There are lots of nifty little tricks you can make use of to help get your memory muscles working for you, and two of the easiest are “acronyms” and “acrostics”. Acronyms are combinations of letters, each being a cue to a particular idea or word. We see them all the time, used humourously and not,… Read more »

Warning Bells Starting to Ring In Nova Scotia, the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission has put out a press release (http://www.gov.ns.ca/news/details.asp?id=20040218001) with some of the first warnings of many that we will soon be hearing about a severe shortage of faculty. In a time where some sort of post-secondary education is almost becoming a necessity… Read more »

This column focuses on a wide range of issues affecting post-secondary students. Students are encouraged to submit suggestions and educational topics they are concerned about, or personal experiences with courses or university situations they feel other students should know about. If suggest a topic or a course alert for Taking Notes, contact djabbour@ausu.org AU SEEKING… Read more »

This is a true gripper. I was mightily impressed with this film from France. The setting is a trench during the Bosnian War, where a Serb and a Bosnian soldier are mistakenly stuck. What makes this so special is the incredible language from all the players. The writing is amazing. The people in all roles… Read more »

The Slave’s Dream Beside the ungathered rice he lay, His sickle in his hand; His breast was bare, his matted hair Was buried in the sand. Again, in the mist and shadow of sleep, He saw his Native Land … He did not feel the driver’s whip, Nor the burning heat of day; For Death… Read more »

Dear Heather, My husband and I are in our early 30s and have been very happily married for almost five years. We have no children, and are getting very tired of people (family, friends, strangers) asking us when we’re going to have a baby. Usually, we try to ignore these questions, because the truth is,… Read more »

Or perhaps not so random. Today I received a beautiful gift. What made it even more beautiful was that it was so completely unexpected. Ironically, this past week was the Canadian “Random Acts of Kindness” week, an initiative dedicated to “building a kinder and more compassionate country and world” that started in Edmonton almost ten… Read more »

As we all know, the months of February and March – “Farch” – can be a particularly dreary time of year. Sunk in the trough between the excitement of the winter holiday season and the first rejuvenating signs of Spring, it is not uncommon to find oneself experiencing heavy duty doldrums whilst travelling through this… Read more »

Recently, eighty-seven year old Brantford Ontario nursing home resident Norma Stenson was abused by staff-members of two separate private facilities. The abuse was captured on hidden video and broadcast on CTV’s W-5 program (1). Two staff-members of Charlotte Villa Retirement Home were charged prior to airing of the videos with criminal offences: Amanda LaPierre, was… Read more »

What province and city/town do you live in? I live in Calgary, AB Do you have a family/ kids/ pets ? I am married with 4 kids- ages 10 ½, 7 ½, 5 and 3 What are your hobbies / interests/ activities/ etc. I love languages. When I was in college, I could carry on… Read more »