Articles

Gregor’s Bed – Zenith

Film: Zenith (2010) Written and supervised by Vladan Nikolic Directed by Anonymous Cast: Peter Scanavino, Jason Robards III, Ana Asensio, David Thornton, Al Nazemian ?Once something has reached its Zenith there always follows an inevitable decline, the sun proves this every day. This is what our society faces . . . This recession is the… Read more »

Course Exam – SPAN 330: Textual Analysis and Composition

AU’s Newest Spanish Course Takes a Unique Approach Athabasca University’s Centre for Language and Literature has launched a new Spanish course: Textual Analysis and Composition (SPAN 330). This three-credit humanities course requires SPAN 301 as its prerequisite, and is offered through individualized study, with an online component. How does SPAN 330 differ from AU’s other… Read more »

Maghreb Voices – Terakaft, Aratan N Azawad

Album: Terakaft, Aratan N Azawad [Children of the Azawad] (World Village: Harmonia Mundi, 2011) Musicians: Liya Ag Ablil (a.k.a. Diara), guitars, vocals; Sanou Ag Ahmed, guitars, vocals; Abdallah Ag Ahmed; bass, guitar, vocals; and Mathias Vaguenez, percussions ?. . . even in the songs of the new guitar music, including those from the Tuareg rebellion… Read more »

Maghreb Voices – Jan Wouter Oostenrijk, Sharqi Blues

Album: Jan Wouter Oostenrijk, Sharqi Blues (2010) Artists: Jan Wouter Oostenrijk, guitar; Karim Darwish, drums; Karim Ziad, drums; Salex Abdikader, Oriental keys; Joost Swart, jazz keys; Marco van den Akker, bass; Bas Bouma, drums Oostenrijk Meets the Dark Man at Another New Crossroads ?I like to be inspired and challenged. Inspiration can come from people,… Read more »

Health Matters – Detox the Air

Have you ever pondered the air you breathe? It may be invisible, but It’s not as clear as you think?even indoors. A dizzying number of items in our houses and offices are constantly off-gassing volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, into the air. These VOCs are toxic in various degrees, and some are associated with (or… Read more »

In Conversation With . . . Nazim Elnur

Nazim Elnur is a spoken word and hip hop artist. He was born in Khartoum, Sudan, where he spent his early childhood. After previously attending the American College in Cairo, Egypt, he is now studying political science at McGill University in Montreal. Recently he took the time to answer Wanda Waterman’s questions about poetry, music,… Read more »

Health Matters – Change of Season

Many of us may have hoped that our recent bouts of chilly, rainy weather were just a slight blip in an otherwise mild fall forecast. However, the local weather forecast seems to suggest that the daytime temperatures will remain in the single digits, and there’s cold rain on the horizon, too. It seems like the… Read more »

In Conversation With . . . J. D. Miner, Part II

J.D. Miner is a folk trio from B.C., now consisting of singer and songwriter Darryl Klassen, playing just about anything, Joe Worst on bass, and Chad Joiner on fiddle, mandolin, clarinet, and guitar. Honorary lifetime member Joel Klingler (who writes songs and plays mandolin and guitar) also joins them on their most recent album, Coal… Read more »

Health Matters – Stress-Busters

Stressed out yet? As the season continues toward December, and holiday prep, exams and papers, work projects, and the kids? activities all seem to clamour for our attention, our bodies start responding negatively. As we head into the busier season, It’s important to recall some of these basic stress-busters so that we can keep our… Read more »

In Conversation With . . . J. D. Miner, Part I

J.D. Miner is a distinctive alternative folk ensemble from B.C. It now consists of singer and songwriter Darryl Klassen, who also can play just about anything, Joe Worst on bass, and Chad Joiner on fiddle, mandolin, clarinet, and guitar. Honorary lifetime member Joel Klingler, who writes songs and plays mandolin and guitar, also joins them… Read more »