[theboltnews]

The Case of the "What the Heck Happened to our News Stands?"

Follow this post for all the facts we know about our "missing" news stands!

Update as of May 7th, 2013 - 8PM

The Federal Bureau of News Stands has just received this image...

...it appears that our beloved news stands are being held hostage in some garage! No demands have been made and details are scarce, but the FBNS will not rest until our news stands are returned to their rightful places!

[theboltnews]

THIS JUST IN!

Reports are in that the wooden news stands that have graced our hallowed halls since 1995 have been kidnapped!

Following a routine check by the Federal Bureau of News Stands (FBNS), the news stands were reported missing May 1, 2013. Trace evidence was found at the scene but nothing conclusive has yet to surface. The FBNS is hard at work to catch the perpetrator behind this heinous crime.

Stay tuned to www.theboltnews.com for up to the minute updates as to what happened to our missing news stands!

[theboltnews]

Creatine vs. Steroids—the Great Debate

By: Jessica Rushton

There has been an ongoing debate about the use of both synthetic and natural supplements and performance enhancers in competitive sports for quite some time, with a long list of pros and cons for each. Two of the main enhancers used by athletes today are creatine and synthetic anabolic steroids.

Creatine, which is naturally produced by the body and is found in many meats, is stored in the muscles and used for strenuous yet short periods of activity in the human body, such as lifting weights or sprinting. Supplements of this naturally occurring amino acid have been produced all over the United States for quite some time and are used primarily to enhance short-term physical exertion and to maintain leaner muscles. The problem with this synthetic version is that not everyone who takes the supplement will react the same way—people who already store lots of natural creatine will not react at all to a certain amount, but a person who stores very little may actually experience an effect similar to a person having too much caffeine by taking that same amount. Creatine seems to aid athletic individuals in their early twenties but does not have the same effect in more mature individuals or those who are not physically active. There are also many side effects of the synthetic form of this amino acid including weight gain, frequent and severe muscle cramps, dizziness and light-headedness, high blood pressure, or kidney disease. There have been a few reported cases of skeletal tissue deconstructing in individuals who took more than the recommended daily dose (10 grams).

Anabolic steroids, which are easily the most popular and well-known performance enhancers to date, arguably pose more risks than rewards. While creatine is produced naturally in your body, steroids are purely synthetic and are used to generate male puberty, bone growth, and muscle growth by imitating the male body’s natural hormone, testosterone. While a positive for many men may be that muscles and hair grow quickly, it comes at a cost: anabolic steroids take a large toll on the body as they cause a severe imbalance of testosterone versus estrogen in the body. Females who take anabolic steroids will lose their breasts (the fat turns to muscle), have a deeper voice (as the vocal chords thicken), and begin to grow hair all over the body. Anabolic steroids were, before being abused by many moderate athletes, used for many medical reasons such as bone marrow growth, male hormone replacement, and in assistance in recovering from injury. Unfortunately, many steroid users abuse the drug by taking it in large quantities and “bulking out” for body building competitions and other such events. The large muscles are just for show however, because while anabolic steroids build muscles, they do not build the muscle mass, which is what people use to actually lift things and for strength. These steroid-built muscles are like a balloon because once the user stops the use of the steroids, the muscles “deflate.”

As with any supplement, the use of a synthetic substance may hinder the body’s natural process of creating the substance naturally. This is why it is important to go to your doctor and decide if the rewards outweigh the risks of taking it. As with any medical decision, it is very individualistic and one person’s body may not take a substance as well as the next persons’. While there are many side effects and risks, the use of creatine and steroids can be for the greater good, as long as they are not abused.

[theboltnews]

iPhone 5 Out Now!

By: Tony Wong

Well, the long awaited and annual update to Apple’s newest iDevice, the iPhone, is here. The iPhone 5 is the newest iteration to Apple’s mobile phone line up and is the 6th generation phone in Apple’s iPhone series. What makes this device so different and unique from the rest, and does it matter to you? Find out more from the brief overview below.

iPhone 5. These three syllables evoke an excitement in Apple fanboys around the world, and it’s not without reason. The biggest change up from last year’s 4S update is the increased screen real estate from 3.5” to 4”. While this change may seem subtle, the real difference is in the additional space. With the new screen space you will be able to see more of your apps, you won’t feel like your thumb is over encumbered because while the iPhone 5 is taller, it maintains the same width as it’s predecessors. This is so you can easily access the keyboard and basic functions with one hand.

Another big new change is the backing. Apple decided to ditch the fragile glass backing of the 4/4S model for a two-tone glass and aluminum combination. Hopefully the change over to the metal back will stop the notorious Antennagate signal issue that plagued the iPhone 4’s antenna two years ago.

Another significant hardware change can be seen in the smaller connector cable found at the bottom of the device that Apple is calling the Lightning cable. This new proprietary cable is not only smaller but will also be found in all of Apple’s next generation iDevices including the new iPod Touch and iPod Nano line. Bought a ton of accessories for your 30-pin connector? Apple will be making an adaptor available to ensure compatibility for your legacy iDevice accessories.

Probably the most significant change overall is it’s weight. Statistically speaking, the iPhone 5 is 20% lighter then the iPhone 4S, but numbers can be deceiving. This little sucker is light! On top of that, it’s much thinner than the 4S model measuring in at 0.3 inches. That’s as thick as the metal bezel on the 4/4S models.

While your mileage may vary in the connection speeds, the new iPhone 5 comes equipped with an LTE chip which is the next generation cell phone connection. While Apple touts that the LTE connection can reach up to 100 mb/s, real world tests have shown it to reach anywhere from 15-20 mb/s, which is still faster than the average home Wi-Fi. So on average the LTE enabled iPhone 5 is going to be at least 50% faster than your home network. I found through personal use of my iPhone 5 that I was hitting 3G speeds upwards of 16-19 mb/s the first day, but my excitement was misplaced as my 3G service is at a meger 5 mb/s.

So with the bulk of that out of the way, is the iPhone 5 a mandatory upgrade for you? If you have an iPhone 4 or lower, I would say yes. The incremental adjustments to the hardware and even the software (iOS6) make this an easy upgrade. Chris, who was the first person in line at the Southgate Apple Store said that the feature he is most looking forward to is it “. . . not being a BlackBerry.” Well I hope that the iPhone 5 bursts his iDevice virginity but in a good way.

The iPhone 5 is now in stores and can be purchased in 16GB/32GB/64GB models at $179/$279/$379 on contract or can be purchased Unlocked from the Apple Website for $699/$799/$899. All models can be purchased in black or white.

[theboltnews]

The Hidden Side of Edmonton: Complete

By: Llanna Blacke

I come from the dark side of the city of Edmonton. I also come from a low income, single parent family, and I live in McCauley, one of the seediest areas in town. If you walk past the Commonwealth Stadium and go west on 111th Avenue, you will hit an intersection at 95th Street. To your right you will see Norwood School, look to your left and you have found McCauley.

A typical evening in McCauley doesn’t include me sitting on my deck, enjoying the cool evening breeze. I stay inside and double lock my 1 ½ inch thick door, distancing myself from drunks, drug dealers, prostitutes, and the homeless. My bedtime lullaby includes blaring music, roaring engines, and people banging and kicking the sides of my house. When I leave in the morning to go to Concordia, I occasionally have to push a stray shopping cart out of my driveway. Sometimes, I have the pleasure of picking up used condoms that end up in my yard. When I drive through McCauley, I seem to forget where I am, so decayed is the area. One tidy, older house has a pristine lawn; the house next to it is dilapidated with mattresses leaning against one side and ruined pieces of furniture laying amongst the thistles in the front yard.

In the centre of McCauley is Giovanni Caboto Park. New equipment has been installed within the last few years as well as a medium sized fountain that adds some charm to the older park. Lush grass grows in the two children’s soccer fields which lay a few metres from the play equipment. Mature trees shade the skirts of the fields and grow along the sides creating a boundary to the street lined park. And that’s when you see, standing in the corner of the field, a small bright yellow metal container with an arrow pointing downwards; it is a needle drop off. I doubt most other children’s parks in Edmonton can boast about having such a thing.

A little further south, a rundown soup kitchen called “House of Refuge Mission” lies on the corner of 95th street and 103a Avenue, only 600 metres from the Provincial Courthouse of Alberta. This mission feeds the homeless and the hungry. I have seen young children lined up inside this derelict structure waiting for their turn to eat for the day. Across the street from my little sister’s elementary school are some low income apartments. A couple who lived in one of these apartments with their three children (twin girls and a boy) were in the news earlier this year. The two-year old twins had been severely neglected, weighing a mere thirteen and sixteen pounds. One of the girls went into cardiac arrest and was placed on life support, while the other twin had sustained a critical head injury. With constant activity around the apartment complexes, how did the abuse towards these children go unnoticed for so long?

There is the odd ray of hope near McCauley in the Boyle area. Opposite the House of Refuge Mission, some creatively designed buildings are being constructed. These are a part of the “Boyle Renaissance.” The City of Edmonton is planning to revitalize the downtown area in different instalments, starting with the Boyle community. There is a particular emphasis on affordable housing for low income individuals, and from the outside the buildings seem fun and artsy. The plan is to foster mini communities inside the larger one. Once the development is finished, it should bring a vibrancy that has evaded this area for so long.

Edmontonians pass through my area of town on their way home from work. They thank the Lord that they don’t live there and go home to the more upscale parts of the city. If they do stop, it’s to go into the popular Italian Centre across the street from Giovanni Caboto Park. The spaces around the stores are tidy and the sidewalk has warm colored brick inlays; a stark contrast to other parts of the neighbourhood. In addition to ‘Little Italy,’ McCauley is home to a variety of oriental restaurants which can be found in the business areas. These pricier eateries buzz with people who have come for supper or an ethnic experience. Ironically, the children who live next to these restaurants will never get to eat there. For many of them, their only meals come from soup kitchens and school lunch programs. It is hard to believe that a First World city could have Third World living conditions. But there you have it, the City of Champions.

[theboltnews]

Philosophy Club This Year

By: Rachel Whipple

As most of you Concordia students know, Paul Beach is a philosophy professor who runs Concordia’s Philosophy Club. Beach’s plans for the club this year includes bringing in experts from various fields of study and asking them philosophical questions. For example, he may be interviewing a professor of mathematics and asking him basic questions such as "What are numbers?" In hearing responses from said experts, audience members and the student body are free to examine how different people think about basic concepts. A Theoretical Physics student would typically have a different view of numbers compared to an English student. These “Q” and “A” sessions would show the essence of what some philosophers do.

Beach hopes that presenting philosophy in this way will help show how all fields of study are related. Also, this could help people become more aware of what philosophy really is and how it can be relevant to everyday life. Asking simple questions can show us the type of things that we, as educated people, should be thinking about all the time. Of course the Philosophy Club will be doing a few more religious debates, and maybe they will be able to bring in some religion experts to question as well. Beach wants to launch this idea onto the Concordia student body and see what the general response is. He said he would like to send this "ping onto the universe and see who bites."

This year should be a very interesting one for the Philosophy Club. For more information, contact Professor Beach by finding him in his office (room L340) located in the second floor of the Library, or check out the Peripatetics group on Facebook (link is below). The Philosophy Club meetings are happening every Tuesday at 3:30PM in HA021, so drop by and check it out!

The Peripatetics - https://www.facebook.com/groups/172246119484092/

[theboltnews]

Introducing Innocence Lost: A Play About Steven Truscott

By: Rachel Whipple

Blissful childhood memories, concerned families, secrets behind closed doors, a murder case, and a whole lot of military men wanting to cover it all up. This semester Concordia’s Theater Department is producing Innocence Lost, by Beverley Cooper. The youngest man to ever be convicted of murder and sentenced to death in Canada is the basis for the play. This semester’s main stage production is based on the real life, tragic tale of Steven Truscott and Lynne Harper. The audience is guided through the story by the main character Sarah, a young girl who went to school with the accused and the victim. Sarah will be played by the lovely and talented, Lauren Tamke. She will take us into the world of the everyday people who surrounded the main court case. Usually with sensitive and shocking murder trials such as this one, the media focuses heavily on the court drama and the serving of justice. But what about the family and friends who are involved? Innocence Lost portrays intimate conversations portraying what Steven’s parents had to endure while their fourteen year old son was tried for murder, what classmates thought of this scary situation, and how awful it was for Lynne’s family to lose a child. This will be an interesting and entertaining show for all but it could be especially interesting for Psychology students who love to delve into the mind of others.

Other cast member include Ciera Vadnais, as Sarah’s mother; Sean Bilyea, as Steven Truscott; and Kira Peletier, as Lynne Harper and Karen Daum. Everyone else has numerous roles that will be seen throughout: Emily Courtnage, Doug Potter, Jason Knorr, Gina Bazzarelli, Erika Holba, Aly Hirji, Shannon Maher, Adara Broyles, Chris Lejerme, David Lyons, Kira Peletier, Bethany Froese, and Mansi Eden.

The crew will be led by Concordia’s Technical Director Josiah Hiemstra. The co-stage managers for this production are Rebecca Firlotte and Tamara Yakoweshen. Hailey Connell is one of six assistant stage managers. The following five lovely ladies are also assistant stage managers who have other roles as well: the props master is yours truly (Rachel Whipple), and my props assistant is Stephanie Schmidt. Amanda Pelz will be a set builder, Iman Shauib the make-up and hair assistant, and Nicole Cardinal the front of house coordinator and lobby board designer. Also part of the team is Ashley Taylor as the publicist, and Nick Chevalier and Tony Wong as our technical support and projections operators/creators.

So come out and support your friends and fellow Concordians. See a show that will really get you thinking. One that will excite you with tales of court drama and wrongful accusations.

[theboltnews]

Poetry Corner With Rachel

By: Rachel Whipple

To most English-speaking Canadians, this poem may seem unconventional or even offensive. What could be easily misunderstood is that this poem was written as satire based on personal experience. Dejan Misovic immigrated to Canada in 1996 from the former Yugoslavia with only 200 Canada dollars in his pocket. When he had his immigration interview at the Canadian Embassy he was asked, “young man what do you want to be in Canada.” He replied, “I want to become the future President of Canada, and if you vote for me I will increase your salary by 10%.” The interviewer, being concerned about Dejan’s knowledge of Canadian politics, tried to explain to him that in Canada we have a different system of government and that we are not like the United States. Dejan’s response to this was “this is all just constitutional laws and I could change that too.” The man who interviewed him was very helpful and friendly, considering the embassy had a five kilometer line up and on average receives approximately 5000 immigration applications a day. However, the man needed to do his job and asked seriously if Dejan had any real political intentions. He said no and that he was just trying to make a joke in his broken English. Dejan knows perfectly well that there is no such thing as a president of Canada. He was just trying to make a good impression in his new home country by trying his best to be funny.

When Dejan is not writing poetry, he is constantly working hard to provide for his family. At Concordia he is a third year student working towards a degree in Chemistry with a minor in Physics. He has three children, one of which I had the pleasure of meeting. He brought his little daughter Natalie to the Drama retreat this year. Natalie is a sweet girl and is certainly assertive for the tender age of five. Dejan’s son is nineteen, his other daughter is two, and his wife works for EPCOR. Certainly Dejan has a lot on his plate, but thankfully he still makes time to write. I like that he uses direct language as a way to make a statement. His poem is a prime example of how poetry can be a parody and how to turn an event in real life into something interesting to read.

[theboltnews]

Future President of Canada By Dejan Misovic

I had a sweet dream

To make me happy almost to scream,

I will be the future President of Canada, no more King, no more Queen,

USA will be our Southern province.

I have to be respectable and fair.

No more Queens, except Queen’s donair.

For the political promises I will give you a list,

I will introduce a successful economy and democracy, instead of an iron fist.

I will make education

Accessible to a new generation.

Even from heaven it will come as a blessing,

For our incredible time of progressing.

Ottawa will replace Washington, D.C.

Everybody will enjoy singing and dancing in Beautiful BC.

I hope this change

Will not be too strange.

I hope you will vote for me.

Please do not call me Yankee or DP.

The smartest on the planet we will be

The strongest,

And the longest

Power as Alexander the Great.

Please vote for me, do not let me wait . . .

[theboltnews]

Don't Let Social Networks Hold You Back

By: Josiah KoenIg

We have all heard the horror story: “employee fired due to online post.” Online social networks, if used poorly, can negatively impact your employment opportunities. If used properly, online networks can be an asset for you during your work search. The discussion of whether it is moral or not to fire someone for their online activity can be left to the philosophers for now. The important thing is that it is happening, but you can keep it from happening to you. There are a few strategies you can employ to avoid getting fired for your online activity. You could take the sneaky approach: have a second profile that you only show your boss. You can change your privacy settings to limit who can search for or view your profile. However, the most sure-fire way to prevent the loss of your job because of a post online is to keep those questionable photos and comments off the web altogether. Instead of posting stuff that might get you fired, post content that might get you hired. If you are creative, post your art, music, or poetry to show your artistic potential. Basically, post worthwhile content that shows your interests and character. Employers are looking for trustworthy and capable people, so do your best to exhibit strength of character online. Who knows, maybe your next boss is one of your current Facebook friends. That brings up another point. If you are looking for work, you can politely and tactfully let your online community know that you are available for hire and maybe someone can help you out. The old adage is very true: “Sometimes it’s not what you know but who you know.” Online networking can be a great asset for you, so use it well and gain the advantage. Good luck in your studies and your work search.

[theboltnews]

Date Dos And Don'ts

By: Life 'N Stuff

Life‘NStuff is here to help solve your problems. Remember to send you letters to LIfe ‘N Stuff at [email protected]

Good Day fellow Concordians!

It has come to my attention that my last article may have offended some of you. Apparently the utilization of certain fabricated words describing the female anatomy, and my personal opinion regarding how girls today are dressed was too much to handle. I would like to start off by saying to the readers that in no way did I intend to offend any of you. As I mentioned in my opening article, my goal is to provide a personal and comedic approach to the questions I receive. I do however wish to note that I will not require the apology of women who choose to dress how they see fit, regardless of how offended I may be. Want to know why??? Well, welcome to Canada! It is a free country where we are blessed with this wonderful thing called, Freedom of expression! The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” I fully comprehend that my thoughts are and will never be the same as all of my readers, and, quite frankly, I don't want them to be. That is the beauty of an opinion!

This is a university college newspaper folks, and in no way does what I mention in my rants express the opinions of the CSA, The Bolt editors, or my fellow columnists. I am just one student using my personal opinions and experiences to put a smile on some of your faces. Frankly, if I got a rise out of some individuals, then I feel I did my job as a writer. Is that not what every write attempts to accomplish? As an opinion article there is no possible way that everyone will agree with what I say; however, I do promise to no longer use words that could potentially offend you. Especially the dreaded "k" word.

Anyway enough of my ranting—I would love to hear my readers' thoughts about my last article, and I look forward to answering your future questions!

Please submit your thoughts, ideas, and/or questions to: [email protected]. As always, your names will not be revealed in this paper or given to anyone.

Now on to the good stuff . . .

Dear Life n Stuff,

I'm going out on a first date with this guy I really like this weekend, how do I make a good impression so he'll ask me out again?

Dear First Date Concerns,

Ugh!!! First dates can be the worst! First off though I would like to congratulate you for holding out for a date with someone who you really like, step one accomplished—never settle! Now I am sure your friends have provided you with various ideas as to how to get his attention, but I can almost guarantee that 20ish (complete estimate on my part) year-old females have no idea what a 20ish year-old guy is actually thinking. The best way to get this type of intel would be to ask your guy friends. If you don't have any, make some! No one knows the mind of a 20ish year-old guy better than a 20ish year-old guy!

If he likes you and has asked you out, clearly he wants to get to know you on a different level than he would by chatting with you in Tegler or the cafeteria. Instead of telling you what to do, I have decided to give you some ideas as to what NOT to do.

1. Text on your Date: Whatever you do, keep your freakin’ phone in your purse! Nothing says louder to a person that I'm not really 100% here on this date, than your focus being on your phone. New age of technology or not, it’s just plain disrespectful.

2. Talk about your Ex's: Guys do not want to hear about it. They just don't! Especially on a first date. The point is to get to know one another, not to compare this new guy to your ex! You may not be doing that, but if you start describing your ex to this new guy, how is he not going to start thinking “what does he have that I don't,” or “am I better than him?”

Also, don't pick at your teeth (personally I find this to be just nasty!), burp (ladylike remember), talk about medical related issues (such as the time you had mono—this might turn a guy off is all I'm saying)

Basically, you can't force a second date unless it is meant to happen. I would make sure to be yourself, ask him questions about his interests, and avoid any potentially touchy topics of conversation. A first date needs to be chill. Good luck dating!

[theboltnews]

ENTERTAINMENT

Maverick Movie Review

By: Tony Wong

If you missed out on Game’s Night movie Maverick, never fear! Here is a brief review about said classic western poker movie. If you are a fan of Mel Gibson or Jodie Foster you should not miss out on this movie. Seriously, it is pretty good and I don’t even like the western theme.

Maverick follows the story of Bret Maverick (Mel Gibson), a smooth talking silver-tongued gambler who is trying to con his way into a Winner Takes All poker tournament. Along the way he befriends a few people including the sexy thief Annabelle Bransford (Jodie Foster) and a law abiding marshal by the name of Zane Cooper (James Garner). Going through his ups and downs and his twists of luck, Bret must find a way to get into the poker tournament and win with his life intact.

The first thing I noticed in this movie is the amount of cameos from other actors. The cameo that I loved the most is from Mel Gibson’s good friend Danny Glover (Lethal Weapon) who plays an unspecified bank robber. It’s funny seeing Mel and Danny in the same movie seeing as how they are still in the Lethal Weapon phase of their careers. The best part is when Glover spits out his iconic "I'm getting too old for this sh—" line from the Lethal Weapon movies. With Maverick being a western movie, it is only appropriate to have appearances from famous western actors James Garner and James Coburn. This may be a bit of bias but I really love Alfred Molina, and I love it when he gets the role of a villain. Molina is cast perfectly as the villain, Angel, in Maverick, his evil glare that really does it for me.

The story, I found, is quite compelling. There are plenty of twists and turns as you are not quite sure of who is on whose side. I love the cocky attitude that Gibson pulls off with Maverick. He is the quintessential lovable jerk, because every time you see him scam someone, he is then put in a situation where he is needed to come out on top as a hero. Jodie Foster plays her role really well, though I thought that near the end of the movie her usefulness to the entire story became needless and boring. Included in the acting mix is legendary Canadian actor Graham Greene who is famous for his work on Royal Canadian Air Farce and The Red Green Show. While some might not agree with his Native American character Joseph, the feeling they were trying to evoke was his comedic and satirical elements, rather than a serious role, which results in an interesting and funny character.

So you’re thinking, “this movie is pretty old, is the comedy and story still relevant?” I would say yes. It packs enough humor and clever bits of story to feel unique and fresh, even though it is almost a decade old. Maverick is able to balance it’s cheese factor with some high quality acting.

[theboltnews]

Weekly Sports Round-Up

By: Bailey Gardecki

Hello valued readers,

I hope everyone is having a great week here at Concordia.

In case you missed out on a few games these past few weekends here is a bit of a recap. Our men’s soccer team is doing great this season, with wins against Keyano Huskies, Grant MacEwan, and King’s College. On Saturday, September 15th they played a tough game against NAIT, unfortunately the Ooks took the game with their single goal. The women’s team did just as well with four wins and only one loss to NAIT to date. Both teams play this weekend, the 29th and 30th, details can be found on the ACAC website. http://www.acac.ab.ca/pages/soccer-womens.php .

Those who know Marriya Jenkins on campus know that she is a dedicated cross country runner for Concordia. In fact she has taken the ACAC second place in both non-conference grand prixs. Being an athlete and a student is no easy task with practices, training every day, and events on the weekends. She balances her school work with her races by managing her study time effectively. If she has a few hours free in between classes or time before practice, then that is when she gets her readings done. She says it is all about balance. Her goal for the season is to overtake her rival by finals. Good luck Marriya!!

Our Concordia Thunder hockey team played the MacEwan Griffins in an exhibition match on the 21st of September which was quite the game. Speaking of hockey, the NHL lockout seems to be a big debate these days, but I’m not sure how I feel about this. A big part of my year is spent watching hockey, so now with no NHL pre-season games, what am I going to watch? Maybe they will get the College level games televised! That would be wicked! Here is an opportunity to get everyone involved. How do you feel about the lockout? I would like to know what the consensus is. The more the merrier, let me know what you think and why. Email me at [email protected], and if the debate is interesting maybe it will be part of the next issue.

I hope everyone has a great week, go Eskimos!

[theboltnews]

The #1 Secret to Getting Rich and Achieving Financial Freedom

By: Michael Stead

Welcome to the Student Personal Finance section of The Bolt! Over the coming weeks and months I am going to be writing a series of essays that are going to deeply challenge your beliefs and attitudes around the subject of money.

The purpose of doing so will be to show the truth of what it really takes to become financially successful and to show you—no, prove to you that everything you have been told about money is likely to be a lie. Failing to recognize these truths could cost you the one thing that everyone wants to achieve but few actually ever make a reality—financial freedom.

In order for me to accomplish this goal, I have to tell it to you like it is and not sugarcoat anything. I am not going to indulge your fantasies about “instant riches” or stroke your “lottery winner mentality.”

The truth is that becoming wealthy is hard . . . but not impossible. In fact, I am going to show you just how possible it is for you to become wealthy if you are willing to become teachable and follow the plan that I lay out for you over the course of the school year.

Becoming wealthy is a systematic process that is based on sound fundamental principles that, if properly applied, can help you achieve all your goals and aspirations.

Before I get into the “how-to” and “step-by-step” minutia, we need to methodically create a foundation on which everything else I teach you can rest upon. Trying to rush the process by immediately focusing on specific “techniques” or “methods” is akin to trying to construct a skyscraper without any blueprint. You might make a little bit of progress but eventually the whole thing will just topple over.

So what is the first step to embarking onto the path of becoming wealthy and financially independent? The answer may surprise you . . . perhaps even shock you . . .

It has nothing to do with any specific investing strategy, money management technique, or any type of “get rich quick scheme.”

The most important secret of wealth creation is to recognize and accept that you alone are solely and completely 100% responsible for your personal financial situation.

Before you react defensively, read that sentence again. I didn't say you are the cause of your situation. I said you are responsible for it. By taking responsibility for your current condition, you also assume responsibility for your future. Nobody can change your fortune but you. And nobody else will. The sooner you accept that reality, the sooner you will shed the anger and blame and begin to feel financially powerful. Without it, you cannot move forward, even by a single inch.

Know this, embody this, and trust in the process that I am going to layout for you. Believe me, you are in good hands now and nothing would make me more satisfied than seeing my fellow students begin having financial success in the capacity of which I know they are capable yet fail to recognize.

Stay tuned for my next article where I am going to reveal my $13,000 savings secret and show you exactly how to apply it immediately into your life to begin making radical and drastic change.

[theboltnews]

Commonwealth or Bust

By: Rebecca Firlotte

Our colonial ties to Britain have been severed but not entirely removed. William Hague, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in Britain, has announced that he intends to launch a network of British Commonwealth embassies in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand in hopes of rivaling the growing superpower of the European Union. With the union of these four countries, the embassies will allow for a consortium of resources that will help all of the countries in their foreign campaigns. These embassies will allow for more resources to flow through the countries as well as solidify them as partners in a tense foreign market.

Hague is in Canada to sign an agreement to open joint British-Canadian diplomatic missions around the world. Essentially, wherever there is a Canadian (or British) embassy in the world, the countries will now share the embassy; therefore, the representation of the Commonwealth is doubled. In doing this, the countries can increase their presence in the world.

Britain is threatened by the up-and-coming European Union. The EU is quickly setting up shop in the US and other major countries. Britain sees this as a threat to their status as a world superpower. For centuries the British Empire was a force to be reckoned with, having a strong presence on every continent. The embassies seem to be a re-exertion of power and dominance. British Prime Minister, David Cameron, spoke to the Canadian parliament last year stating that, “[Britain and Canada] are two nations, but under one Queen and united by one set of values,” meaning that the countries share a connection through a common history. Hague references many instances where the countries stood together as allies. This influx of international pride is not only overwhelming, but can also be seen as a smart move on Britain's part.

By association, Britain will be able to use Canada’s amazing international reputation to her advantage. Canada is known throughout the world as a peaceful country. Around the world Canadians are treated with respect due, in large part, to the extensive efforts of Canadian peace officers abroad. Canada has been trying to pull out from underneath Britain’s large shadow with some success. These embassies could either endanger that progress or be an opportunity to reach countries with which Canada has been unable to make ties with.

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Check out the answers to the sudoku in Issue 2!

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In Memoriam Dr. Gerald Woudstra

From The CBA

It is with sad hearts that we announce the passing of a loved professor from the Management program here at Concordia. At 58 years of age, we say goodbye to our Accounting Guru Gerald Woudstra.

The effect Gerald Woudstra had on Concordia is significant to say the least. Gerald greatly enhanced the accounting program within the faculty of management, and he dedicated his time to perfecting the art of teaching. His emphasis on the theoretical knowledge of accounting has helped students excel within our great school. His passion for accounting and teaching was infectious. From his witty jokes to his great passion for helping students, Gerald will be missed by his friends, family, colleagues, and students, but he will never be forgotten in the hearts of many. His passion and enthusiasm for accounting and teaching will never be forgotten.