By Natalie Poutari
As an active Egyptian girl, belly dancing is practically second nature to me.
I began the self learning process at nine years old because it dominated Egypt’s social scene. I’ve been living in Toronto for six years now and what I really like is the presence of my heritage, which is a result of intercultural harmony. I am currently taking advanced belly dance lessons at Chemagne Dance.
By Ola Roks
Watching kids constantly pass out randomly under the influence of Gamma Hydroxy Butyrate or GHB, at the after hours bar; I got used to the bug-eyed stares, and the animalistic almost ostrich-like physical mannerisms exhibited.
Gamma Hydroxy Butyrate stimulates the pituitary gland to produce more growth hormone. Growth hormone protects cells from oxygen starvation, regulates sleep patterns, rebuilds muscle tissue, loosens inhibitions, and can lower the heart rate to almost death-like levels. These kids at clubs would be humping on a stairway railing one minute, sweating and grinning like nymphos, and then passing out into a deep sleep while bass heavy music pounded in their ears the next minute.
By Adam Jamieson
Think of your group of friends as its own emotional and physical ecosystem. There are many moving parts and interactions within it. Feeding, mating, and living (among others things) all occur among group members.
One of the most common practices within a faction of friends is when two people “hook-up”. As you can imagine, and as I’m sure you’ve experienced, this can dramatically change your group’s dynamic. Every time a relationship is started, or the line between friends and friends with benefits is crossed, your group’s ecosystem morphs and adapts to the new climate. These two types of hook-ups unwillingly manifest change for anyone within radius of the situation.
By Jennifer Finjan
While autumn can be a beautiful time of year in Canada, it is also the time of year when we see an increase in the spread of influenza viruses. This year’s flu season is unusual – not only are we preparing for the regular flu season, we are readying ourselves for the return of the H1N1 flu virus.
H1N1 flu virus was first seen in Mexico in the spring of 2009. Within months, it spread to many countries around the world. In June 2009, the World Health Organization declared the first global flu pandemic in 41 years. The H1N1 flu virus has also affected many Canadians thus far, and is expected to continue its path this coming flu season.
By Adam Jamieson
Ontarians love to get out of the city during the few precious ‘summer’ months we have each year. I put the word summer in quotations because we have just experienced one of the worst summers weather-wise in recent memory.
By Lindzrox
Childhood is a unique and magical time when all children should have the chance to exercise their imagination and creativity. For some families, things like piano and art lessons are simply beyond their financial means. The Cabbagetown Community Arts Centre (CCAC) believes that every child deserves the chance to pursue the artist inside. For almost 30 years the CCAC has provided disadvantaged and at-risk children from across the city with professional music and art lessons.
During that time, thousands of children have passed through their doors and have left with more confidence, life-changing skills, and most importantly hope. The centre, situated in the historic three-storey Darryl Kent building on Parliament St. includes practice rooms, a visual art space, a computer lab and a large performance space equipped for a full theatre production or music group.
By Ola Roks
I remember being in high school when we were all in those kilts and white blouses, complaining about uniforms and how “it’s not fair that we can’t wear running shoes”, walking around gingerly in heels like a freshly-birthed fawn taking its first steps.
A decade later, I realize everything we took for granted when I see Catholic school girls walking to school. Tight-bodied youths of today just don’t get it when they complain about being in high school and not being legal. Hiking up their skirts, writing cheat notes on their upper thighs for science exams. In the case of the young men, yanking down their pants revealing their badass boxer shorts, tucking the occasional boner into the belt like it never happened.
By Jennifer Finjan
Can you really be best friends with your ex?
A friend of a friend of mine recently had the misfortune of going on a first (and last) date with a chap who announced out of the blue that his ex-girlfriend was currently his very best friend in the whole wide world. Although he mentioned that they still do almost everything together, i.e. work together, go to the cottage together, and go to concerts and shows together, he reassured that it’s been years since there’s been a sexual connection. This stunning revelation was followed with…”I hope that won’t be a problem?”
Well chap, it is a problem - a huge problem. Not only because he felt it was significant enough to bring up on the first date (perhaps a problem with other prospects in the past?), but because this information equates to him confessing he is the biggest commitment phobe on the planet and a huge, massive waste of time. I mean really, what better way not to move forward in life than to keep your ex in your back pocket as your so called confidante and best friend? No thanks, I will definitely pass on that one.
by Matthew Walsh
My grandmother sat in the living room most nights after her stories, and by the light of the television, said her prayers on her rosary. It was silver, with a man hanging from the cross in the center. It kept her place in her bible; she kissed the man in the middle and tucked the chain away in the pages.
Growing up, I was confused about my religion which was explained to me in bits and snippets. My mother gave me vague answers to my questions on the way to church on Sundays. The fragments I put together about church and God when I was younger left me confused. My religion was a mystery to me. My mother had a rosary. It was in her jewelry case, and it never emerged from there. Her rosary was made of plastic and was the color of cotton candy. It was not as serious as my grandmother’s. My mother’s fingers only ever touched the rosary when she was looking for earrings or a necklace.
Publisher-Creator Mikhail Saavedra began life down by the deepest tip of southern Latin America. He started life with a deep curiosity for all things, with music and books being at the forefront, a curious child by all accounts. As he grew and opened his eyes to the world, he developed a sense of justice and dignity in part as a reaction to growing up in a military dictatorship. Alas, this did not fill him with fear or cynicism but a more rebellious spirit, which led him to being incredibly popular at the principal’s office and the local riot police department….
Then came Canada and it was here that he was able to formulate his deep desire to learn about the world, with Toronto being the kind of multicultural soup that could engage his need to know and embrace. It started with writing, then moved on to what became Toronto’s first Latin Alternative radio show, followed by an all-English show in the same vein. It was this desire to find the true “crossover” among people, which led him to the concept of “Alternavox”
He is a lover of wine, good food, Neruda, Eduardo Galeano, rebel music, revolutionaries, dancing, family and beautiful people. Believes that kindness in this much too cynical world is revolutionary, that you are a better person when able to give a little without asking for the change and that on the same token you should laugh at yourself and the madness surrounding you as often as possible as you set out to change the world bit by bit. 