2008 Woodie Awards
Fall into a chocolate coma by exploring some of Montreal's finest chocolate stores! Savour hot cocoa on a particularly wintery day, offer some delicacies to a friend, or make studying much more enjoyable by sitting in one of these sweetly-fragranced shops.
Does chocolate, which for many is the root of life's happiness, contain ingredients that may be beneficial to our health? Or is it just as detrimental as other foods high in fat, calories, and sugar? The answer can be traced back to flavonoids, a type of polyphenol antioxidant found in cocoa.
The average Canadian consumes 3.9 kilograms of chocolate each year. From handcrafted delicacies to popular off-the-shelf products, Canada's chocolate factories produce delicious items that satiate the Canadian sweet tooth as well as support the economy by employing a significant number of people around the country.
Chocolate hype originated during the 1500s in Spain, where it was considered an exclusive item served only to royalty. Within 100 years, the delicacy had spread to many countries, to become a luxury reserved for the enjoyment of the upper class. Now accessible to everyone, chocolate ranges from commercially mass-produced to eloquently handmade masterpieces.
Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty, had such an impact on society that every drug, food, or potion that arouses sexual desire has been labelled an aphrodisiac. Chocolate can be considered a luxury, an indulgence, even a delicacy. But can it accurately be classified as an aphrodisiac? The mysterious link between chocolate and desire has fascinated mankind throughout history.
Through scanning may lead to better care
The stigma surrounding the Human Immunodeficiency Virus is lessening-but so is the effectiveness of current methods of treatment. HIV is constantly evolving and developing drug resistance, and a recent study led by Matthias Götte, of McGill's department of immunology and microbiology, investigated how mutations in the virus' DNA contribute to the problem.
Chocolate pudding for your inner child
When I was little, my mom used to send me off to school with a cup of Jell-O chocolate pudding in my brown paper lunch bag. Chocolate pudding took on new meaning once I lived in residence, and became even more poignant for me once I discovered the joys of making it from the box while smashed on Saturday nights at 4 a.
Caffeine by the cup
Energy drink consumption is on the rise. The ubiquitous beverages are commonly used to counteract insufficient sleep, increase energy levels, and chase alcohol. However, each energy drink works differently and the effectiveness of each drink can be measured based on its caffeine content.
Toaster ovens Cooking ability: Can cook most things a regular oven can cook, limited only by the smaller size of the toaster oven. Particularly good for anything in finger-form, whether it be chicken, fish, or vegetable. Safety: Danger of a fire starting if the food is left baking too long, or if crumbs and food debris fall onto the heater.
Jonzo Inc. has created the Fizz Cup, a portable ice cream float maker. After filling the cup with ice cream, users twist the cup onto a plastic pop bottle, squeeze the bottle to mix the float, and sip through the lid. Suggested uses for the Fizz Cup include your eighth birthday party, social situations in which carrying ingredients and paraphernalia for classic ice cream floats is not possible or will decrease your sense of self-worth, and drinking while driving.
Unforgettable places to explore that bridge the past and present
Istanbul is a city of contrasts, a pulsing, constantly evolving city that will thrill every kind of traveller. Architecture and sites that date back from the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman empires stand beside modern skyscrapers. Women clad in miniskirts stroll beside those in burkas, emphasizing Istanbul's precarious balance between the old and the new, the religious and the secular, and the east and the west.
The green fairy, no fire necessary
Absinthe is one of those beverages with a reputation that lasts longer than its hangovers. Drinkers of note include Oscar Wilde and Vincent Van Gogh. Absinthe is usually in the 106- to 148-proof range, and so is meant to be diluted to the strength of a glass of wine, rather than used as a shot.
From runway to hallway
What do Aladdin, David Bowie, and Peter the Great all have in common? While they are all interesting figures in history, they also all play muse for designers this fall in Paris, New York, and Milan. Here are eight trends in Autumn/Winter 2008 menswear that are inspired by these three great men who know how to dress to impress.
At the Club Tokyo, they are assholes and don't have enough girl bathroom facilities and so girls frequently (because it's necessary) use the male facilities. The bouncers will put their heads into the stalls and bust them open when girls are literally sitting on the toilet.
