Scottish Curlers Fight for the Strathcona Cup

 

(Lennoxville) - Bagpipes broke through the chatter on Sunday morning at the Lennoxville Curling Club as the Royal Caledonia Curling Club of Scotland took to the ice.

Before the morning's match began, the Scottish curlers serenaded the Canadian audience, proclaiming to "show our friends from Canada just what we Scots can do".

The eastern contingency of the Scottish tour began in Halifax and moved west through eastern Canada. Before they came to Lennoxville, the Royal Caledonian Curling Club played a match in Quebec City. After the first match on Sunday morning, they travelled to North Hatley. Forty other members of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club are now travelling through western and central Canada. All told, they have accumulated a grand total of 2364 points to Canada's 2098.

David Paterson, the second for the Scottish team and the treasurer for the 2013 tour, sat down with The Record to talk curling and Canadians. He comes from Cullen, Scotland, in the County of Moray, and works at the Bank of Scotland when he's off the ice. "Canada did well yesterday," he commended us modestly, gesturing to the clash of rocks and ice taking place behind the glass.

Paterson says that what the Scottish enjoy most about the tour is the "camaraderie with other players" between the two countries. He describes Lennoxville as "open and welcoming", but with much colder weather than the Scottish are used to. Glancing at the numbers, he says that while 60 members of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club crossed the ocean, only 19 are part of the eastern tour.

Both Paterson and Scottish skip Jim Hogg say they are having a "great time" on the tour. Each member of the club is allowed one chance to play in the Strathcona Cup tournament in order to give everyone an opportunity to travel, and both men are taking advantage of their turns.

The three contingencies of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club will meet in Toronto at the end of the tour and travel from there back to Scotland. The Scottish won't be back for another ten years, but, as always, both parties will take home a trophy to keep the spirit of the Strathcona Cup competition alive.

A Loaded Issue: Why Gun Control Shouldn't Be a Knee-Jerk Reaction

I first fired a gun when I was twelve years old. My dad is a Boy Scout leader, and even though I'm a girl, he used to bring me fishing and to the gun range with the boys. I started with a BB gun and moved on to shotguns and handguns. Marksmanship is still a hobby I share with my father.

When I think about my dad teaching Boy Scouts about firearms safety, one incident comes to the forefront. I had picked up one of my dad's shotguns to examine it and in complete innocence, I pointed the barrel down the range to get a better look at the stock.

My dad didn't panic and he didn't yell. He told everyone to sit down and his voice was measured when he told me to give him the gun. "Never, ever point a gun at anything you don't intend to shoot dead," he instructed us, his voice shaking. The gun wasn't loaded, nobody would have come to any harm that day, but I remember my dad's lesson every time I check to make sure the range is empty.

Guns need to be taken seriously.

These days, I have helped my dad give gun safety lessons to a crowd of Scouts, and I field a lot of questions about legality and how I can possibly not advocate gun control. I'd like to give you the Reader's Digest version of why I will never, ever support any kind of gun control legislation in the United States.

For my first point, I want to cite a section of the Constitution that states, and I'm paraphrasing, that citizens have a requirement - not a right, a requirement - to oust a government that no longer meets the needs of the people. How can an unarmed revolution be mounted against a government with firearms? How can civilians ever stand a chance against a militant government when they have no weapons? With guns, we are citizens. Without them, we are subjects.

The second amendment of the United States Constitution states that citizens have the right to bear arms. The US government was designed to operate under a system of checks and balances. The founding fathers quite possibly thought along the same lines I just described: if a government is so big that it can take away weapons, it's too big for the system they designed. It has become a government that no longer meets the peoples' needs, thus necessitating civilian firearm ownership. You can slice it whatever way you want, but because of the second amendment, gun control is unconstitutional.

Finally, it comes down to the old adage: if guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns. If you're buying a gun for a reason like marksmanship or training for the biathlon or home security, chances are you're a law-abiding citizen, the kind who would adhere to any gun control laws that were passed. You'd go and get a permit or whatever it is that was required of you. If you're standing at Wal-Mart with that shotgun in your hand because you want somebody dead, though, you're already planning to commit a murder. I can guarantee that you're not going to stop and think Hmm, I'd better get this thing registered. Just like with illegal drugs, there will always be a gun trade. The kind of people we're afraid of, the kind who want to kill other people, will always find a way to do so, and it will still involve guns. I want to live in a world where I can protect myself and my family, if it ever comes down to that.

Mass killings by shooters are an abomination. 'Tragic' is not a good enough word to describe the events that have taken place in the past. It breaks my heart, but it doesn't change my mind: I advocate guns not because I want to shoot someone, but because I want to die at a ripe old age a long time from now, not tomorrow afternoon on some sidewalk. Disarming innocent people only leaves them helpless against the very real threats in the world.

My family owns guns. I plan to own guns. I plan to teach my children how to respect the power of a gun and to harness it responsibly. When treated with respect, guns aren't dangerous, but there are dangerous people in the world, and I side with personal empowerment.

Royal Caledonia Curling Club comes to Lennoxville for the Strathcona Cup

(Lennoxville) - The Scottish are coming, the Scottish are coming!

Next Sunday, January 27, the Royal Caledonia Curling Club will fulfill over a century's tradition and arrive in Lennoxville to compete for the Strathcona Cup.

The Strathcona Cup competition is the oldest international curling event in the world. It takes place every decade. The Royal Canadian Curling Club and the Lennoxville Curling Club have been swapping players back and forth since 1903, when the Scottish finally decided to accept North American invitations. The Canadians have 11 victories over the Scottish 9, but in 2013, the Royal Caledonia Curling Club have made it their goal to take back the cup.

The Strathcona Cup had "an odd beginning", according to a brochure put out by the Canadian Curling Association prior to the 2003 competition. Lord Strathcona was a Scot who created a name for himself in Canada with the Hudson's Bay Company and was appointed to the House of Lords. Later, he was elected the President of the Royal Curling Club. He felt that the loser of the competition should have a tangible memento as well, and so he provided another cup, which the Scots brought home.

The Scottish club divides into three contingencies every time they tour to include all parts of Canada. They will visit, among other locations, Toronto, Winnipeg, and Prince Edward Island, as well as our very own Lennoxville.

Although the competition is always fierce, and the Scots have vowed that this year, the cup will be theirs, "the Strathcona Cup is more than about winning and losing," says the competition's UK-based website. It's about keeping tradition alive and keeping friendly relations between the two countries.

Come out to Lennoxville and meet some Scotsmen on Sunday, January 27! The first game starts at 10 a.m. All games are free and open to the public.

There's a lot more going on at the Curling Club than the Strathcona Cup, too. This week, you can drop by and watch curlers from clubs around the province compete for cash prizes in the annual Mixed Bonspiel. In addition, you can support the Lennoxville Juniors by coming to the brunch on Saturday, January 26 at the Curling Club. Adults pay $10 and admission for children under six is $5. Everyone is welcome.

Say No to Uggs

There's no such thing as a winter uniform, but some days it seems there might as well be: sweatshirt with sweatpants or Spandex leggings tucked into UGG boots. While you love your UGGs and I have to admit, the one pair I tried on were very comfortable in the store, they are just not made to survive harsh Canadian winters. UGGs have been in vogue since about 2003, which, depending on personal opinion, is fine...just not as winter boots.

Sheepskin boots called uggs were made in rural Australia and New Zealand since the 1920s. In the 1960s, they became popular among competitive surfers to keep their feet warm. This just goes to show: UGGs are not, nor were they ever intended to be, winter boots! If you need any more proof along these lines, ask yourself this simple question: How often do Aussies have snow storms?

UGG boots are made of shearling sheepskin, which is what makes them so luxuriously comfortable, giving them that slipper feeling. Unfortunately for Canadian wearers, it is also what makes them vulnerable to water damage. One of the greatest shortcomings of UGG boots is that they're not waterproof, which, as this winter season in Lennoxville has proven, is a must for wintry climates. You can pay extra for a special waterproofing cream to somewhat protect the sheepskin, but the salt on our roads will more than make up for any damage saved there. You end up with white veins all over the tops and sides of your boots, and by the time spring rolls around, they are damp and ruined and not even close to their original colour. Even that soft, furry shearling lining which seemed so appealing back in October has become matted and grey by March.

Research has shown that UGG boots are also bad for posture and have caused the same amount of damage as walking around in stilettos every day does. I'm sure we've all seen it: the UGG shuffle, that pigeon-toed walk that actually looks painful to everyone around the wearer. When you walk in them, your feet slide around, which flattens the arch of the feet and causes back pain and, over time, joint problems. This can actually lead to early onset arthritis, so no matter how comfortable they seem, you shouldn't wear your UGGs every day.

Another drawback to the still-vibrant trend is the cost. Genuine UGGs cost anywhere from $150 to $275 per pair, which can get really steep as it becomes necessary to purchase replacement pairs each winter.

While the classic sheepskin UGGs are just not practical for Quebec winters, if you really love the brand, you don't have to give it up: the company UGG Australia does make what they call performance and cold weather boots, which have appropriate ankle support along with more of a tread than their classic boots do. These are winter boots of which Canada approves: tall and double laced, and at least in this reporter's opinion, far cuter than the classic sheepskin look. Jeans tucked into these would be an original UGG style, which this season so far has shaped into an oxymoron. Price is still high, but if you're going to spend the money on UGGs anyways, these are the tough older sister of the pair most of campus seems to possess. Here's to dry feet and cute shoes.

New Year's resolutions: tricks to make them stick

 Is your list of New Year's resolutions longer than your holiday shopping list was? Is 2013 the year you're going to pull it all together, get a job if you don't have one, quit smoking (anything), get better marks, and learn to run a seven-minute mile?

Good for you. Those are all valid goals, and we at The Campus wish you luck.

Personally, though, I know I'm going to need more than luck if I'm going to introduce some positive change into my life. Yet, there always is a certain point in our lives when we feel all the excitement of change and taking control with a sense of dread chasing close on its heels: what if I can't do it? What if I quit, and next year on January 1, I'm resolving to do this again? That feeling of dread convinces us not to even bother trying.

It really all comes down to inertia, and you'll notice that once you "get moving", so to speak, it's not hard to continue; in fact, it's more natural to do so than to rest. By this point, accomplishing things will have become a habit.

So how do you get there?

The American Psychological Association held an online discussion on this very topic, and their first suggestion was to start small. Do you want to quit smoking? It's probably not a good idea to quit cold turkey, the APA suggests, unless you're really sure you can do that. If you set unattainable goals and fail to attain them, you begin to internalise failure until you stop trying. Nobody wants to feel like a failure.

The key part is this: the principle works the other way around. Success begets more success. If you decide to cut back your habit to a pack a week, for instance, or you switch to an e-cigarette, you've made some positive change, and that will feel good. You'll feel physically healthier and mentally capable, and you're going to want to keep decreasing the amount you smoke until finally you don't smoke at all. You can do this over the course of the year, rather than throwing away your cigarettes on January 2 and buying another pack later that night.

In the same vein, you should only change one behaviour at a time. January 1 has a way of making people panic, thinking they should reassess their entire lives, which is counterproductive. If you resolve to get better marks and stop spending so much time on the Internet, for instance, start with one or the other, and concentrate on that until you feel you have it under control.

Lastly, don't beat yourself up, and don't be afraid to ask for help. If you're trying to get to the gym three days a week and today just feels like a lazy day, try calling a friend to see if they want to go with you. If not, and you end up sitting around reading so that you only go twice that week, that's okay too. You went twice more than you could have. Be forgiving and gentle with yourself.

It's important to make changes because you love yourself enough to do it, not because you hate yourself and wish you were different. Go to the gym and quit smoking because you're a good person who deserves to be healthy and happy, not because you hate your body and you wish you could drop some weight. Get better marks because you know you can, not because you think you might be stupid. Finally, spread the word: the APA suggests telling a few select people what you've resolved so they can provide moral support when the going gets tough.

Lady Gaiters' Kelly McInerney Chases Future

(Lennoxville) - When Kelly McInerney swings into the coffee shop to meet me, it's obvious she's been hurrying by the way she checks her watch, but she isn't winded. It's no wonder; the athlete has spent years in the hurry of her life, hunting the black-and-white grail always one step further, one pass away.

In September of 2012, her perpetual motion paid off in a way even she would never have guessed and sometimes still has trouble believing. The Bishop's University Lady Gaiters were playing the Concordia Stingers, who were stinging them 1-0 towards the end of the game. McInerney, the defender and sweeper for the Bishop's team, picked up the ball from Concordia to assist a forward, giving it a swift kick with her laces, when the wind caught it and it sailed much farther than she'd anticipated. This kick tied the game, giving the Lady Gaiters their second goal of the season - and first tied game - and McInerney her first Canadian Inter-University Sport goal.

McInerney told The Record that it was the "happiest thing" for her when she scored. She remembers being in shock and jumping up and down, shouting "I never score!" To this day, even though the game won her Provigo Robert LaFond Athlete of the Week and was written up in The Campus newspaper, she sometimes still feels shock and disbelief.

She's had plenty of time to hone her skills, though. McInerney has been playing soccer since the age of seven in Whitby, Ontario, when she and her parents decided she should take up a sport. The love of soccer ran in her family: her father and her aunt had both played in their youth. McInerney was to follow suit, adding volleyball and basketball to her skill set in high school.

She continued to chase both the soccer ball and her passion, following it to Bishop's University, where she enrolled at age 18 in the Sports Studies program.

Of the sport, McInerney says she loves the intensity and fast-paced timing. She loves the challenge of facing off against the province's best university players, especially when she can take them on. "I'm the rock they have to get by," she says, adding that this struggle is "an amazing feeling".

McInerney says that what's important is to remember that hard work will always pay off. She never mentions talent, preferring instead to emphasise that "hard work is the difference between a good player and a great player", and that heart can be a game-changer. Her coaches agree, calling her "the hardest worker on the field".

What will Kelly McInerney chase next? She tells us that after she gets her bachelor's degree in Sports Studies from Bishop's, she plans to get her trainer's certificate and spend some time as a personal trainer, after which she may become a soccer coach. She also mentioned a desire to manage athletics at a university. "Sports Studies is so open," she shares.

The future for McInerney isn't as black and white as the soccer ball she will continue to follow, but one thing is definite: she can't leave her sport behind. The field ahead of her is wide open. Chase on.