News Shorts _-By Kristina Mameli Canada breaks Winter Olympic gold record oo Canada made history following a gold medal win in men’s curling Saturday. Canada was assured the record at 13 gold medals, but shattered expectations further with a riveting victory by the men’s hockey team over the U.S. bringing the total to 14—the most ever held by one country; especially a host country. The previous record, at 10, was set by Norway in 1994 and matched the USS. in 2002. Canada finishes third overall in medal standings with a total of 26 medals, Germany comes in second with 30 medals and the U.S. holds the most at 37. Large influx of capital in B.C. during the Games Visa revealed some interesting numbers Sunday concerning the economic surplus brought into B.C. with the Games. The company said in a press release that between February 12 and February 26, spending was up 93 per cent over the previous year and that since the start of the Games, more than $101 million U.S. has been spent in B.C. Big spenders include Americans, Australians and the Chinese, spending between $1 and 2 million each. iTunes: 10 billion songs sold “Guess Things Happen That Way” by Johnny Cash became the 10 billionth song downloaded on iTunes Thursday. Louie Sulcer, from Woodstock Georgia, downloaded the song from the online retailer which awarded him a $10,000 gift card for the store in celebration of the milestone. iTunes was introduced in 2003 and has since become the world’s largest source of music, TV and movies. Activists rally to enforce official mascot status for Mukmuk the sidekick By Tanya Colledge, Staff Reporter ns of Mukmuk, the official online sidekick HF: the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games mascots rallied at Robson Square this week, demanding that he be granted equal mascot status for the remainder of the Olympics and Paralympics. Approximately 40 “marmot rights activists” marched from the Vancouver Art Gallery waving placards saying: “Free Mukmuk now” and described on the Games’ offcial website as “a small and friendly marmot who always supports and cheers loudly for his friends during games and races,” and whose responsibilities include fetching them cocoa, doing their recycling and driving the Zamboni. Although the “Free Mukmuk” rally only occurred halfway through the Games, support for the little creature has been building since 2008 when the official mascots were announced. Originally, Mukmuk was “Mukmuk is described on the Games’ offcial website as “a ,,. be an online- chanting: “What do small and friendly marmot who always supports and cheers}, ..4 sidekick we want? Marmot freedom! When do we want it? Now!” But not even the scene of many confused looks and laughter from passersby could stop the group calling themselves Mukmuk Musketeers. Determined to restore justice for the character, the Musketeers have made a formal complaint against VANOC, insisting that their refusal to make the endangered Vancouver Island marmot equal to the other three official Olympic mascots— Sumi, Miga and Quatchi—is cruel and takes away from the Olympic spirit of the Games. The only real animal amongst the mascots and the most popular among young children according to Vancouver 2010 merchandise vendors, Mukmuk is loudly for his friends during games and races,” and whose ,, the three responsibilities include fetching them cocoa, doing their recycling and driving the Zamboni.” mascots, but overwhelming support from the public forced VANOC to put him on its merchandise. But other than seeing the inside of various HBC stores, Mukmuk remains trapped in cyberspace jail, while his friends gallivant to various Olympic venues, attend sporting events and interact with tourists. The Mukmuk Mascoteers have yet to hear from VANOC in regards to the marmot’s mascot status and whether or not the little furry guy will return during the Paralympics, but are confident that their peaceful rally will get the attention Mukmuk deserves. Death toll continues to rise in Chile following 8.8 magnitude earthquake Kristina Mameli news editor 1 the second time in as many months, the world has been rattled by a powerful earthquake. At the time of this writing, Chilean officials estimate that upwards of 723 people are dead following the 8.8 magnitude earthquake which struck early Saturday morning. The earthquake happened at 3:34 a.m., 325 kilometres outside of Chile’s capital, Santiago, affecting 1.5 million Chileans and severely damaging at least 500,000 buildings. As many as 90 aftershocks, some as strong as the devastating quake which hit Haiti January 12, shook the country triggering a tsunami across the Pacific. The tsunami killed four in the Juan Fernandez Islands and severely damaged homes in Talcahuano. As a result, evacuation orders were issued from Japan to Hawaii; a low level warning was even issued as far as B.C.’s coast. The first waves that hit Japan were small, measuring 10cm high off the Ogasawara Islands, but officials warned that larger waves could soon reach the main island and urged residents of low-lying areas to evacuate. Hundreds of thousands of people fled as a precaution with no reports of panic. This was the first time in 20 years such an evacuation order was issued in Japan. All other tsunami warnings— issued in American Samoa and Samoa, the Philippines, Russia, Guam, and many of the Pacific Islands—were lifted late Sunday. President Michelle Bachelet of Chile, who ends her term March 11 to be replaced by president-elect Sebastian Pinera, called the quake a catastrophe in a press conference Sunday, asking for direct assistance from the UN to help the nation recover. She added that what the country needs most are hospitals, water, bridges and people. She also called for a strict curfew between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. for all non-emergency workers, for troops to deliver supplies to residents and for the deceased to promptly be returned to their families for proper burial. The UN has rushed to aid in relief efforts. Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Canon’s office said in a statement that approximately 5,000 Canadians live in Chile, as many as 1,000 in the most devastated areas. The agency has made thousands of calls to the Canadians, but 254 are still missing. For information on Canadians in Chile, Canada’s Foreign Affairs Department can be reached at 613.943.1055 or 1.800.387.3124.