also noteworthy are the updates we will ing to do with some weird Civil Engineer- think about it. However, unsanitary water Sylvia Wu be making to The Iron Warrior website ing affection for construction materials. is a grim reality facing much of the world, to make it more interactive for you, the It all comes down to driving, personally. something that we are rarely forced to con- Advertising Manager reader. Through the help of a handy little The construction site where I worked this sider here in Waterloo. It really is a shame Matthew Casswell application called SOEIE, users will now summer required a 30 minute drive along that we spend so much money and gener- be able to comment on articles, and will be a dirt road before reaching the paved high- ate such significant quantities of waste Circulation Manager given links to other interesting pieces. way. After half an hour of being bounced from plastic bottles of water when we are Vacant I’d like to say a quick thank you to my around in a little van like rag dolls, finally lucky enough to have such a convenient, amazing team of assistant and layout edi- arriving on the smooth pavement brought cheap, and clean supply from our taps. Web Editor tors, Michelle, Dave, and Trevor who gave relief and a simple kind of joy to my heart Honey-Flavoured Shreddies Vacant up a significant portion of their weekend to every single time. As of this writing, I harbour a special af- sit in a stuffy office and help put this paper Mechanical Pencils fection for that particular breakfast cereal, Staff Writers together. Thanks also goes out to everyone I love the smell of wood shavings in seeing as it has helped me survive this pro- Adriana Cameron who submitted their articles early, because the morning, and nothing beats a freshly duction weekend. I am in dire need of a trip Alex Giroux it makes our jobs so much easier. Hope sharpened yellow HB pencil. However, to the grocery store, so in the absence of Amanda LeDuc you enjoy the issue! that brief period of glory quickly wanes real food to keep me going this weekend, Dangerman Thanksgiving is coming up in a few as your pencil’s sharp point dulls after a I instead ran to the Plaza to buy the first Erika Janitz days, and that means something different few sentences of writing. What’s a boy to remotely nutritious thing I saw. I probably Jaclyn Sharpe to everybody. To some it’s a chance to go do? Enter the mechanical pencil. Thanks should have gone for the 12-grain-mul- Jon Martin home and see family and friends again, to mechanical pencils, my chicken scratch tivitamin-ultrahealthy-extra-fibre cereal Jon Radice while to others it might just be another becomes slightly more legible and my ter- instead, but I haven’t had Shreddies for Julia Chernushevich day off school. I happen to be a big fan rible drawings slightly less appalling. years so out of nostalgia, I succumbed to Leah Siczkar of turkey and family reunions, myself. Re- Alumni temptation. An unwise decision, perhaps, Milena Beloia-Cheres gardless of how much good food and good After meeting several alumni at Home- but I have no regrets. Nicole Copeman company you will experience this week- coming last weekend, I have become very Sleep Om Patange end, you should sit back and reflect for a thankful for them. They were the ones who Sleep is something that I definitely Rory Arnold few moments. started all of our favourite crazy traditions, need to become better-acquainted with. Sheldon Fernandes We have so many things to be thankful from the Tool to P**5 and everything in Without at least six hours of sleep I turn Sunjot Hunjan for, and I think that we sometimes forget between. Alumni are responsible for eve- into a grumpy, inattentive, and generally Sunny Ng about it in the hustle and bustle of a busy rything that makes going to our school unpleasant zombie. Some may argue that Tim Bandura student life. We live in Canada, the best worthwhile, and have built Waterloo an in- the above description is hardly a change Yousif Al-Khder country in the world, and we go to the ternationally-respected reputation despite from my normal state, but pay them no best engineering school in that nation (No, the university’s relatively brief history. heed. This long weekend, go home, take Contributors we’re not biased here at The Iron Warrior). WEEF, Engineers Without Borders, and some time and reacquaint yourself with Adam Melnik As engineers, we all have reasonably good even The Iron Warrior owe their begin- that long-lost friend, sleep. It’s waiting for Amir Taleghani career opportunities to look forward to, so nings to alumni who stood up and decided you. Brandon Dehart the future looks bright. We have food on to make a difference. Their donations fund Honest People Chris Togertz our tables (Kraft Dinner and Mr. Noodle so many of the facilities and projects that Honesty is underrated. Whether that Dave Halford count, right?) and clean water to drink we use here. In some cases, they even be- means a stranger who turns in a lost wallet Jeff Lipnicky from. We have roofs over our heads and come our employers or mentors. They’ve instead of keeping it, or just a good friend Megan Campbell clothes on our backs. At the end of the day all been through the same challenges as us who you can count on to be truthful with Sarah Scharf though, the most important things are fam- and we can learn a lot from them. you, honest people make the world go Tyler Gale ily and friends. Even when the road gets Staying Connected around. Anyone who has ever been touched bumpy, I still feel like the luckiest guy in With the internet we are all so well-con- by random acts of kindness from a stranger Off-Stream Editor-in-Chief the world because I have them. nected and we definitely take for granted can attest to the warm feelings of gratitude Kevin Ling However, rather than ramble on about the fact that people are so easy to con- that accompany them. This weekend, don’t how thankful I am for different people in tact. Between cell phones, text messages, just sit around and eat turkey— go out into my life, I thought I would take this oppor- email, and even just the basic ability to the world and make a difference! Hold the tunity to reflect on some of the little things make a long-distance call, it has become door open for somebody, be extra nice to in life that I appreciate but normally take so much easier to stay in touch with the your little brother, or donate cans to a local for granted: people we care about. I spent the summer food bank. Getting by in this world can be Indoor Plumbing working on a remote construction site and difficult, but if we all help out and show a We can thank the Romans for this one. one of the only things that helped me keep little bit of kindness to our fellow human The fact that we can flush away all sorts my sanity in the middle of nowhere was beings, it’ll make the road less bumpy for of unpleasantries at the touch of a button being able to talk to my friends and family everyone. Now that would be something The Iron Warrior is a forum for thought-provoking is something that we definitely take for through email or the phone. Thousands of to be thankful for. and informative articles published by the Engineering Society. Views expressed in The Iron Warrior are those granted. That we don’t need to worry about kilometres and two time zones vanished at Enjoy your weekend off and try not to of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions cleaning out latrines or emptying septic the touch of a button. A century ago this get too bogged down with school work. of the Engineering Society. The Iron Warrior encourages submissions from stu- tanks is a huge luxury that many people was impossible, but given the rapid pace Eat, drink, be merry, and if you can, spend dents, faculty and members of the university community. around the world don’t have. Wastewater of technological growth we experience to- some time in the company of people you Submissions should reflect the concerns and intellectual standards of the university in general. The author's name treatment engineers are the unsung he- day, the limitations on how we can com- love. Happy Thanksgiving! and phone number should be included. All submissions, unless otherwise stated, become the property of The Iron Warrior, which reserves the right to refuse publication of material which it deems unsuitable. Issue #3 Deadline: The Iron Warrior also reserves the right to edit grammar, spelling and text that do not meet university standards. Friday, October 24, at 6:00pm for publication on October 29, 2008 Authors will be notified of any major changes that may be required. Send your submissions to [email protected] Mail should be addressed to The Iron Warrior, Engi- neering Society, CPH 1327, University of Waterloo, Wa- Fall ‘08 Publication Schedule: terloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1. Our phone number is (519) 888-4567 x32693. Our fax number is (519) 725-4872. E- October 8, October 29, November 12, and November 26 mail can be sent to [email protected] Wednesday, october 8, 2008 IPC Calls on UW Mental Illness (PET) discussed during the commission- Sarah Scharf & Tyler Gale er’s lecture was privacy-enhancing video Awareness Week 2B Electrical & 4A Geological surveillance. As this technology currently stands, it can be used to track the activities of October 5 -11, 2008 At the conclusion of her talk, “Change many people, even without their expressed the Paradigm: Embed Privacy into Tech- permission. The IPC has been working with and do my best to make a difference in nology” on Monday, Ontario’s Information two people from the University of Toron- Jeffrey the world. and Privacy Commissioner Ann Cavoukian to, Karl Martin and Kostas Plataniotis, on Lipnicky This week, I have arranged 2 events called for assistance from the University new privacy-enhancing video surveillance 4a mechanical that focus on mental health – a Movie/ of Waterloo’s researchers to fight for our technology. Instead of a video of everyone Info Night in POETS and a day of Mov- privacy. Keeping our personal informa- within range being viewed by a security ies in POETS. On Tuesday night, from tion protected from those that would use it guard, etc, the display of the feed will show This week (October 5 – 11) is Men- 7-10ish, I will be showing a movie that against us is the main objective of the Infor- either an empty room, or a blurred shape tal Illness Awareness Week. As many of has to do with mental health. As well, mation and Privacy Commission of Ontario. form instead of a person. The video feed you are aware (or at least, should be) there will be pamphlets and informa- The task has become especially complex will be encrypted by a program written by this is a very important issue that I am tion about the different resources avail- in recent times as advances in technology the 2 gentlemen to display the empty room hoping to make a difference for during able – and of course, I will be there to enable more sophisticated security equip- or blurred forms, and only those with the this term. Having MIAW fall during the talk to anyone and answer any of your ment. Ann and her team have been working encryption key, such as the police, can view term is just a convenience. It is my goal questions. On Thursday during the day, to change the current paradigm “zero-sum,” the original footage. This will ensure that to break down the barriers and overcome we will be showing 3 different movies where one requirement is sacrificed for an- even when an area is under camera surveil- the stigmas that surround mental illness with a mental health theme. Although it other, i.e. privacy is sacrificed for security, lance, no one’s privacy needs to be invaded, and the related effects in our society. is a very serious subject, it is not my to a “positive-sum”, where both privacy unless a crime is suspected. Mental illness is very common – 1 in intention to make the halls of Engineer- and security play a vital role in all surveil- Radio Identification Tags, or RFIDs, are 5 Canadians will experience it in their ing dark and dreary. We will be show- lance and identifications technologies. very small chips that can be attached to lifetime. The effects are felt far beyond ing movies that everyone can appreci- The IPC commissioner informed the lec- products or other items for security pur- the individual and can affect the per- ate, but still get the message (e.g. Patch ture attendees that the best way to ensure poses. They contain information about the son’s family, friends, and community. Adams, A Beautiful Mind). that a “positive-sum” paradigm is adopted item, and the type of information will vary In order for the person to be able to I have worked with the folks in coun- and upheld is to re-invent our current secu- depending on what the chip is attached to. thrive and lead a successful life, they selling services to arrange a QPR (sui- rity systems with privacy protection meas- If it is attached to a product from a store, require support from a variety of dif- cide prevention/awareness program) ures built right in, or “Privacy by Design” as it may have the product number, the price, ferent sources. The aim of MIAW is to session for later in the term. Unfortu- the commissioner calls it. Ann has dubbed the store name, and a brief description. If help make those sources available by nately, we weren’t able to schedule it these “Privacy by Design” technologies as this same technology is used on a driver’s encouraging people to openly discuss during MIAW, but there will be a ses- transformative technologies. license, it would contain your personal in- the issues and also share information sion in Engineering in early November. Encryption, specifically Biometric En- formation such as your full name, date of about the different treatments that are More information on this to come as it cryption, is one of a few transformative birth, address, etc. This technology is being available. is finalized. technologies that Ann discussed in her looked into by the IPC as a possible weak I personally suffer from mental ill- Again, I would like to thank everyone lecture. Encryption on its own uses a key, point for keeping private information se- ness – I have been diagnosed with se- who has offered their assistance to me in often in the form of a password or PIN, cure, but also as something to take advan- vere depression with suicidal tenden- this cause. It is greatly appreciated. At that a program uses to turn regular typed tage of. If this technology can be re-invent- cies and have been receiving treatment Meeting #3 (Oct. 8) I will be announc- out information into a language that only ed with privacy in mind, such as using an since Winter 2005. My journey has been ing my plans to have the counselling a person with this key is able to unlock “on-off” switch, then it can be used to make difficult, but I have made it through support available to students increased. and translate back. As Ann said in her lec- identification much quicker and easier. with the support of family, friends, and I will also provide this information in ture, PINs and passwords can be taken or The IPC is now looking to us as new and medical professionals. I am not “in the the next IW and over the mailing list. In discovered, even forgotten, rendering the innovative thinkers to continue pursuing clear”, and I do not know if I will ever the meantime, if there is anything that I information harmful or useless. Biometric these new technologies, as well as coming be, however, I take each day as it comes can do to help, let me know. Encryption replaces this PIN or password up with a few of our own ideas to help them with a very long key that is generated us- in the fight against the “zero-sum,” and to - the following is a paid advertisement for EngSoc Elections 2008 - ing biometrics, aka your finger prints or a usher in the new paradigm of “positive- retina scan. Since metrics are unique to you sum.” If anyone has any thoughts or inter- and cannot be forgotten (and are difficult to est in this field, there is a research group steal), only you will be able to access the on campus, the Cryptography, Security, and information and it will be very safe from Privacy (CrySP) Research Group who are Engsoc search those who would take it. always interested to hear new ideas in the A second privacy enhancing technology field of privacy protection.
Changing The World Search Results President One Conference at a Time The president is responsible for running the Engineering Society. Candidate must be entering 3A or later and in good academic standing. milena beloia-cheres enjoying access to knowledge and resources Questions: [email protected] 2a civil unprecedented in society,” notes Gardner. The target group of the Laurel Centre includes ac- Vice-President, Education From November 14-16, the University of tive and potential social entrepreneurs, such The VP-Education handles academic related issues for the Engineering Waterloo, along with Wilfred Laurier Univer- as students, community members, and busi- Society. Candidate must be entering 2B or later and in good academic sity, will be hosting the Second Annual Wa- nesses. Programs such as the Lecture Series standing. terloo Conference on Social Entrepreneurship, with four community leaders like Paul Born, Questions: [email protected] aiming to help both current and potential so- founder of Tamarack, and Larry Smith, UW cial entrepreneurs become more successful in economics professor, have seen significant Vice-President, External improving the world. success. As Suzanne Gardner informs, “This The VP-External is the face of the Engineering Society to external The concept of social entrepreneurship past May, the Laurel Centre hosted their in- organizations (such as PEO, ESSCO, CFES). Candidate must be entering represents the process of recognizing a social augural Social Entrepreneurship Intensive, 2B or later and in good academic standing. problem and solving it using discipline, in- nicknamed the ‘bootcamp’, which saw more Questions: [email protected] novation and knowledge of traditional busi- than 25 up-and-coming social entrepreneurs ness fields and of entrepreneurial principles. immerse themselves in learning for three full Vice-President, Internal The conference is organized by the Laurel days of workshops, presentations, and col- The VP-Internal is responsible for coordinating and assisting with all Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, follow- laboration sessions on a wide range of topics internal Engineering Society events (such as Genius Bowl, Enginuity, ing the success of their first conference last related to social enterprise”. SCavenger hUNT, etc.) Candidate must be entering 2A or later and in year, when more than 200 people from around Entitled “Change the World”, the upcoming good academic standing. the world attended the event. The Centre is a conference will circle themes of health lead- Questions: [email protected] not-for-profit organization founded in 2007, ership, education and international develop- that works to connect entrepreneurs with the ment. The opening keynote address will be relevant industries to educate the public. As delivered at 7pm on Friday, November 14th, Vice-President, Finance the Centre’s Director of Communications Su- by Marc Kielburger. He is the chief executive The VP-Finance takes care of all financial happenings in the Engineering zanne Gardner informs, the organization was director of “Free the Children”, which current- Society. Candidate must be in 2A or later and in good academic standing. established by UW Master’s candidate An- ly has more than 1 million children involved Questions: [email protected] drew Dilts, along with a group of UW alumni in education and development programs in 45 and several UW and WLU students. “We NomiNatioNs opeN october 17 to 24 found that the field is currently experiencing a See LAUREL CENTRE CONFERENCE coNtact [email protected] for more iNfo rising prominence, with today’s entrepreneurs on Page 13 wednesday, october 8, 2008 iGEM: Engineering Biology at the DNA Level ardized DNA “parts” and operate inside living dents, limited only by their commitment to ing the possible applications in areas ranging cells, most often bacteria. This standardiza- their team’s project and their drive to learn. from agriculture to therapeutics; the limited hillary yeung tion greatly facilitates manipulation of genetic Students are being cultivated to become more “shelf-life” of the system also helps to address 2A chemical components and allows biological processes creative, more innovative and more resource- issues related to introducing genetically modi- to be engineered more like electrical and soft- ful – and companies and graduate programs fied organisms into the environment or into ware systems. Although established scientists are taking notice, recruiting notable iGEM an animal. These cells could be engineered to A synthetic blood substitute. Solutions for in synthetic biology may have unrivalled aca- alumni once they graduate. produce pesticides, and would stop produc- HIV and cancer using specific molecular re- demic backgrounds, many iGEM teams are The UW iGEM team is highly interdisci- tion of the chemicals once the cell degrades, ceptors. Sensors for environmental toxins. able to produce truly extraordinary devices plinary, consisting of undergraduate students posing a decreased threat to the plant and to A computational device capable of solving that demonstrate ingenuity and, in some cases, and graduate and faculty advisors from the the environment, as there will be no prolonged complex mathematical problems that chal- surpass the imagination of existing researchers Faculties of Math, Engineering and Science. production of pesticides when it is not needed. lenge today’s computer processors. These in- in many disciplines of engineering and biol- This broad range of skills and perspectives has Similarly, the cells could be designed to target novative projects are adventurous, ambitious, ogy. enabled them to design ambitious projects for cancer cells, the transient and targeted nature and very real ventures that arose directly from These student teams are able to take risks the 2007 and 2008 competitions. The 2008 of their product expression ultimately reduc- the emerging field of synthetic biology. Amaz- and reach farther than most commercial bio- UW iGEM project is a genome-free expres- ing unnecessary destructive effects to the sur- ingly, these inventions were developed by un- tech companies in terms of ingenuity and sion system for the production of useful gene rounding cells. dergraduate students all over the world as part creativity simply because they are free of con- products in response to environmental signals. The 2008 UW iGEM Team will be travel- of the iGEM competition. straints that such companies are often bound Once its genome is degraded, the cell will be ling to MIT for the competition Jamboree held At the heart of the International Genetically by. The only real restrictions limiting many incapable of its regular metabolic processes, on November 8-9. There they will present Engineered Machines (iGEM) competition is iGEM teams are budget and lab resources performing only the functions encoded on a their project design and progress amongst 83 the emergent area of synthetic biology, a new or facilities. The student teams each produce plasmid that will remain intact after genome other teams from around the world, including field that applies engineering principles to their own design for a novel biological system degradation. The cell will continue to express an estimated 1000 Jamboree attendees. After the domain of biology. Undergraduate teams or device, and follow through with related its plasmid-encoded genes only until the re- the Jamboree, the team will begin some early from across five different continents com- mathematical modelling and laboratory im- quired materials inside the cell have been ex- recruitment for next year’s team, as well as pete by using advanced genetic technologies plementation themselves. Teams consist of a hausted. start considering new ideas for the 2009 com- and modular genetic components to construct mix of upper- and lower-year students; these The potential for a system that will tran- petition. genetically engineered biological systems. ambitious undergrads have the opportunity siently produce specified proteins in response Visit http://igem.uwaterloo.ca for more! Novel biological devices are built from stand- to perform at the level of many graduate stu- to an environmental signal is great, consider- Ex-CEO of McDonalds Pays Visit to ManEng Classes ultimately worked his way up to CEO over ald’s pizza. The 8 minutes it took to prepare into Russia has meant that the golden arches 30 years later. During his career, he oversaw wrecked havoc. The ultimate decision to have come to mean “food is always here”, a Trevor jenkins the tremendous growth in Mexico, the expan- eliminate it from menus has meant that the reflection on the fact that McDonald’s always 2A management sion into the Soviet Union and then ultimate- drive-thru business now encompasses 60% had food in stock despite the constant short- ly ended up as the top man in Canada. During of total business in Canada, compared to ages in the nation. Due to “food villages”, the meeting, he spoke about issues relating to 30% beforehand. large farms owned directly by the corpora- As part of a series of 1A/2A ManEng the supply chain field and how McDonald’s Another key aspect discussed was the role tion, food was always available and after the meetings, the Department of Management is integrating ideas into the way it works. that branding played. For instance, many collapse of the USSR, this meant that excess Science brought in Mr. Bill Johnson, the Supply chains in the restaurant are an inte- Canadians and Americans simply look at food could be exported to support other Eu- former CEO of McDonald’s Mexico and gral part of the operations. The goal of keep- the golden arches and see “fast-food”. How- ropean operations. McDonald’s Canada. ing a drive-thru visit under the two minutes ever, the expansion into Mexico found that Mr. Johnson provided valuable insight into Mr. Johnson has worked in every position customers expect has meant that all food customers saw the arches as “America”, and possible career opportunities in ManEng. in the McDonald’s corporation. He started preparation that is required must be kept un- going to McDonald’s was an “American” With more meetings tentatively planned for working as a crew-member in 1970 in the der an average of 90 seconds. This idea was activity, something the average Mexican de- the rest of the term, the two classes will get to first eastern Canadian location in London and what ultimately led to the death of McDon- sired to emulate. The Soviet-era expansion learn more about the field.
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>FIEHR>K BG?HKF:MBHGL>LLBHG !Ij_hm_mmcih" ?hk3 Wednesday Thursday Friday POETS October 8 October 9 October 10 One Flew Over the Mental Health Awareness Day Planes, Trains & Cuckoo’s Nest K-Pax Automobiles MOVIE SCHEDULE Rain Man Patch Adams The Ice Storm SHOWINGS BEGIN AT NOON Forrest Gump A Beautiful Mind Home for the Holidays Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday October 13 October 14 October 15 October 16 October 17 Thanksgiving Voting Day POETS Request Superheroes Montreal Man of the Year Rudy Hancock The Whole Nine Yards Swing Vote Any Given Sunday The Fantastic Four The Score Napoleon Dynamite The Program The Fantastic Four: Rise... Bon Cop Bad Cop Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday October 20 October 21 October 22 October 23 October 24 1930’s Filmed in Super 35 Guess the Connection Not Human Human Alteration Memoirs of a Geisha Jumper Cashback King Kong Iron Man Citizen Kane Inside Man 2001: A Space Odyssey Hellboy The Incredible Hulk The Aviator Vantage Point Donnie Darko Hellboy 2 Daredevil wednesday, october 8, 2008 Citizen’s Action EWB Gala Megan Campbell tunities we have to take action in Canada. they had to overcome, some spoke of Systems Design 07 The advocates of untying aid had access the issues present in the communities Julia to information about how our government they worked with, but there is one story Chernushevich If there’s one thing I miss about Canada, spends its aid budget, could engage with that I’d like to echo. Dane Corneil nar- 1A Mechatronics it’s the apple turnovers from the C&D. Ok, I MPs who would listen to them, and broad- rated a paradigm he encountered: after guess I miss my friends and family a bit too, cast their voice through public events and spending some time with the farmers in but they can’t really compare to that sweet media coverage. It’s something that any The third annual Engineers Without his rural community, one man spoke up apple-y deliciousness. Even the fresh fried one of us can do on any issue if we want Borders Gala took place Wednesday, and asked him a question, “A lot of peo- banana fritters they sell on the streets here to, and my work is helping me see how rare October 1 at the Accelerator Centre just ple come here to talk to us, and some of in Malawi don’t quite measure up. and valuable that opportunity is. north of campus. A fair number of peo- them stay in our community and get to Now imagine you’re standing outside I’ve just started working on a pilot called ple came out, including our own Acting know us and our difficulties, and they the C&D, out of cash but with a powerful ‘Citizen’s Action,’ or Liwu la mzika in Dean of Engineering, Leo Rothenburg, really make a difference; and some, yearning for a turnover, and you ask your Chichewa, that’s trying to help villagers who I had the pleasure of speaking to, they come for only a very short time, friend to lend you the money. He says sure, understand what water services they’re en- as well as UW’s president, David John- they don’t know who we are, they ask but only if you walk all the way down to the titled to, and demand those services from ston. Other faculty and university staff us questions and they go back to their corner store his parents own at University the government departments and NGOs members were also present among the country and write a paper, and we never and King and buy it there. You might protest who are supposed to provide them. I was many supporters of EWB. hear from them again. So, which kind that that’s not fair – it’ll take ages to walk all shocked to find out from a co-worker that The gala started with a silent auction, of person are you?” Dane described that way and his parents’ store only sells the the policies about water services (for ex- various ‘souvenirs’ from Ghana, Malawi how the question caught him off guard hugely inferior cherry turnovers! But your ample, the one that says every person in and Zambia were donated to the auction and made him question his presence in friend won’t listen – either his money goes Malawi should have a safe water supply by the overseas volunteers. The objects Ghana. He continued by explaining that to a turnover from his parents’ store or you less than 250 metres from their home) ranged from hand-made pipes to post- you bring individuals like that with you don’t get to eat. aren’t even widely available to district cards, and even shea butter soap. Every- throughout your life, the farmer that The turnover analogy might be a bit flip- government employees, let alone to most thing was bid on, including one painting challenges you and reminds you of your pant but it’s not that far off from what can villagers. So how can villagers hold their of women carrying water which sold for duty in this world. Although I had nev- happen with tied aid in development. One government accountable for providing wa- seventy-five dollars. My friends and I er met the farmer, I learned something of my good friends at work, Loti, was listing ter services if they don’t even know what gladly acquired a set of metal bracelets from Dane’s story and I think it’s some- the drawbacks of the pickup trucks that our services they’re supposed to receive? Who and ring from Ghana. thing I’ll bring with me throughout my water and sanitation project uses: they can can they go to when an NGO promises to As the auction continued to run, sev- own journeys. only carry three people, they breakdown a drill them a borehole but then doesn’t return eral addresses were made. Firstly, David That’s when I wondered how much of lot and they can’t make it to many remote to their village for over a year? Hopefully Johnston, President of our University, an effect this gala would have. Whether villages during the rainy season. He said that this pilot will help villagers find answers to gave a very engaging speech about his it’s the money raised by the auction, or project management should have bought those questions. It’s a small step towards travels and family stories. His wisdom the lessons learned from the speakers; more robust trucks, so I asked the obvious helping Malawians access the kind of op- went a long way when he presented an ultimately, what impact will the event question – why didn’t they? Turns out it’s portunities – to get information, to make intriguing metaphor illustrating the ef- have? Would people change their be- because the main donor to the project stipu- their voices heard, to hold accountable the fects of our smallest actions on the larg- haviour, or as the farmer said, would lated that all the vehicles had to be bought government and NGOs that are supposed er world. President Johnston compared they continue to write their reports and from the donor country, and these sub-par to be working for them – that we enjoy EWB’s volunteers, both in-Canada and never return to a prior issue? From the trucks were the only choice. The same sort in Canada, and the power to change their overseas, to drops of red food colour- group of people in the room, I would of tied aid conditions meant the project had lives that comes with it. ing added to a glass of water; although definitely say that minds were taken major trouble finding a borehole drilling rig Megan graduated from Systems Design the drop is small, it has the ability to aback in thought, but I’m still interested they were allowed to buy, putting them over Engineering in 2007 and is currently work- turn the whole glass a magnificent rose in what the overall effect had been. a year behind schedule. ing in Malawi on a two-year placement colour. As President Johnston put it, In due course, the evening had come It’s Malawian villagers who pay the price with Engineers Without Borders. This is your smallest actions today do in fact to an end, after an enlivening time of when they have to wait an extra year for her second article in a series on her life in create change, and they inspire further mingling and interacting with each a borehole they need so that they can stop Malawi – for more stories (including how change. other, as well as a night of admiring using an open pit as their well for drinking she accidentally crossed the Mozambican The inspiration did not end there, the the cultural clothing and stories that water. So the news that last week Canada border, how she had a rooster as a room- overseas volunteers told their stories brought a touch of Africa to Waterloo. untied all its aid made me prouder to be mate, and how she is increasingly fasci- and what they had learned from their I took pleasure in the gala, and I’m sure Canadian, especially a Canadian overseas. nated with human excrement) see whereis- experiences on the other side of the everyone who had come out enjoyed it It also reminds me of the immense oppor- megan.blogspot.com. world. Some mentioned the obstacles just as much. A True Renaissance Man The Wall Stuart pearson cated to be feasible on a grand scale. Chris togeretz much less the experiences of engineers in oth- 2a civil In yet another bizarre incident, he was per- 4n civil er disciplines! This reduces the flow of infor- forming a magic trick for his family when a mation from the work term to the classroom. Engineers have long fought to shed the coin became lodged in his throat. When he As a nearly-graduated engineering student, I This wall also slows down the amount of nerdy image which has been associated with couldn’t cough it up, they tried using forceps can’t tell you how many times I’ve been “suf- classroom learning that could be used in the them for so long. Back in the 1800s, a man but to no avail. Ever the engineer, he actually fering” through a lecture and thought to my- workplace, as students in class are not sure named Isambard Kingdom Brunel made a designed a contraption to extract the wedged self, “wow, this is so boring and useless. There why or how the information will be useful to huge case against this through a full and ec- coin. One must assume that Brunel either had is NO WAY that I will EVER need to know them! lectic life. Completely defying the stereotype enough air to breathe or was a quick thinker this!” Well, I can tell you that I was completely How have you broken down the wall; or at of the stuffy Victorian Era intellectual, Brunel of unparalleled magnitude. With no other op- wrong in my thinking on more than one oc- least got around it? Do you see the same situ- was one of the fathers of modern civil engi- tions, they strapped him to a board, flipped casion. ation (an imaginary wall slowing down inter- neering and also quite the renaissance man. him upside down, and shook him violently un- This article illustrates this common occur- action between your schooling and your work Brunel was one of the pioneers of under- til the object became loose. Brunel managed rence using a diagram. The diagram below terms)? water tunnelling. He came up with the idea to live another 16 years after that harrowing shows the current situation, with an imaginary Write me at [email protected], of using a “tunnelling shield” after watching a incident before dying of a stroke at age 53. wall that reduces the flow of knowledge from I’ll publish a few of the comments if they’re worm eat through a piece of wood. The system In conclusive proof that Engineers Rule The the classroom to the workplace and vice versa. insightful or funny … and be sure to check out was first used to great effect on the Thames World, Brunel was recently selected as one of Personally, I am not always able to find out a “Part II” of this article in the next Iron War- Tunnel beneath the River Thames in England. the greatest British citizens of all time. Beating lot about my classmate’s coop experiences, rior! It was a forerunner of the modern Tunnel-Bor- out everyone from David Bowie to Henry VIII ing Machine (TBM) used in most current tun- and even Shakespeare, Brunel finished in sec- nelling projects, and Brunel’s Thames Tunnel ond place, behind only Sir Winston Churchill. itself is still used today for the London Under- It is suspected by many that a well-organized ground. voting campaign by Britain’s engineers was Brunel was also a pioneer in bridge and responsible for Brunel’s pleasant but unusu- railway design, building many innovative new ally high placement. It just goes to show what structures including the longest suspension thousands of engineers can do when they put bridge in the world at the time. He was also in their mind to it! charge of the Great Western Railway, a project Lastly, one of Brunel’s greatest contribu- that linked London to the southwest corner of tions to society was not a bold or innovative England. element of our infrastructure, but rather a Among Brunel’s more bizarre and less suc- much more cultural artefact: the bar. Yes, the cessful ventures was a Pneumatic Subway. simple chest-height counter used to serve bev- Trains were to be powered at speeds of up to erages in fine establishments everywhere was 30km/h by an elaborate series of vacuums, invented by an engineer. Next time you go out tubes, and pistons. Eventually the project was on a pubcrawl, reach across the bar, hoist your scrapped because it was deemed too compli- glass aloft and toast to Isambard Brunel! Wednesday, october 8, 2008 Engineering Society Executive Reports Presidential Report VPI Report on Saturday afternoon. It’s always amazing just making a mess, this event is definitely the people you get the opportunity to meet for you. Your VP Education and myself par- Tyler Gale at these events. For example, this year I ran Sarah Scharf ticipated in the last one, and we had a great PRESIDENT into the creator of P**5 and a member of Vp Internal time. our historic world boat racing champions. I would again like to thank Marc Tan for Information Privacy Commissioner of hosting our second Open Mic of the term. Call for volunteers – UW Thank-You-A- Ontario Hi there everyone! Is it just me, or does it This happened at POETS from 12-4 pm, it Thon 2008 The information privacy commissioner seem like UW Engineering is saying “Wel- was a great chance for talented engineers to Every year the university orchestrates a of Ontario, Dr. Ann Cavoukian, lectured at come (back) to UW! Have some assignments! show their stuff. I’m sure we can look for- huge phone party to thank all of the people the Humanities Theatre on Monday Sep- Oh, not done those yet? Have some labs any- ward to more awesome events from our Mu- who have made donations to contribute to tember 29th. A few of us joined Dr. Cavou- ways! Don’t forget those quizzes!”? It’s like sic Director soon. the school’s success over the past year. It’s kian for lunch afterward and had a round they think that as soon as frosh week ends, we While I’m on the topic of talent, I’m look- happening November 8th from 11:30am to table discussion about modern issues in no longer need to sleep or eat. We also need ing for drawings, designs, and/or photographs 5pm, and the call has gone out to engineer- information privacy and the role UW could to save some of our ever-dwindling energy made by our very own students to be put up ing students to help out. I volunteered last play in developing technology to address to study for those upcoming midterms! Ahh- on my currently very empty Arts Board. If year and it was pretty cool to be having these issues. For more, refer to the article hhh! Don’t push yourselves too hard, or you’ll you have any of these, or have some talent/ conversations with a bunch of successful in this issue written by Sarah Scharf. never make it through hell week (October 20- interest and wouldn’t mind displaying it for alumni. If you’re interested please contact Find Out More 24th for those of you who don’t know)! The all to see, please send it to my lovely Arts Di- Robin Jardin, the student relations office in The best way to hear about what’s been best way to keep from burning yourself out is rectors at [email protected]. the Dean’s office ([email protected] happening and what’s up and coming with to take some time off from studying and have Provided it is tasteful, it will be put up on the terloo.ca). Lunch and refreshments will the Engineering Society is to join us at the some fun. Engineering Arts Board. be provided throughout the day, and if you council meetings: Since October is a busy month for engineer- I know, I know, there’s not enough going can only help out for part of the day that Council meeting 3: October 8th 2008 ing students, EngSoc has a lighter number of on! Well, don’t you worry. We’ve got some works too. Council meeting 4: October 29th 2008 events planned. However, this week before great events coming your way as soon as Follow up to Alumni Weekend They always happen Wednesday eve- we get too close to midterms there will be the majority of the midterms are completed. Thank you to all the volunteers who nings, at 5:30pm, in CPH 3385. You can a couple of things to get you out of that li- A team of EngSoc minions (aka directors) helped out with the alumni weekend. It was contact me as well at asoc_prez@engmail. brary. Wednesday, October 8 at 5:30 pm in will be running a Pumpkin Carving Event, a pleasure to have alumni out to POETS uwaterloo.ca CPH3385 is EngSoc Meeting #3! Yay! There a Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest, and a MOT will be free food, free fun, and the 4th years Halloween Party. will be there for free entertainment. Enginuity Enjoy your Thanksgiving Holiday every- VPEd Report #2, “Go Deep!” is also going to be the next one (and your turkey if you’re having any). this issue. day, Thursday, October 9 at 11:30 am in the Take the time to relax so you’ll be well rested Jeffrey #2. The PDEng Independent Review is CPH foyer. If you like being enginuitive, or when school starts up again. Bye for now! :) Lipnicky moving as fast as a snail going up a hill. Cur- vp education rently, the Self-Study is with the Deans for their review. Based on my conversation with VPX Report Acting Dean Rothenburg, the Self-Study Soc’s behalf. This week I have things to talk about, so will be sent back to PDEng staff for revi- I also have the great privilege to announce Dave Halford sadly, no stories. Maybe next issue... sions – a “resubmission” of sorts. Once the that this term’s major charity event will be VP External #1. I would like to apologize for the inac- final changes have been made, hard copies “Movember”. This event takes place during curacies in my last exec report. Many of the of the document will be presented to the De- the month of November and is a fundraiser claims that I meant about the first-year engi- partment Chairs and the Steering Committee for prostate cancer research, as well as aiming neering co-op system were incorrect. I did members. It is not likely that this document Hello Everyone, to promote awareness of male health issues. not have all of the information on the situa- will be made public; however, I will do my I hope that everyone’s term is going well. I During the month, participants known as “Mo tion, and my comments were made in haste. best to make sure that as much information only have a few things to mention this week so Bros” will grow moustaches in exchange for Since that time, I have had a meeting with can be presented to students as possible. I will try to keep my report brief. pledges. The moustache growing will com- the personnel from CECS and with our As- Once the Self-Study is complete, then the Two weeks ago Tyler and I attended ES- mence on November 1st and will end at EOT sociate Dean in charge of Cooperative Edu- external review committee will be formed and SCO PM, which was held in Oshawa. During with a big party. Just in case you ladies think cation and Professional Affairs. It was a very they can begin the process. At present, only this conference a member of B-Soc, Stephen that we’ve forgotten about you, we haven’t. productive meeting and assisted both sides the chair of the committee has been contacted Lake was voted in as ESSCO’s new VP Serv- Ladies, known as “Mo Sistas” are encouraged to come closer together. Many things have – but I do not know who they are. Once the ices. We also heard from the ESSCO Exec on to support the men in growing their mous- changed in recent years for the co-op orienta- committee is formed, the visit to campus will the progress of their various projects and there taches and also help collect pledges and help tion program – it has come a long way from be arranged and the reviewers will decide on should be some interesting things coming out promote health awareness. the Thursday sessions in Hagey Hall. There how input will be received. The submissions of ESSCO in the months to come. Last but not least, OSPE is hosting a con- have been many improvements made, but as from students that were given to Dean Sedra This weekend I will be travelling to Sher- ference in Toronto on October 16th entitled with anything else, there is always room to in the Winter will be provided to the review- brooke, Quebec to attend the Canadian Fed- “Engineering a Climate Change”. The price is make things better. The new system includes ers – and hopefully when the reviewers are eration of Engineering Students Presidents’ $229 for OSPE members and $249 for non- a “course” on UW-ACE that provides stu- on campus, they will take time to discuss the Meeting (CFES PM). During this conference members. Information can be found at http:// dents with useful information on resumes, issue with students as well. The particular I will be meeting with representatives from www.ospe.on.ca/Climatechange/registration. JobMine, and the entire co-op process. There methodology will be decided upon later. many of the engineering societies from across html are also classroom sessions integrated into I have not been given a concrete time- the country in order to share new ideas and I hope that everyone has a safe and happy the concept courses that supplement the on- line for the completion of this Self-Study. give direction to the CFES Executive on A- holiday weekend! line resources. However, based on my experience with this Moving forward, CECS and EngSoc are process, I do not expect to see the external going to work together to make this experi- reviewers until Winter. If the review commit- VPF Report ence better for everyone involved. EngSoc tee is not formed by October 29th (Meeting was unveiled and students were shocked and will be participating in the first year ses- #4), then I will be submitting a formal letter appalled to learn that we are planning to be Adam Melnik sions as student mentors to i) learn about to the Deans for an explanation of the delays. vp finance in the black for yet another term! Regardless, the changes to the co-op system, and ii) to I will also be ensuring that this letter and any the student fee referendum, which includes a provide support to CECS and WEEF TAs in subsequent communications on the issue will proposal to increase the Engineering Society answering student questions. Since first year be provided to the external reviewers. Any student fee to $16, will be addressed later in students are still adjusting to the new univer- input that you have on this issue (or if you A thought [read: joke] on today’s econo- the term. Thank you to all Directors who sub- sity life, they are more likely relate to fellow would like to submit your own letter) will be my: mitted Budget Proposals in a timely manner. students than to administrative staff, which is received by me for consideration. But please, If you bought $1,000 worth of Goldman- Please join us at Meeting #3 on Wednesday the primary motivator for this shift. make it constructive. Sachs stock one year ago, it would now be October 8 to approve the final Budget. It is important to note that it doesn’t mat- #3. Mental Illness Awareness Week is this worth $49. It is important to note that an additional ter how much effort we put in if the students week (October 5 – 11). I would like to thank If you bought $1,000 worth of Molson Ca- $500 has been allocated towards donations are not willing to do the work themselves. everyone for their support of this initiative. nadian (the beer, not the stock) one year ago, for student teams, clubs, groups, and projects We aren’t going to hold their hands (no dirty Ever since my presentations to council, I drank all the beer, and traded in the cans for for a new total of $2500 of available fund- jokes guys and gals); they need to do this on have lost count of how many people have of- the nickel deposit, you would have $79. ing! Donation Proposals will be due Monday their own. Much of the issue has to do with fered to assist me with this cause. It is greatly My advice to you is to start drinking heav- October 27 at 4:30 pm. Proposal forms can the attitude and maturity of the students in appreciated. This is an issue that needs atten- ily. be found in the Orifice or online at http://eng- first year. They need to take the responsibil- tion – and I am glad to see that people are But seriously, don’t. Midterms are right soc.uwaterloo.ca/www/society.php. Groups ity for their education and lives – no one can starting to pay attention. More information around the corner and we can’t have you sac- seeking a donation will be required to present do that for them. This is an issue that is far on this cause is discussed in my other article rificing your precious study time to entertain their proposals at Meeting #4 on Wednesday beyond the realms of anything in the scope in this issue. Again, if I can be any support or the thought of having an extravagant social October 29! of this institution – it requires a societal shift. assistance to anyone, please do not hesitate life. Ha! Look for new 0.6 L red and white UW En- Anyway, that is my philosophical note for to let me know. On business, this week the term Budget gineering SIGG bottles in Novelties soon! wednesday, october 8, 2008 WEEF Report Movember as a whole doesn’t benefit from students male, become a Mo Bro. If you’re female, be- having a say in what parts of their edu- come a Mo Sista and encourage all the guys brandon marissa bale cation are improved. you know to become Mo Bros. Mo Bros then dehart 2t chemical Alright, enough with the ranting. raise money throughout October and Novem- weef director Since it is the second month of the term, ber to grow their moustaches. You can also it is high time that anyone out there talk to your profs and TAs and ask them to Greetings and salutations! The first (and I mean anyone) starts submitting This November, the charities directors participate if your class raises a certain amount month of the term has come and gone proposals for WEEF funding. The dead- (Aditya Sharma and myself) along with the of money. Don’t be afraid to get creative! already, and with it the charitable do- line for these proposals is still TBD, but VP-X are launching a new month-long event: Keep an eye out throughout October for nation returns are finished. I am very will be some time near the end of Octo- Movember. posters and other information about Mo- happy to say that just over 80% of en- ber. Do you have a lab with really old Movember is the month formerly known as vember. If you’re interested in participat- gineering undergrads have each donated or broken equipment? Do you always “November”, and is somewhat akin to a char- ing, or plan on encouraging someone else to $75 towards the Waterloo Engineering have to move around to different parts ity head shave event. Except instead of people Endowment Foundation! According to of Helix or Wedge to find a computer paying you to remove your hair, Movember these numbers, one fifth of engineering that works? Have you ever wondered involves the growing of hair (more specifi- undergraduates don’t use labs (compu- why X lab didn’t have Y equipment? cally, a moustache or “mo”) all month long. ter or class based), aren’t on any student Well you, that’s right YOU, can help Men who grow moustaches in support of Mo- teams, don’t read The Iron Warrior (so I make that easier and better for yourself vember are known as “Mo Bros”. guess they won’t see this), and feel that and for future students. Visit www.weef. This event would seem to completely leave the reputation of Waterloo Engineering uwaterloo.ca for more information. out the girls in our faculty. Not so. “Mo Sis- tas” are the women of Movember who en- courage the men to participate, raise funds, WEEF Returns by Class and help organise the event. They can play any part from helping a Mo Bro raise money, convincing someone to grow a mo if a certain monetary limit is reached, or just spreading SYDE the word. Mo Sistas also help out by attend- ing the fabulous “Gala Parté” held at the end of the month. Now, Movember isn’t all fun and games (not quite). There’s a very serious motiva- SOFT tion behind this very silly event. Movember Michael Seliske is an event meant to raise awareness of men’s health issues. Men are far less healthy than participate, donation forms will be available women. The average life expectancy for men in the Orifice. More information is avail- is five years less than it is for women. But able at http://ca.movember.com, or email NANO why? Men often lack awareness about the me at [email protected]. If you health issues they face. Many men feel they would like to register to be on our Movember have to be a “real man” and refuse to see a “team”, go to http://ca.movember.com/ca/ doctor about an illness or for check ups. The register and follow the steps. Once registered MGTE aim of Movember is to change this attitude. you’ll be sent all the information you need to The Movember Foundation is an Austral- get donations and get growing as part of our ian based charitable organisation that imple- Movember team. You’ll need these details to ments Movember each year around the world. register online: In Canada, Movember is partnering with the • Captain’s registration number: 1334741 TRON Prostate Cancer Research Fund of Canada • Captain’s email address: mbale@eng- (PCRFC). All funds raised will go directly to mail.uwaterloo.ca the PCRFC to create awareness and fund re- Whether or not you register online, please search for prostate cancer. Did you know: come register in CPH foyer at the end of Oc- • Every year around 24,700 Canadian men tober (there’s P**5 points!). MECH are diagnosed with prostate cancer and about We challenge you to change the face of 4,300 die of the disease, making it the number men’s health. one cancer threat to Canadian men. • 1 in 7 men will develop prostate cancer in Disclaimer: The Charities directors, the their lifetime. VP-X, and the Movember Foundation do not GEOE • Prostate cancer is 95% curable if detected take any responsibility for lost jobs, lost girl- and treated early. friends, or lost dignity due to participation in How can you participate? Well, if you’re Movember. ENVE Customizing Your IW Gabriel Chan of recommended articles. The recommenda- Systems Design 08 tion is based on the content of the article that you are on, the comments that sit on the bot- ELEC The Iron Warrior has been the voice of UW tom of the page, the rating, and other person- engineering students since 1980. We have to alized attributes. 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We hope to make the service on the IW website) from the Soeie the online edition of The Iron Warrior like website to your bookmark bar and click on it 3rdYear a personalized newspaper, serving relevant whenever you are on a webpage that you want 2ndYear articles and websites to you, whether it was to take notes on (for example, a good refer- 1stYear published today or in 1980. ence or relevant data for your assignment) or Under “related” section, you can see a list share with your teammates or classmates. Wednesday, october 8, 2008 The Great Debate: Words from your Future MPs Harper’s Conservatives continue to run the to lower tuition, and giving more to public America is facing today. She also blasted the Parliament; stating that more tax breaks for research grants. Cindy claims that this is fea- Liberals and Conservatives for their inability Jon Radice big corporations, desecration of the environ- sible, and many of the other promises that the to follow up on acting on the Kyoto accord 2B Chemical ment, and the leaving behind of the lower NDP have, by disallowing the Big Oil com- after agreeing to it. Cathy was able to show class is in the cards with a Conservative fu- panies the 52 Billion dollars in tax breaks that the Green Party was not just trees and ture. that Harper’s Conservatives have planned. flowers, but bases their platform on a strong On Thursday October 2nd, the main hall Peter Braid played a very cool hand for the Cindy was quick to jump on the Conserva- economy based on sustainable technology in the SLC lent its floor to your federal can- entire debate. Facing attacks from the other tives for the issues of lowering arts funding, and a future-centric mindset. didates: the five men and women running four candidates, the Conservative hopeful cozying up to the United States’ demands Kyle Huntingdon is a young, University of for the Waterloo region riding in the House stuck to his plan: to outline how the Con- and the blunders in Afghanistan. Cindy fol- Laurier student who decided to take politics of Commons. The debate featured Liberal servatives have benefited Canadians while lows Jack Layton’s platform very closely, in his own hands and run for the Canadian candidate Andrew Telegdi, Conservative in power. From reducing which emphasizes on Action Party. The Canadian Action Party has representative Peter Braid, NDP representa- taxes across the board, building up the lower two main tenets: to prevent the loss of sover- tive Cindy Jacobson, Green Party candidate wiping out two percent No matter who provides your class by new government eignty and identity to the US influence, and Cathy MacLellan and Canadian Action Party of the GST, to helping ideal vision for Canada, get programs and more af- using the monetary system effectively by representative Kyle Huntingdon. This de- students by increasing out to the stations and vote! fordable housing in order removing the debt incurred by the Bank of bate, centered around the issues that affect university funding by to improve and stabilize Canada. Kyle claims that effective use of the us the most, gave a chance for the students 40% in 2007, Braid was very specific on the the Canadian economy with a strong work- Bank of Canada can free up around 40 bil- to pose their own questions for the Ottawa- changes the Conservatives have brought to ing base. Cindy says that the NDP will help lion dollars, which can be used to help allevi- bound hopefuls. students in their short time as government. out citizens of Canada by impeding Harper’s ate student debts, improve research funding, Running for re-election, this riding has However, the Conservatives have still not plans of entertaining corporations at the ex- and be pumped into government programs been known as a Liberal stronghold thanks released their platform at the time of the de- pense of Canada’s identity. for lower income families. Often noted for to Andrew Telegdi. A strong member of bate, leaving Peter to only cite past achieve- Cathy MacLellan and the entire Green being nervous at previous debates, Kyle re- parliament for the Liberals since 1993, Tel- ments rather than focusing on current issues Party have had an impressive run this elec- mained calm and composed for the entire egdi has been known to support the desire more effectively. Braid was focused on ham- tion campaign. Allowing Green Party leader debate. This shows that this young politician of his riding over the will of his party. This mering home that the Conservative Party is Elizabeth May to participate in the national has a good future in this small party or some- was emphasized when he resigned his posi- a party that takes action, that Conservatives debate for the first time proved the legitima- thing greater. tion as the Secretary to the Minister of Im- regularly get their platforms accomplished cy of the Green Party on Canada’s electoral Each candidate showed their own strengths migration, when he did not agree with his unlike previous Liberal governments, who stage. Cathy claims the Greens can help pro- at the debate; Telegdi with the organization party’s proposed and controversial Citizen- Peter states “would ratify accords but not act vide a better future for Canada with an Agen- that comes with being a member of parlia- ship Act. A former President of the Federa- on them”. In closing, Peter Braid assured that da appealing to youth voters: cutting student ment for such a long time, Braid with his cool tion of Students at UW from 1973 to 1975, a vote for him and the Conservatives would debts by 50% upon successful completion of and collected presentation of delivered and Telegdi sides very heavily with the student ensure a strong Canadian economy in these a post-secondary degree, reducing tuition by deliverable goals, Jacobson provided a plat- view. Vowing to help alleviate student loans shaky times, something that would benefit revamping enrollment practices and building form that was very sympathetic to the needs by lowering interest to prime + one percent, all Canadians as a result. a strong economy by shifting a large part of of struggling people in Canada, MacLellan increase research grants by 34% and increase Cindy Jacobson has been a strong mem- the economy to development of sustainable with exuding charisma and the fearlessness the ease for international students to apply ber of the community for a very long time. technology through grants. MacLellan was to question the big dogs and Huntingdon of- for bursaries and citizenship after schooling, From working as a pastor and therapist in quick to attack both Telegdi and Braid. She fered the voice of someone who experiences Telegdi focused primarily on the students Waterloo, Cindy says she better understands slammed the Conservatives for offsetting the same difficulties with the government with logical measures, definitive numbers the needs of the people of this community the problems of today’s economy onto the that we feel now. No matter who sounds ap- and statistics from the Liberal platform. Tel- as a result. The platform of the NDP is very people of tomorrow, saying that getting cozy pealing and who provides your ideal vision egdi took every moment he could to empha- student friendly; by placing a cap on student with oil companies and US influence will for Canada, on October 14th, get out to the size the looming Neoconservative crisis if loans, investing more in universities in order quickly lead Canada to the current crisis that stations and vote for who you believe in! How We Nearly Became Felons Don’t let the flashy metaphors turn you would be an understatement. It levied hefty robots upon the internet to remotely inspect skanda off. They’re an attempt to enliven the dis- fines for offences that most people are personal machines and perhaps even infil- shridhar cussion of a dead, not to mention hideously guilty of (like transferring music from au- trate iPods. Just as unappealing. A member 2A electrical dull piece of legislation. I’ll confess: when dio CDs to your iPod). It made token “ex- of Geist’s Facebook group voiced a com- the hue and cry began, I tried reading Bill emptions”. It then rendered these null and mon concern when she wrote “The crimi- C-61. Two minutes and I’d sacrificed it for void. It proposed a “5 day access rule” for nals will find a way around this and we will “You could be pushed off an 80 story online poker. I sought to blame my failure academic material that was widely hailed as be the ones who pay.” building and for 79 stories think you’re fly- on my natural disposition: I’m a student being ludicrous beyond belief. It suggested With C-61’s ignominious death (the call ing.” of engineering, not arcane copyright law. that it was a good idea for teachers to de- for elections killed it) we may all breathe a Those were the words of a CNN talking Fortunately for me, a law professor from stroy their materials at the end of a course temporary sigh of relief. To be fair it had its head I stumbled upon while channel surf- the University of Ottawa had anticipated and then remake them from scratch. Most band of applauders, but most people were ing one evening. He was waxing about wayward cases like mine. Michael Geist’s agreed that this deplorable overestimation up in arms. Opposition leaders denounced the raging mayhem on Wall Street. Being analysis (published on his blog) brought of idle hours in the academic community it (predictably) as “a piece of half-baked a safe distance from bleeding American Bill C-61 to thousands of legally chal- was inexcusable, among other things, and legislation”. But there can be no doubt investment banks, I couldn’t bring myself lenged lay persons. it led people to wonder: Are they for real? that it had its share of positive impact. to muster much concern. But the words re- Bill C-61 was an “Act to Amend the The Bill also raised questions about its The massive response it galvanized was mained with me. And the Bill C-61 story Copyright Act”. Most people agree that implementation, which protagonist Jim unprecedented. The affair also served to later made me realize that it wasn’t just the copyright reform is something artists des- Prentice dismissed as being “up to the crea- educate. It was an awakening for the many unfortunate patrons of Wall Street who’d perately need. Organized, large-scale pi- tors”. One theory was that violations could of us who’ve grown accustomed to the cul- been labouring under delusions of flight. racy thrives in today’s digital age, aided be policed in the same way as with child ture of unrestricted digital media access. We’ve all shuffled musical tracks be- immensely by the internet. Bill C-61 was pornography. One method of accomplish- They just had a rude awakening of a dif- tween our iPods and computers. Some of undoubtedly crafted as a move to aggres- ing the latter is by random checks on sus- ferent sort on Wall Street. But they had to us might have downloaded the occasional sively tackle this issue on multiple fronts. pect people’s computers. This obviously smash into the dirt to come to their senses. free MP3. Others might belong to the But something went awry between con- failed to realize that the target group now We haven’t yet and don’t have to. And the coveted clique of techies known to lesser ception and completion, because the final was not simply a demented demographic, next time an amendment to the Copyright beings as hackers. All of us blissfully be- product resembled a double edged sword but half the country. Some fantasized that Act is proposed, we’ll all be watching it, lieved that we were flying. And Bill C-61 wielded by someone who was not sober. the “creators” might just hire armies of every step of the way. was the cold, hard earth, rising to meet us. To say we had a problem with the Bill scripting geniuses who would unleash web The Great Canadian SCavenger hUNT Some highlights of the night include Eight engineering teams showed up to The three duked it out for Scunt su- Pudding Drop, Shoe-Toss, Jeff Lipnicky compete for the crown including Civil premacy. Civil 2012 will be remembered Trevor jenkins getting a megaphone taped to his head and 2012, ManEng ‘13, Team Edcom, Nano for its awesome A-Soc EngSoc rap, fea- 2A management hand and left on, large amounts of under- ‘13, and two teams from other faculties turing some of the most talented gangsta cooked pancakes with missing ingredients showed up (Physics and Math). Physics white kids engineering has seen. Due to being cooked and devoured, a controver- and Math both had powerful turnouts, only a dissection by Physics’ on roadkill to ob- This term’s SCavenger hUNT started off sial game of name-that-tune, dinosaur outnumbered by Edcom during the hunt. tain a heart, an illusive item on the acquisi- with a bang on September 26 at noon. This gummies being thrown from the POETS Only 6 teams began at the beginning, and tion list, Physics managed to win the title Scunt had a strong peak turnout of about balcony, learning that red-rover was fun as all started off strong, and as more teams though, while Civil 2012 brought home ten teams but by the end of the night, only a kid but dangerous with Edcom, finding slowly showed up competition got fierce. second place. Congratulations to all teams three remained standing. The Gods choose out that self-inflicted bodily harm may be Unfortunately, fatigue set in and only three and to the Gods for organizing an awesome the ever appropriate theme of The Great rewarded, and road/walking trips to Mount teams made it to the end: Civil 2012, Nano event. Here’s to hoping that the next Gods Canadian Wilderness. Forrest and Uptown. ’13 and Physics. can pull off one that is just as good. 10 wednesday, october 8, 2008 British Engineering Traditions Short End of the Stick Customs From Across the Pond The Tragic Life of Oliver Heaviside is “tanked up on ‘hoppy’ juice”, those the IRON WARRIOR gards to them. results rarely get recorded. News bureau Heaviside was also left unrecognized Trevor jenkins The next tradition is from the Univer- for his involvement in the development 2A management sity of Oxford’s engineering pub crawls. Oliver Heaviside was a well known of Hertz’s equations, given that Hertz ad- While pub crawls are not anything new electrical engineer, mathematician and mitted to using Heaviside’s ideas to create at any engineering school, Oxford engi- physicist whose life was filled with trag- them. We have all grown accustomed to neers take it one step further and have edy. The operational calculus he developed hearing about the traditions and symbols “three-legged” pub crawls; bringing Heaviside was born in England in 1850. from 1880 to 1887 was greeted with much of the other engineering schools across new meaning to the phrase “never drink As a child, he became ill with scarlet fe- controversy because of a lack of proof. Canada. Whether it’s licking the Guelph alone”. Mini events are held throughout ver; as a result he was left partially deaf, Heaviside fought for his theories in one of stick, the acceptance purpling Frosh at the night to encourage “team bonding” and would become increasingly deaf as his famous sayings “Why should I refuse a Queens, or our glorious mascot: The that include boat races, the “rope down the years went on. Being deaf separated good dinner simply because I don’t under- Tool, we’ve all heard the stories and the trouser game” (with no further de- him from other children and is suspected stand the digestive processes involved?” misadventures these of these traditions scription to explain it), and the “orange to be one of the reasons he left school at Heaviside continued to make progress and symbols. under the chin game”. just 16. with his research. In the late 1880s and But what happens beyond these? This The most intriguing of all though, is Heaviside was self-taught. He learned early 1890s, Heaviside studied fields sur- will hopefully be the first in a series of the tradition of a large number of engi- two languages and Morse code to become rounding moving charges and the concept articles examining engineer school tra- neering societies hosting “Fresher Balls” a telegraph operator. In his early 20s, of electromagnetic mass. In 1902, he pro- ditions from across the globe. Up first, for new incoming students. The lavish Heaviside was first published for his re- posed a theory regarding the existence of we will travel across the pond and ex- parties are like “welcoming proms” that search in the area of electric circuits and the ionosphere. His theory was proved in plore the UK. are held within the first week of classes telegraphy. In 1874, Heaviside quit his 1923, and the layer was named after him The biggest event of all though is the held specifically for the freshers. High first and only regular job to further his and another scientist, who had come up annual Frank Morton Games, one of the class food, a ritzy venue and over the studies after reading “Treatise on Electric- with the same theory around the same UK’s largest interuniversity sporting top decorations seem to be the founda- ity and Magnetism” by James Maxwell. time, called the Kennelly-Heaviside Lay- events with over 1000 participants, rep- tion of these events. Since the freshers Heaviside devoted his whole life to re- er. resenting the chemical engineering soci- don’t buy tickets for these events, it search. He assisted in the development of Heaviside did receive additional ac- eties across the nation. Beyond the two remains unclear how they actually get the transmission line theory, conducted knowledgment for his research. He was required engineering events of “exces- financed. successful research in regards to electro- named a Fellow of the Royal Society by sive drinking and drinking excessively”, Overall, engineering traditions in the magnetism and researched the skin effects the British Royal Society for his math- the event is a daylong competition to de- UK seem to be fairly tame. Whether it’s in telegraph transmission rides. In 1884, ematical description of electromagnetic cide who the top dog is. Sixteen differ- due to the smaller size of the faculties, Heaviside revamped Maxwell’s 20 equa- phenomena. He was also given an honor- ent sporting events are competed, rang- or whether it’s because they really don’t tions with 20 unknowns to 4 partially dif- ary doctorate by the University of Gottin- ing from swimming, tug-of-war, and want the good stuff easily accessible on ferentiated equations; he achieved this gen. soccer to the slightly unconventional the internet, they could use some spicing using operational calculus, which he first Heaviside only ever had one regular Welly Wanging, an event where compet- up. But one reassuring thing comes from began to develop in 1890 and continued job, was well known for his constant lack itors see who can kick off a Wellington the countless pub crawl, pub golf, “ran- to develop until 1897. The 4 equations, of money and remained single his whole Boot the furthest. The night culminates dom drink nights” and similar events: however, are what we know as Maxwell’s life. Heaviside passed away in 1925, with with the competitions in dart, pool and they know how to drink like engineers. equations, despite the fact that Heaviside most of his recognition being gained after the ultimate pub quiz but since everyone did a significant amount of work in re- his death. How is a Musician Like an Engineer? that time no one was there for you, and engineers create new products, and if profit. you just listened to music, didn’t you they pass the design phase, put them into Producers are musicians as well – the sheldon feel better? In order to design a build- production and gauge public reaction. It word remix comes to mind. Produc- fernandes ing, many theoretical and practical facts must be noted that many of these origi- ers would be the type of engineer who 1a systems are required knowledge. In order to play nal engineering designs never make it works as an inspector – they check to an instrument or even to sing, the meth- into production and thus very few peo- make sure that the album is safe, but I’m a musician (www.myspace.com/ od of how-to is incredibly important: ple k now they even existed. more than once, they’re way off, so shieldnoshield). I’m an engineering stu- rhythm and melody can essentially be Have you heard AC/DC’s new single, some albums are failures while some are dent (that’s why you’re reading this). considered requirements for musicians. “Rock ’n’ Roll Train”? To me, it sounds successes. For engineering safety advi- Can the two be related? Engineers de- The most important criterion in en- just like their older songs (then again, sors, the regulations are much stricter... sign products, right? Musicians create gineering is safety. Stringent safety re- I’m not really a fan). So AC/DC wanted it really does matter if the design of music right? In most cases, the develop- quirements have to be met before the to stay in the safe area, keep all their your building is not a success when it ment process takes a long time, right? product designed could reach mass pro- fans, and much like some engineers, de- falls down. For a product lasting as long as 15 years duction and become profitable. Speak- sign updated, not original products to In the end, it doesn’t even matter. I had or even more, like a car, an 8 year devel- ing metaphorically, let’s say “safety” for ensure that a profit is made. to fall to lose it all...just kidding. I think opment cycle is standard procedure. For a musician is not losing fans or support Some musicians create music for the musicians are similar to engineers, but an album, 6 months is generally what it or money, in general, but still being “at masses, often gaining the label “sell- they’re perceived to have taken many takes, and the album is generally pop- the top of the charts”. Let’s look at two out”. However, if musician = engineer, more risks simply because music is the ular for about a week to a month. Ac- recent examples: a “sell-out” would be the one who de- longest and largest ongoing worldwide counting for touring, the album’s cycle According to fans and critics alike, signs a product that meets the most user phenomenon that is constantly in the would last a year or so. Engineers use a Metallica, on their latest album “Death requirements, and thus has the most public eye. Next time you see an engi- technical skills to “improve the life of Magnetic”, have changed their sound satisfied end-user. Then again, some neer (shouldn’t be too long here), call the general public”, right? Don’t musi- from their last album, “St. Anger”. So, engineers might find the user require- them a musician, see how they respond. cians do the same, technically? If you’re they risked losing fans and support in ments that the most people want simply Or, find a musician, call them an engi- in doubt, imagine walking from here to order to maintain musical integrity and so that the product would become pub- neer, see how they take it. Or, just pick Toronto instead of driving. Remember try something new, similar to how some licly available and would turn in a hefty up a guitar. You can play it. Homecoming Fever Hits Waterloo student run campus tours, which allowed in the 4th quarter to hand Waterloo their of campus, Homecoming 2008 provided the grads to see how much the campus 4th loss (38-23) of the season. a great opportunity to have fun, be merry michael has grown in such a short period of time, Following the game was a great free and catch up. seliske and provided time to get reacquainted concert showcas- 1t computer with old friends. ing the talents of The afternoon events took place in and the Canadian rock One Saturday per year in the month of around CPH foyer and provided alumni band, The Trews. September, the University of Waterloo the opportunity to see The Tool, meet The concert was invites all alumni and students to special the current exec and talk to other notable full of energy and events held throughout campus. Engi- alumni like Jim Pike, Tool founder and the drummer got neering Alumni Affairs arranged an ac- the man who created P**5. into the spirit by tion-packed day of good people and good Elsewhere on campus there was a lot putting on a Home- times for the classes of ‘63, ‘68, ‘73, ‘78, going on as well. A beach volleyball tour- coming bandana. ‘83, ‘88, ‘93, ‘98, ‘03 and ‘07. The day nament was held at Fed Hall followed by Whether attending kicked off with a “Get Reacquainted the football game against Laurier. The the engineering Lunch Buffet” and continued with a CPH game was very exciting and well attend- events or the ones open house. The lunch buffet included ed but Laurier ended up taking the lead meant for the rest Michael Seliske Wednesday, october 8, 2008 11 Point vs. counterpoint POINT Should Voting be Made Mandatory? COUNTERPOINT 1922 election having a turn out of less than Voting Mandatory” was introduced 115 58%. Since then, election turn outs have Adriana years later, and was aimed to increase polit- Trevor jenkins consistently been 90%+. The remaining cameron ical engagement rather than to end electoral 2A management 10% of voters face fines of $20AUS for fail- 2A Civil corruption. The bill introduced by Liberal ing to vote, the average cost of running the Senator Mac Harb in 2005, following a election per person. However, 95% of no- record low voter turnout in the 2004 federal The right to vote has been something that show voters on average are given exemp- In Canada, voter turnout has decreased election, in which only 60.9 % of electors people around the world and in history have tions if they can prove they were travelling, over the last 30 years. Typically only about voted. Harb’s bill would amend the Canada strived to gain. However, in the 2006 feder- ill or cannot vote due to religious beliefs. 65% of eligible voters actually vote. Coun- Elections Act by making it compulsory to al election, less than 65% of eligible voters This means those less than 1% of voters pay tries such as Australia, Belgium and Cuba, vote, make it a punishable offence to not cast ballots, and only 1 in 4 young people the fine and consciously choose not to vote. see a greater voter turnout as voting is com- vote, adding a “none of the candidates” op- under the age of 25 voted. These startling 77% of voters supported this system with- pulsory in these countries. Since Confeder- tion to the ballot, and allow electors to vote numbers only support the drive to make vot- out hesitation. The economic, social and ation, only two bills were debated in House for someone whose name does not appear ing mandatory in all elections in Canada. historical similarities between Canada and of Commons calling for mandatory voting on the regular ballot. If an elector did not Canada has faced many challenges in its Australia are striking and based on this re- in Canada. However, neither of these bills turnout on Election Day, and did not have a past in regards to voting. 1921 saw wom- semblance, one would expect a similar trend ever made it beyond the second reading. valid excuse, a $50 fine would be issued. en gain the right to vote federally for the to emerge in Canada. The first of these bills was by Guillame In both cases, the bills failed to make it first time since Confederation, Aboriginals A short-sighted argument against man- Amyot of the Nationalist-Conservative beyond the second reading. A major reason gained the same right in 1960 after restric- datory voting is the fact uninformed voters Party in the 1890s. Amyot proposed a bill for this is because mandatory voting in- tions were removed that required them to will be forced to participate in something entitled “An Act to Make Voting Compul- fringes on the right of choice of the elector. give up their registered status and the 1963 they know nothing about, giving them the sory”, in order to combat electoral cor- Much like how voters are allowed to choose election was the first election in which ra- potential to skew results based on their own ruption. At the time in which the bill was a candidate to vote for, they should also be cial and religious restrictions were lifted for stupidity. However, our history of “behav- introduced, it was not uncommon for can- allowed to choose whether they wish to a number of minorities groups, including iour-modifying” legislation would show didates to essentially use bribery in order to vote. The Canadian Charter of Rights and peoples of East Indian, Chinese, Mennonite that people will change their opinion if they ensure that voters would come to the polls Freedoms, states that the right to vote “is and even certain Catholic roots. realize the importance of the change. Less and vote for them. In addition to offering inclusive of the right not to vote”. After years of battling for the right to than 50% of drivers and passengers wore transportation to the polls for their sup- The idea of introducing mandatory vot- vote, many Canadians have lost track of the seatbelts during the 1970s, but with amend- porters, many candidates added a financial ing in order to ensure that the vote more duty involved. Voting is a duty to society, ments to provincial Highway Traffic Acts, incentive as well. Amyot believed that the accurately reflects the beliefs’ of Canadi- just like paying taxes, sitting on a jury, and that number has now skyrocketed to 93%. bill would help maintain purity in politics, ans is counterproductive. Forcing people following the laws set out for the betterment Of those 93%, it’s likely the majority of as candidates would not have to bribe vot- who possess an apathetic attitude towards of society. A political scientist once said “A them would never consider NOT wearing ers to ensure that they show up on Election politics to vote would result in an increase political system with the universal right to a seatbelt. Behaviour-altering legislation Day. Furthermore, if the candidates did try in the number of careless and uninformed vote but with only a tiny fraction of citizens clearly has an impact on the way people act to woo voters with financial bonuses, these votes being cast. These careless votes would exercising this right should be regarded as a once they realize the importance of the laws bonuses would have to be less due to the overshadow the votes of more informed vot- democracy in merely a...hollow sense of the presented to them. larger voter turnout. Under this bill, voters ers, who actually care about who will lead term.” Reasonable limits on rights are a ne- Overall, it is in the betterment of Cana- would be allowed to opt out at least 30 days the country. This increase in the number of cessity to maintain a progressive state such dian society to make voting a mandatory prior to the election without penalty. Oth- careless electors, would allow political par- as Hate Speech limits which help sustain a requirement for all eligible citizens. Doing erwise, if they did not show up on Election ties to target these groups in order to easily tolerant society. Similar limits on voting are so will result in a more democratic process, Day, they would have to deal with a $50 obtain votes. Voting irresponsibly is even required in order to guarantee that our gov- and make sure that all interests are repre- fine (equivalent to over $1000 now) or a jail worse than not voting at all. ernment actually reflect the desires of the sented but still allow citizens the right to sentence. Electors should not be forced to go to the Canadian public. protest through blank ballots. A second bill, called “An Act to Make polls if they feel that their vote is meaning- Many opponents would argue less, or if they feel that none of that not voting is a form of pro- the candidates are worth voting test against what people see as for. Many people feel that the “the same old” while others say government has lost the ability it’s like just voting for the “sta- to respond to their needs, and tus quo”. The aim of a protest as a result, do not feel the need is to make your opinion clear to to vote. decision makers, yet not voting Likewise, many people feel fails to accomplish this. Choos- voting is pointless because it ing to leave a ballot blank is a is highly unlikely that election far more effective way of send- promises will actually be met. ing your message or better yet Some people view voting as REFUSE your ballot. Register pointless, because the media like normal, but when they hand often times predicts the winner you your ballot, refuse to accept of the election weeks before it it and, if desired, make a grand occurs. Similarly, some may speech about why you’re not choose not to vote because the voting. This is a completely le- party that they would like to gal act; however Elections Can- win (Libertarian Party of Can- ada never has really informed ada, Canadian Action Party, voters about THAT choice. Communist Party of Canada, One interesting fact: spoiling etc) has no chance of winning. a ballot (ie. Selecting multiple Mandatory voting would re- candidates, drawing a picture, quire much effort to enforce. A etc.) is a federal crime under lot of resources, which could section 167(2)(a) of the Canada be better used elsewhere, Elections Act, “no person shall would have to be allocated to willfully alter, deface or destroy determine who has not voted, a ballot,” and can result in fines and if their reason for not vot- up to $500 or 3 months in jail. ing was valid. However, the chance of being Making voting compulso- caught are nil and anyone ac- rily is a poor way to combat cusing you of doing so is likely declining voter turnout. Sure, going to face a much harsher mandatory voting would in- punishment for looking at your 2 crease the number of votes, vote. but it would also increase the Mandatory voting isn’t a amount of careless votes. In new concept. Thirty-three na- order to increase voter turnout tions around the world already it would be necessary deal with require it, with sixteen having voter apathy and voter cyni- a similar democratic system as cism. Rather than forcing peo- the one commonly proposed in ple to vote, politicians should Canada. Australia started it over work on making people want 80 years ago in response to the to vote. 12 wednesday, october 8, 2008 Pull and push the stick of the plunger student-budget eco-friendly alternative Basic Fix-Its without breaking the seal to loosen the is simply boiling water. Preceding this clog. Don’t flush again until a satisfying with a cup of baking soda and then a cup Basic Plumbing for Plummers squelch tells you that things are clear. of vinegar is also a highly effective way 5. Lysol. Lysol is your friend, use it of clearing out minor plugs and clogs. ening the nut on the inside should help. well. For a persistent clogged drain, it may Adjusting the slack on the lift chain can Taps be worth your time to actually take the Michelle also work; you should have about half The most common problem you’ll drain apart and clean out the pipes. Croal an inch and this can be adjusted by mov- encounter with a tap or faucet is that it 1. Under the sink your should find a 2B Chemical ing it along the bar where it’s attached. leaks. If you study in the kitchen and “J-bend” or “U-joint”, essentially a 180º Finally, the last cause could be a prob- are annoyed by the constant drip drip turn in a piece of piping that serves as I received a fair amount of enthusi- lem with the flapper or flush ball. This drip, then this is a problem that’s easily a seal between the drain and the rest of astic feedback from last issue’s article rubber piece falls into the tank drain and solved: the water system. Get a bucket and pos- on how to fix a bicycle tire, which was allows the tank to fill up properly. Turn 1. Turn of the water main, and open sibly some old towels to catch the muck pretty exciting. I also actually managed off the water supply behind the toilet the taps to drain any extra water. Plug that will come out as you work. to successfully fix my own tire and keep and let the tank drain. You can replace the sink so you don’t lose any parts it fixed since then, which is pretty excit- the flush ball, but a cheaper temporary that might drop in. ing in itself… solution is to dry, then lube up the ball 2. Use a small screwdriver to re- So anyway, this week let’s talk about and the rim of the drain with petroleum move the “hot/cold” label and expose fluid flow through pipes, and what to jelly to renew the seal. a screw holding the knob underneath. do when it flows either too much or Clogged: Unscrew this, and lift off the knob not enough! Again with my obligatory This section is not for the faint of cover. don’t-blame-me clause: serious plumb- heart! It happens to the best of us; deny 3. Use a correctly sized wrench ing is a full time career that people get it though you may… Face it, you’re on (woot for adjustable!) to release the paid for, and often charge significantly work term in the middle of nowhere, it’s “tap valve”. Hold the faucet itself extra for “fixing the problem you tried 30c/min long distance to call your mom tightly, and move only the valve (mov- to fix yourself”. That said, basic plumb- or dad who you’re not calling anyway ing the tap itself may cause addition- ing skills can save you (or your land- because of the shame of it. All that’s left al leaks under the basin). The valve lord) a lot of money if you do it right. is you and the plunger. should detach, but not all valves do. Before anything major, turn off the 1. Bail out standing water into anoth- 4. The most common problem is the Mark J. Donovan main water supply to the building. Ig- er bucket. If you can’t handle this, and washer. Look for a black rubber ring on 2. Some J-bends have a removable noring that sentence will make your life there isn’t that much in the toilet, leave the base of the valve. Take this off and trap on the base. You can then access that much more hilarious (and prob- it… replace it with a new one (which you the piping, and use a wire coat hanger ably ruin all your stuff). It can be found 2. Refill with enough clean water to conveniently remembered to purchase or screwdriver (and gloves! Gloves are under the kitchen sink, near the water cover the suction cup. Ideally, you have prior to taking your bathroom apart). good!) to loosen and remove debris in- heater, or in the basement and should be a “bulb-type” plunger handy, with a lip 5. Replace the parts in the order you side, usually hair, scum and other gener- accompanied by a meter similar to that specially designed for toilets; otherwise removed them. If the tap still leaks, the ally gross sludge. for your electricity use. The main valve a regular “bowl-type” should be fine. valve or “seat” itself may be damaged 3. Without a clean-out plug, most can be manual or may require a wrench 3. Check out the direction of the “exit (corrosion, grinding) and need more ad- modern J-bends have couplings which so it’s a good idea to check it out before hole”, which is 99% of the time at the vanced repair. you can loosen by hand or with pliers. anything floods. back bottom of the toilet bowl. Plunging Drains Then remove the J-bend and follow the Toilets in the wrong direction will cause more The most common drain problem is same steps as above. Running: harm than good, mostly of the flooding blockage, which, with the right tools 4. Clean everything out really well, A running toilet could be caused by a type... is a messy, if not a difficult problem. and reassemble. Feel free to sell the dia- few different things that are easily fixed. 4. Create a good seal by sticking the There are many (expensive) manufac- mond ring you found on Ebay and pay If jiggling the flush lever stops it, the plunger in with the lip around the hole. tured chemicals available for clear- for next term’s textbooks (or rather, next handle could be too loose. Simply tight- Petroleum jelly can help again with this. ing clogged or slow drains; however a term’s pubcrawls. All term.) Iron Chef Living For Less Potluck Potatoes Tim bandura brands costs more. But you can figure that 2A mechanical out by looking at price labels. 1 cup chopped celery stalk Use your U-Pass: Yes, I’m well aware Sylvia Wu 1/4 cup chopped onion Engineering is expensive. There’s no that GRT has horrible service at times and 1T Mechatronics 4 hard cooked eggs doubt about it. Tuition, food, entertain- that they are anything but convenient for 1 teaspoon salt ment, pubcrawls, and housing all take certain areas (It takes me an hour each day 2 teaspoon pickle juice money. Lots of it. Even with co-op every to get here). But it is a non-refundable part 1/2 cup mayonnaise four months, it sometimes isn’t enough. of your student fee, and gas is expensive. Ingredients: 1 teaspoon celery seed (optional) Most of these are common sense, but here Grabbing one of the Route 8 via Weber will 1/4 cup French or Catalina dressing are a few tips for saving money. They also take you past a Sobey’s and Bulk Barn. 7C 4-5 medium potatoes Instructions: can improve your health at the same time. and iXpress take you 1. Bring a pot of water to the boil. Put Learn to cook: This one is fairly ob- out to Conestoga Mall. potatoes into the pot and cook in jack- vious. Cooking is not particularly hard Volunteer: There ets, uncovered on medium-high heat. The to learn, and making your own meals is are many opportunities length of cooking depends on the type of rewarding, healthier and cheaper for you to volunteer on cam- potatoes you purchase. Use white or Russet than buying freeze dried. If you don’t pus. A lot of the time, potatoes for a crunchier salad, while yel- know how, find someone who does, and they require a small low potatoes will come out mushier. 30-40 learn from them. In addition, the ability commitment and will minutes usually suffice. Check the potatoes to cook can make for a special night out either provide a snazzy from time to time and take them out when with someone not only cheaper, but better. shirt or food. In addi- they are tender. Peel and cube. I recommend searching www.kraftcana- tion, you’re helping 2. Pour French/Catalina dressing over da.com. This is a great site that provides out the community and the potatoes while they are still warm. Mix recipes that are easy and require very lit- doesn’t that feel good? gently. Chill for 2 hours. tle time to prepare and cook. One really Grab a part-time 3. Boil the eggs and slice. The instruc- great feature I love about this site is right job on campus: Not tions on how to boil a perfect egg are read- of the page, there’s a little search engine really a money-sav- ily available on Google. where you type in ingredients you have ing technique, but it 4. Add celery, onion, eggs to the potato lying around, and it spits out a list of pos- provides money for and dressing mixture. sible recipes. I tried “chicken”, “tomato”, beverages and the like. 5. Mix salt, pickle juice, and mayonnaise and “cheddar” and found a rice skillet that Most campus jobs have well in a separate bowl, pour over existing takes only 30 minutes to make and will flexible hours and we salad. feed me for a few days. typically spend a lot of 6. Sprinkle celery seed on top. Buy in bulk: Buying certain products, time on campus any- 7. Mix carefully and evenly distribute such as flour, sugar, and other cooking ways. I’d personally the dressing. necessities, at a bulk food store saves you recommend working 8. Chill 8 hours. money. Buying there allows you to get only as a referee for Campus Serves 8. the amounts you need. If your housemates Recreation. You pick are willing, put your money together for the hours and most ref- The final potato salad will be orange or food and other household products. Also, eree positions are open red in colour as opposed to your tradition- buy foods on sale (if you need it!). to people with little or al... beige. Fall colours, get it? Avoid name brands: Buying name no experience. Wednesday, october 8, 2008 13 New Chem Eng Building Social Entrepreneurship The themes chosen for this year’s confer- LAUREL CENTRE CONFERENCE ence are meant to address all aspects of so- on East Campus from Page 3 cial entrepreneurship. According to Suzanne Gardner, “Responding to feedback from last countries. Gala speakers will include Dr. Sue year’s conference, we added health leadership E6 ON THE HORIZON this still being considered, and if so, what Horton and Dr. Frances Westley. The former as a central theme this year, recognizing the from Page 1 are the basic principles behind the idea? is a visiting scientist at the Micronutrient Ini- innovative and entrepreneurial measures that DK: As I understand it, this is still tiative, an organization working to eliminate are being taken to improve health conditions DK: At the moment I’m not sure what being considered. The main principle is vitamin and mineral deficiencies around the and systems.” the cost estimates are. The cost will be future-proofing (if you will). The idea is world, as well as an economics professor at Approximately 100 students and 50 com- based on the design and the architect’s that the university will almost certainly WLU; her work was ranked highest in the munity members are expected to attend. Tick- bid for the building. This process has not continue to grow, but the extra space is Copenhagen Consensus, making it one of the ets purchased before October 17th cost $30 been completed yet and so I don’t think not needed now. It is much cheaper to best investments in global issues. Dr. Westley for students and $90 for community members, one exists. build the exterior but not finish the inte- is the JW McConnell Chair of the Social In- rising to $40 and $100, respectively, after Oc- IW: Assume that right now, there exist- rior than it is to build a building and then novation Generation (SiG) group at UW, a tober 17th. Those interested in attending the ed the ability to re-locate the entire Chem try to add on top (as was done with CPH cross-sectoral partnership to build capacity Kielburger address alone may do so at a cost Eng. Dept. to another existing building in the past few years). This strategy will for social innovation in Canada; she is also of $6 per student or $15 for community del- on campus. Why build a new building in allow the university to expand within its author of Getting to Maybe and Experiments egates. the proposed location rather than remod- existing space in the years to come. in Consilience. The conference will also in- “The conference aims to inform, engage, el/expand/demolish and rebuild DWE, as IW: What is the role of the Building corporate a research component, where lead- and drive our participants forward towards it has a far more central location? Users Committee in the design and plan- ers can present their findings in the field, and changing the world,” communicates Gardner. DK: There are two answers to this ques- ning of the new E6 building? 7 workshops: Securing Sponsorship, Revenue If you are interested in this new opportunity, tion. First of all, it is a logistical problem. DK: This is the committee of admin- Generation, Business Planning, Entrepreneur- don’t miss your chance to attend and visit Because Waterloo runs classes through- istration, faculty and, now, students, that ship, Working with Media, and Negotiation. www.laurelcentre.ca for more details. out the year, there is no good time to do a decides what the requirements will be for thorough renovation of the building. Peo- the buildings. These requirements include ple are always using DWE, which would things like room layouts, outlet and net- Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down severely limit the cost-effectiveness of work connection requirements, etc. The renovating (having to ensure that it is committee decides on these requirements Thumbs down to the sandwiches at the new Juice Goose place in the plaza safe for students at all times) and would and then the architects and building engi- (more boring than empty fridge emergency sandwiches). Good smoothies increase the time needed to perform the neers use those to design the building. though. renovation. Secondly, the Faculty is plan- IW: How much influence will it really ning to expand as per the Vision 2010 have on the overall outcome of the final Thumbs up to Battlestar Galactica action figures. Apollo beats G.I. Joe any plan and more space is necessary for that. plan for E6? Will you be working directly day hands down. So, the plan is actually to do both: build with the faculty or architects, or are you and renovate. The Chemical Dept. will simply creating proposals to be presented Thumbs down to people who ride their bikes on the sidewalk, especially be moved into E6, and then DWE will be to them as considerations for the design? when there’s a bike lane on the road. renovated once it is unoccupied so that it DK: It will have a lot of influence on can be re-occupied when needed. what goes in the building, but consider- IW: What benefits are there of the pro- ably less on how it goes in the building. Send in your Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down to posed building’s location in parking lot The committee simply lays out what the B4 rather than in lot A (across University building needs to provide its occupants. [email protected] Avenue, as there is already the pedestrian IW: How can non-committee mem- overpass there). bers (ie. other students) get involved in DK: The same question was addressed the process, or stay updated on the design IW Recommends when it came to E5. One of the big rea- process? sons is that people do not use the over- DK: I, along with whoever is selected user rates a website with a thumbs up or pass. They simply jaywalk. There is less to represent the current stream, will be Website a thumbs down, and other users can find traffic across the railroad tracks, so this is updating EngSoc and ChemEngSoc on StumbleUpon websites based on their friends’ ratings. less of an issue. As I understand it, it was developments as they happen. I hope to www.stumbleupon.com It’s all basically done through a toolbar recommended to the University (I’m not get a page up on the EngSoc website to on your browser. It has lots of social net- sure whether it was the city or the plan- post updates as well, but this has yet to Amir taleghani working opportunities through looking at ners that UW hired) that they build on happen. 2a civil what your friends like or dislike etc. but East Campus instead. Now that E5 will IW: Thank you for your time, David. recommended for sure is the “search by be there, it simply makes sense to keep Hard to categorize. Is it a social net- subject” feature; this is an amazing waste expanding that location. Since the building has not yet received working site? Is it a search engine? Is it of time online. Click the StumbleUpon IW: An earlier idea for this building full approval, no information can yet be a button on your browser toolbar? Well button, choose a category and you get was to construct it as a “shell,” leaving completely confirmed. All responses are it’s kind of all of them at the same time. random websites on that subject; it’s a some of the floors unfinished, and then based facts available as the IW went to StumbleUpon is an online community more fun version of clicking “next blog” built later as funds become available. Is press. where users find and rate websites. A on blogger. WaterlooCasesinDesignEngineering(WCDE) WCDEisagroupintheFacultyofEngineeringthat SampleCaseStudies convertsworkreportsinto EngineeringCaseStudies AllfirstͲyearconceptcoursesareusing thesecases: foruseinEngineeringcourses. HydroQuebec x AlternativeEnergySources Workreportssubmittedelectronicallyareworth EngineersWithoutBorders seventyͲfiveP**5points! x AlternativeDrinkingWater Othercasescurrentlyinuseinclude: cases.uwaterloo.ca x FootBraceDesign 14 wednesday, october 8, 2008 Better Know A Beer The Brewing Process slowly and periodically held at an elevat- produce an ale and are typically ferment- cans, which requires some cool equip- ed temperature for an extended amount ed between 15-20°C. Bottom fermenting ment. They even give you a machine to of time in water to allow the enzymes in yeast will produce a lager and ferment put the plastic on to turn your cans into Rory aRNOLD the grain to begin breaking down the nat- at a lower temperature and require more six packs. 4A MECHANICAL ural starches into maltose. This results in time. These strains come from their me- This is the brewing process in its sim- a product called mash. dieval predecessors. For example, yeast plest terms and there are many ways to I have accomplished many things in The spent grains then need to be fil- in Germany had to withstand colder deviate. Craft brewers often try new and my life, but probably none greater than tered out in a process called lautering. temperatures than yeast in Britain. This creative ways to change the process to this. I finally brewed my first batch of The resulting liquid is referred to as wort. explains why the British more common- achieve new and exciting beers. Com- beer. Due to the financial and moving The spent grains are sent for cattle feed. ly produce ales and Germany is more mon ways to change the recipe include requirements of Waterloo Engineering’s Then the cattle get turned into steaks for known for its lagers. adding spices or coffee, or using wheat co-op program, I had yet to buy a home you to enjoy while drinking your beer. Finally the beer is filtered and kegged or rye malt with the barley malt. brewing kit, but it was definitely on my The wort is then boiled. This is done in or bottled. Sometimes a process called There is one last step however, before list of things to get when I settle down. the big copper (or stainless steel) kettles secondary fermentation occurs where you get to drink your beer, and that is However, I came upon a place right here that breweries are often so proud of. The yeast is re-added and allowed to fer- to name it. We brewed an Oktoberfest in Waterloo where they provide all the next step is to hop the beer. During the ment in the bottle. This means extra CO2 style lager and aptly named it Arrogant equipment you need, all you have to do boil, hops are added and the amount of does not need to be added and provides German. We hope to continue this nam- is show up and add the ingredients. Al- hops added with the amount of boiling a fresher taste. There will also be a small ing scheme with our future beers, Angry though it differs from the process used time determines how bitter the beer will amount of yeast in the bottom of the bot- Russian, Cheap Scot, Loud Dutchman by a regular brewery, the main steps are be. The hops and other solids that have tle. and Pussy Frenchman etc. the same. formed are allowed to settle out as the When brewing your own beer, this Finally, the step that you have waited The process starts with turning the bar- liquid cools. This step usually lasts about is probably the best part. You start by weeks for: you drink the beer. Don’t drink ley into malt. The barley is soaked and an hour. sampling your beer (of course). When from the bottle. You want to experience allowed to germinate, then dried. The When the liquid has cooled and the you find out how good and fresh it is, every flavour and aroma, as well as stare product is the malt and the ingredient the solids are filtered out, the yeast is added. you sample more. You then fill and cap in awe at its rich colour. Drink it slowly, brewers need to start their process. There are two main divisions of yeast, a few cases worth of bottles. This will drink it with friends. It was cheaper than Mashing is the first step that takes top fermenting yeast and bottom fer- have made you thirsty and you take an- if you had of bought beer from the Beer place at the brewery. The malt is heated menting yeast. Top fermenting yeast will other sample. At this point, we had ran Store, so don’t be afraid to share it with out of bottles and began filling some friends. Mixology 101 Highballs Amanda Leduc sweet or a lemon wedge if the drink has 2a management a citrus base. Finally, test your drink! Place the Mixing a good drink isn’t tough; mix- glass to your mouth, tip it back and hope ing an awesome drink on the other hand to God you didn’t mix something revolt- requires an understanding of the finer ing. points of cocktail mixing. If per chance you’ve managed to mix Cocktail bartenders are akin to chefs, something vile, try one of the tested and but not the ones who follow recipes ex- true recipes below to get an idea of what actly. No, cocktail bartenders are more goes well together. I’ve kept the ingredi- like sauciers; they have a basic recipe, ent requirements for these recipes to a but tinker with it to suit personal taste. minimum so they should be pretty easy There is only one way to be able to ef- to mix. fectively tinker with a recipe and produce Tip: When the mixer you have selected something that actually tastes appealing: isn’t carbonated, leave some space after product knowledge. Product knowledge adding the mixer and try adding a bit of can be easily obtained by tasting and re- Sprite/7Up to the top. I usually mix 3 www.scienceofdrink.com tasting cocktail ingredients over and over parts mixer to 1 part Sprite. Aside from again until the flavour profile is forever adding fizz, this will slightly sweeten burned into your taste memories. your drink. If you want the fizz but not Oktoberfest Preview Now for the most important part, the the sweetness, club soda has the same ef- Major events of the week: mechanics of mixing of the drink itself. fect. Friday October 10: Opening ceremo- This article will focus on the creation of Interesting Fact: A standard drink is a Sylvia Wu nies at Kitchener City Hall; 40th annual the most common type of drink you’ll base measurement of alcohol and is an 1T Mechatronics keg-tapping to start the festival. likely mix: highballs! These tall drinks easy way to keep track of how much al- Saturday Oct. 11: Free pancake break- are easy to make and the possibility for cohol you or a friend has consumed - 1.5 fast for all visitors; keg-rolling race. creativity and drink inventing is end- oz of 40% liquor = 12oz of 5% beer = Fall is upon us and so is Oktoberfest! Both events take place in Uptown Wa- less. 5oz of 12% wine. What is Oktoberfest you ask? It is a jolly terloo. To begin, fill a high ball glass 2/3 full occasion to drink up, eat up, and polka. Sunday Oct. 12: Rocktoberfest, a con- of ice. This leaves 5-6 ounces of space Cheers and Happy Mixing! The festival originated in Munich, Ba- cert featuring rock as well as traditional for the liquids. varia, Germany as the 1810 wedding cel- music takes place in Queensmount Arena, Next add the liquor of your choice. ebration of a Bavarian prince. The prince, Kitchener A single shot is 1.5 oz of liquor. If you Easy Drink Mixes who was later crowned King Ludwig Monday Oct 13.: Thanksgiving Day pa- don’t happen to have a shot measuring I, invited all the people of Munich to a rade down King Street in both cities glass or sure-shot on hand don’t fret, Screwdriver horse race, and probably offered copious Thursday Oct 16.: Universities Night at there is a fairly easy way to determine 1.5 oz vodka amount of beer at the after-party. Since Bingeman’s, tickets $10 at Feds office this amount. If you’re using a typical 5 oz orange juice then, Oktoberfest was celebrated yearly Friday Oct. 17: UW Engineering ex- highball glass, wrap two fingers around splash of sprite (optional) in Munich, on the original wedding site clusive section at Concordia Club, $17 per the base of the glass. Pour alcohol until Theresienwiese (named after Ludwig’s guest but... sold out already! Worry not, a it reaches the top of your second finger Simplified Sex on the Beach bride Terese), except during the wars. Sigma Chi-sponsored student night taking and that should be roughly 1.5 oz. For 1.5 oz vodka The Kitchener-Waterloo version of the place at Karlsberhaus Festhalle still has doubles, triples and so on, place the bot- 3 oz orange juice festival was founded in 1969 as an op- tickets available for $20. Ticket orders are tom of your two fingers at the point the 3 oz cranberry juice portunity to celebrate the local German available at http://www.uwfest.ca/tickets. alcohol reaches and repeat. splash of sprite (optional) Canadian heritage. The nine-day festi- htm and the host advises ordering more After that, add a mixer that will nicely val, starting on the Friday before Cana- than a week in advance since this will like- complement the alcohol you have cho- Barney on Acid dian Thanksgiving and running until the ly be another sold-out event. sen. If you choose a non-carbonated 1.5 oz Jagermeister Saturday after, draws in 700,000 visitors Saturday Oct. 18: Bavarian Strong- mixer such as juice, you really should 1.5 oz Blue Curacao annually, which makes it the second larg- man Challenge at Heidelberg Haus (Moses mix it using a stir stick or straw, if avail- 5 oz cranberry juice est Oktoberfest celebration in the world Springer Arena), Waterloo able. If you choose a carbonated mixer, after the one in Munich. It has developed Cultural events also take place all over the bubbles will mix the drink for you Sky Highball its own traditions, including the only ma- KW during the festival, make sure to check and the drink is done. You can mix a car- 2 oz Scotch Whiskey jor Thanksgiving Day parade in Canada, out the website www.oktoberfest.ca for a bonated drink but it will reduce the fiz- 0.5 oz Blue Curacao televised on CTV across the nation. more detailed listing of events. ziness of the drink. You may also add a garnish such as a cherry if the drink is Wednesday, october 8, 2008 15 The Adventures of Dangerman Faire les Quatre Cents Coup1 - A New Dangerman to be Selected?!? gimme, gimme!” me with a certain trepidation. Plus, with acknowledged to be a very funny writer, Worst of all, now that I’m in 4th year September ended, and October marching and quite awesome besides. More impor- Dangerman 4A Chemical I’m pretty much the epitome of what I’ve on it will probably be less than 170 days tantly, there were in fact four generations described above; probably the most irritat- until IRS2 by the time you read this. of LowRiders, stretching back almost 15 ing, mega-phoning, give-me-your-money “Bright yellow, red and orange, the years… bum out there. Therefore, since I’ve al- leaves come down in hosts, the trees are Therefore, in the spirit of the fallen Dearest Reader, ready sold myself down the river, I might Indian princes, but soon they’ll turn to house of LowRider, I will open up com- as well completely jump the shark and ghosts. The scanty pears and apples hang petitions this term and next to choose my Whenever I have read articles by 4th write one of my own lame, “So I guess russet on the bow, ‘tis Autumn Autumn Au- potential successor(s). Keep your eyes years in the past (i.e. when I wasn’t in 4th I’m graduating…” articles, chock full of tumn late, it will soon be Winter now.”3. peeled, and both ears to the ground to find year), I always hated that none of them lame literary quotes and tear-jerking “Re- Oh reader… whatever will I do when no out more in the coming weeks. could stop carrying on and on, whining member when(s)…”. longer I can be the Dangerous Man, which incessantly about how their pathetic com- “So you’re really going to miss us Dan- actually brings up another important ques- Till next time, ing-of-age tales were finally ending. Real german?!” tion that I receive often: jobs?! Real lives?! (Dangerman sarcas- No, I just don’t have any integrity… Am I going pass on my namesake to Dangerman tically makes excruciating baby-crying Fine, I am going to miss you, I admit it. someone else when I’m gone, and bring [email protected] onomatopoeias and then vomits dramati- We’ve been through a whole heap togeth- about a second coming of Dangerman? cally). er, and I know all these years I threatened Some of you young kids won’t remem- Seriously, 4th year Engineering stu- to go find a younger more exciting read- ber, but a similar newspaper personality 1. To lead a wild and reckless life; liter- dents: more irritating and obnoxious than ership to disappoint on a biweekly basis, to my own called “LowRider” used to ally, go sow your wild oats. small children throwing tantrums in su- but honestly I like disappointing you guys haunt the 3rd page of the IW, until a cer- 2. Iron Ring Stag permarkets. “Buy our 50/50 tickets! Buy the most. tain scoundrel of an EIC named Bahman 3. Robin Redbreast, by William Alling- our pizza!! Buy our eye-sore Soviet-Mc- I’ll further admit that the looming prom- banished him and I to the second last page ham. Donald’s PubCrawl T-shirts!!! Gimme, ise of graduation and an Iron Ring does fill (shakes a fist). LowRider was generally Road Trip! How to survive a road trip on your own 1. Safety First! It’s not just Edcom’s get out of the car, take a walk, read a book. when you’re in the middle of nowhere. favourite thing to yell during Orientation, See that tourist attraction you’re always And in the end, if your car does break Alex Giroux 3b mechanical it’s also a good rule to follow in general. hearing about but never got the chance to down, there’s always CAA (if you have a Trust your instincts and don’t do anything see. More than anything, pulling off the membership). Because shit happens. stupid. Spending an extra night in Thun- road will give you a chance to stretch your 6. Turn Up the Music. There’s no one der Bay because of inclement weather or legs, especially if you don’t have some- else in the car. Put on whatever you want, This summer, circumstance forced me making sure someone knows your route one else in the car to take over driving for but I’ve found that the faster, louder, and to drive from Waterloo to Saskatoon, from and a general idea of your travel plans a bit. If you have to, spend an extra night catchier the better. Sing along at the top Saskatoon to Wainwright, Alberta and may cost you money and take up your somewhere. Visit some relatives. Find a of your lungs if you so desire. Play all the back several times, and then back to Wa- valuable time, but it really is better to be coffee shop that isn’t a Tim Horton’s. stuff you don’t want anyone else to hear. terloo in time for classes. To put that into safe than sorry. 5. Know Your Vehicle and How to You’re headed somewhere and you need a little bit of perspective, from Waterloo 2. Get Organized and Stay Organ- Fix It. Let’s face it, cars break down. Be- something to break up the boredom. This to Saskatoon is about 32 hours of driving, ized! If there’s stuff you’re going to need fore you leave, check the fluid levels and is how I know the words to so many Ar- and Saskatoon to Wainwright is between along the way, pack accordingly. That put together some tools and supplies. It rogant Worms songs. Hey, it works. three and four hours. The scary thing is, way, you won’t be stopped in a parking doesn’t have to be fancy – I carry just ba- Finally, just relax a bit. Canada is a I did it all on my own. That’s right folks, lot unloading your car because something sic fluids (oil being the biggest one), paper big country, but it’s not scary. The big- I drove all those long kilometres without you need is underneath everything else. If towels or rags and an oil funnel cut from gest thing I’ve found is that people are someone else in the car. I figured that I nothing else, know where your maps are. a water bottle in addition to a few other always willing to talk to you and if you should share some of the wisdom I gained And of course, never forget your towel. tools I’ve collected over the years. Before do get into trouble, don’t be afraid to ask along the way with you, dear reader, so I 3. Know Where You’re Going! Maps you set off on a major road trip, you may for help. Besides, I spent a hundred hours have compiled a list of handy hints to help are your friends, especially if you’re not also want to get a regular maintenance in a car alone this summer, and I’m still you get from Province A to Province B familiar with the route. check done beforehand, just to make sure relatively sane… Right? safely and with most of your sanity intact. 4. Take a Break. Seriously. Pull over, there’s nothing that could surprise you Iron Sudoku Caption Contest Results Matthew casswell Last Week’s Winning Entry 2A Civil Sylvia Wu 1T Tron 5 4 6 9 5 8 8 2 1 7 5 3 6 1 7 1 2 5 4 8 3 7 “My anaconda don’t want none 6 5 2 9 Unless you’ve got buns, hun!” - Paul Fugere, Comp Eng, 2B 4 5 16 wednesday, october 8, 2008 The Iron Crossword Matthew casswell Crossword Clues 2A Civil Across Down 1. Novel by Jane Austen 1. Frequencies between 30 to 300 GHz 5. The direction to CPH relative to 2. Domestic help The Grill 3. Bog down 8. What every engineering student 4. What the farmer’s publish tries to do to their ChE 102 textbook, 5. What your mom said before you came but rarely succeeds home with your first hangover 12. The reason why your wind- 6. ____ Lanka shield is cracked after the storm last 7. Evil yellow-and-black creatures night 8. Comforted 13. One of these is 1/24 purity by 9. Describes black things mass 10. Part of a camera 15. Heed! 11. Corrosive alkaline substance 16. Solid 13. City south of Chernobyl 17. The Makers of Guinness 14. Seafood curry is this kind of food 18. Single 20. Word used in two other hints in this 19. Mute crossword 21. (P/A, g, i, N) 22. Gross National Product 23. How often you’ve actually been 24. Beaklike or snoutlike projection able to tolerate anyone from Queen’s 26. Brand of razor 25. Monster’s ____ 27. Playact 26. Corruptible 28. Delta’s inverted cousin 29. They live in Room 101 of your 30. Neither’s partner V1 residence 32. Latin word for Earth 21. Floral leaf 33. They landed in Roswell, New Mex- 35. Sounds like “in act” ico 27. ABBA song 34. Rhymes with tibia 39. English equivalent of a Feinko- 36. U-boat st 38. If it’s not a brother from another 40. Scooby-do and the gang always mother, it’s a this from another mister ___s the villain 42. Comes out of a tree 41. European country 43. Nothing 44. Pork ones are good on the bar- 46. Something you always try to use, becue but never do 45. Scholars from this university 49. The highest development of long- tend to frequent The Price Is Right wire antennas is this kind of antenna 47. Where engineers go Friday 51. There’s not enough of these types of nights hills in Ontario 48. Delta’s easterly neighbour 53. Type of temple 50. Deer 56. Part of an “IF” statement in pro- 52. Puppies gramming 54. Country containing the former 48. Regulation Ashanti Empire 59. Ruminate 55. Stretch to make do 60. Desert conditions 57. The first word of a song by Vil- 61. There are 3 of these for Dr. Horrible lage People on their album “Just a 63. Visionary Gigolo” 64. Another word for a raised platform 59. Asian capital city (ie. in a lecture hall) 62. Fumed (2 words) 65. Coupé 65. Whey’s partner 67. French for “Road” 66. A ready-to-be-cooked fish 69. Time zone UTC -7 68. You calculate the moment at the end of these You can win P**5 points by winning the caption contest! 70. The Far East 74. Smaller than an ocean but larger than Submit your caption to [email protected] 71. Cosmopolitan a lake Be sure to put “Photo Caption Contest” as the subject, 72. Song by the Goo Goo Dolls 75. Saclike structures filled with fluid or and include your name, program and term. 73. Cincinnati baseball team diseased matter THE IRON INQUISITION “What is the worst lie you have ever told in an interview?” Stuart Pearson, 2A Civil Ari Taub Kevin Choboter 4N Mechanical 4N Computer “I’m actually “I don’t lie in in- qualified for this terviews; I do the job” weird stuff.” April Russell James Des Cotes 4A Chemical 4A Chemical “I wouldn’t “I AM Mike Raymer mind going interested in 2A Civil back to Fort nanotechnology.” Mac...” “Your bridge inspired me to be an engineer.”