Gauntlet - About: Nicole Dionne

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"Climate change for dummies"
Comprehending the Climate Crisis in an accessible way
2012-02-16 - Nicole Dionne, Production Editor

When your car is broken, you see a mechanic. When your computer is broken, you ask your most tech-savvy friend to take a look. When you want to know more about climate change, you probably wouldn't think to talk to a doctor.

"People ask me, 'You're a cardiologist, why are you writing a book about global warming?'" says Bradley Dibble, MD, somewhat exasperatedly. Dibble is the author of Comprehending the Climate Crisis, a book that's been dubbed "climate change for dummies."
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Missing gender difference's relevance
2012-02-09 - Nicole Dionne, Production Editor

There is a brand of rhetoric within feminism that I find incredibly troubling. It is one that embraces dichotomy, reinforces old myths about gender identity and runs counter to common goals of feminist movements. An example of this sort of rhetoric is Eve Ensler's 'girl cell' monologue presented at tedtalks, India in November 2009. Ensler describes the 'girl cell,' which amounts to an embodiment of feminine stereotypes. She argues that everyone has a girl cell within them and that it is integral to the survival of humankind that we foster and express our girl cells. Ensler's view-- while certainly dramatic and biologically perplexing-- is not an isolated or fringe one within feminism. Well-meaning feminists I've spoken to, both on campus and through my regular internet haunts, feel particularly invested in incorporating 'feminist principles' into current institutions or doing away with those institutions altogether to invent new ones based on these principles. Like Ensler's girl cell, feminist principles are ideas, attributes and traits that have been historically prescribed to those of us born with ovaries. Institutions, organizations and any other collection of humans or their endeavours that do not embody these traits are seen as sexist, perpetuating patriarchy or misogynistic.

If the irony of this viewpoint doesn't immediately make your head explode, let me lay it down for you. Women are a diverse group of people with a multitude of personalities, values and aspirations. Reinforcing a feminine/masculine dichotomy of traits and principles alienates women who don't conform to attributes traditionally seen as feminine. It is not empowering to reinforce stereotypes that limit the bounds of what it means to be a woman. Furthermore, accepting this idea negatively impacts non-gender-normative individuals by perpetuating myths of gender dichotomy and determinism. The truth is that gender itself is culturally constructed. There are no traits or attributes that are inherent or instinctive to women over men or vice versa. Cross-cultural analysis has shown that even the idea that there are only two genders and that they align with biological traits is not a universal or pervasive view. Classification of what constitutes as feminine is culturally defined and not a reflection of true human condition.
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Carrier IQ: private data pirates
2011-12-08 - Nicole Dionne, Cyber picaroon

It's possible that the Carrier iq story has been blown out of proportion, but there's currently no way to tell. The whole situation is sketchy, and those involved aren't making it any better. Part of the confusion is that what Carrier iq does -- and is capable of doing -- differs between carrier companies and devices. At best, Carrier iq, which is a third-party metrics service that you'll find on most smartphones, is sending encrypted diagnostic information to carrier companies. At worst, third party companies can read your text messages. While security experts squabble about just how bad thesoftware is, Carrier iq is continually revealed to be incredibly sinister.

When a security blogger first posted about the issue, Carrier iq shot off a cease-and-desist letter and threatened legal action. Since then, Carrier iq has refused to provide information on what exactly is being collected, how it's being collected and where that information is being stored. Service providers who are clients of Carrier iq, along with device manufacturers who may have installed the software on the phones, are trying to distance themselves as fast as possible instead of answering the legitimate questions of those people whose information was collected without permission.
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World-wide movement comes to Calgary
#occupyyyc stirs up controversy in the city
2011-10-20 - Nicole Dionne, Production Editor

This past weekend over 1,500 cities around the world weren't just lived in, they were 'occupied' in solidarity to the ongoing Occupy New York and Occupy Wall Street protests in America.

"The idea was put out there about cities organizing their own occupy demonstrations, movements or protests on the day of October 15 as a global start date," said James Jesso, a protester involved with the Occupy Calgary movement.
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MCF puts seniors on the map
U of C student volunteers for senior housing initiative
2011-10-13 - Nicole Dionne, Production Editor

The Metropolitan Calgary Foundation would like to put senior issues back into the dialogue of communities and government policy.

MCF is a non-profit organization in Calgary that provides housing for low-income seniors. With approximately 1,700 residents, MCF operates 17 independent townhouse, apartment and cottage-style housing options as well as nine subsidized supported living lodges that provide seniors with food service, housekeeping, recreation and 24-hour non-medical monitoring.
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Entertainment brief: James Randi at the University of Calgary
2011-09-29 - Nicole Dionne, Production Editor

James Randi is liar. One of the best, in fact. After all-- it's his profession.

"On stage I lie. I always do, yes. But I'm doing it for purposes of entertainment. I never tell people, and neither do most magicians, that I have real magical powers. We're being honest with people," said Randi during a Q and A session at Club Sapien before his lecture.
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The internet is not just for porn
Here are five free websites hat will help you to be a better you.
2011-09-15 - Nicole Dionne, Production Editor

Wolfram Alpha: Calculations, conversions and facts

Wolfram Alpha is the little computational engine that could. Left your TI83 at home? No problem, Wolfram Alpha can do that. Want to know the number of people in Sweden? Done. Need to know how much calcium the moon would contain if it were made out of provolone cheese? No worries, using Wolfram Alpha, I did it for you and it's fifty-five septillion per cent of your recommended daily intake.
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Changes to academic programs
Five faculties will see changes to programs offered
2011-09-15 - Nicole Dionne, Production Editor

The 2011�-2012 academic year started off this week with changes, and not just the new students. Several faculties have undergone changes in their curriculum with some programs being suspended and a few more being added. The affected faculties are Kinesiology, Communications and Culture, Social Work, Education and Nursing.

The course-based Master of Kinesiology degree program is currently running with 10 students registered in Fall 2011. These 10 students will complete the MKin degree requirements in December 2011 and convocate June 2012. No new students were admitted to the MKin program for September 2011.
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It's an ale of a good time!
Calgary International Beerfest brews festivities for the senses of connoisseurs and novices alike
2011-06-02 - Nicole Dionne, Production Editor

Beer is humankind's oldest prepared beverage. It is undoubtedly a major part of many cultures and some hypotheses about the origins of agriculture point to beer as the main driving force behind choosing to cultivate grains. Through the constant experimentation and exploration of those brewing it, beer has become the world's most widely consumed alcoholic beverage. Acting as a tribute to this important and popular beverage, the Calgary International Beerfest explores the rich and diverse wold of fermented malts.

This year's Beerfest was the largest one yet. Attendees were able to taste over 200 different brews from around the world, all while supporting the Autism Aspergers Friendship Society. For die-hard beer enthusiasts, brew-masters from far and wide were available to discuss the finer points of their concoctions, as well as the history of their particular beer-crafting styles.
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Being transgendered at the U of C
University considers updating policy to represent transsexual students
2011-03-31 - Nicole Dionne, Gauntlet News

"When a transgendered colleague of mine was deliberating about how to handle her own coming out process at the university, she looked for policies," said social work professor emeritus Mary Valentich, who has worked on issues of diversity and inclusiveness at the university for over 30 years. "She said that one of the difficulties was that people in her situation shouldn't have to scramble to look for something. It should be very evident that the university is an inclusive university and she just couldn't find it in the policies at that point."

The University of Calgary currently uses its non-academic misconduct policy and sexual harassment policy to protect transgendered students and faculty from discrimination and harassment. However, these policies and procedures do not explicitly mention transgender, gender identity or gender diversity.
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