| ates Taking some time to connect the dots Digital Detox Week the latest act of culture jamming from Adbusters Trevor Doré inions editor he people at Adbusters are constantly forcing us to question the way we live in the 21* century. They continuously come up with new and innovative ways to make us stop and question the paradigm in which we so comfortably live. A couple of weeks ago, they were at it again. This time, it was a challenge, to do what for some, would be the “unthinkable.” They asked us to disconnect from our lives of electronic and digital devices, to “say good-bye to Twitter and Facebook, turn off our TV, iPhone and Xbox for seven days and reconnect with the natural world and the people around us.” This latest connect the dots. So now that you know what is at stake, what do you have to gain from a week of digital detox? The folks at Adbusters offer up some things that you might learn. For example, instead of constant text messaging and emailing, you might opt to use a telephone. You will be surprised at how fast you can achieve consensus on a topic. How about limiting the amount of emails you send and how often you check your inbox? You just might be amazed at the time that you will save. Leave your iPod at home and take in the sounds of the hustle and bustle around you. Instead of listing to your iPod or text messaging, try writing your thoughts out on paper. It is amazing what you can think up on a bus ride, with simply a pen and a pad of paper. While these handy technological devices make our lives easier, eventually, it becomes harder and harder for us to make intellectual connections between information from different sources. Essentially, it becomes harder to connect the dots. culture jamming campaign was termed, “Digital Detox Week.” Nicholas Carr, author of “Is Google Making Us Stupid” claims that the amount of time we spend with digital devices is reducing our capacity for deep contemplation and reflection. With constant and widespread access to information, there is no need for us to retain information within our heads. How many times have you been in a discussion with friends, unable to resolve a debate and one of them shouts out, “Just Google it.” Because information is constantly at our fingertips, courtesy of these brilliant digital devices, there is less need for us to retain information. While these handy technological devices make our lives easier, eventually, it becomes harder and harder for us to make intellectual connections between information from different sources. Essentially, it becomes harder to 12 Even though Digial Detox Week has officially passed, it’s interesting to give it a shot, even if just for a day. For many of us, digital technology is an essential part of our lives and taking a day away can be a pretty big stretch. If a week free from digital devices is simply not possible, give it a shot for a day. Read a book and make an effort to engage in more conversation. Take some time to brainstorm and connect the dots or to work on a creative hobby. Not everything must revolve around digital devices. Overall, Digital Detox Week is about taking some time and deviating from the everyday, unplugging and contemplating issues. If you get nothing out of a week or even a day of digital detox, at least you will gain a greater appreciation for how embed technology truly is within our society. Kettlebells: A good way to get outdoors and still hit the weights Kettlebell Swing By Trevor Doré, Opinions Editor fter months of grey, gloomy Am the sunny weather is once again upon us. The last couple of months have been spent looking for activities to do indoors. It’s now all about taking advantage of the wonderful outdoor playground we call home. The options are seemingly endless. It has been said that there is no other place in the world where you can go surfing and skiing all in the same day. Mountain biking, hiking, beach volleyball, golf, soccer, baseball and the list goes on. You name it, you can do it here in beautiful British Columbia. So if you’re one of those who happen to have enough discipline to commit to a regimented workout routine, this beautiful time of year can present somewhat of a dilemma. While the indoor gym is great during the winter, what about when the sun is shinning? It can be hard to drag yourself to the weights when the weather outside is so beautiful. The last thing you want to do is let your work out routine fall by the way side and lose all of the progress made during the winter months. So what do you do? Luckily, there is a solution. Why not move your weights outside? Now for those who are used to using complex machines and bench-pressing hundreds of pounds at a time, you might think that I am crazy. There is however an innovate solution that can reduce your time in the gym, while maintaining the progress that you made over the winter months. The solution is working-out with kettlebells. What is a kettlebell you ask? Like something out of a Soviet work out regiment, a kettlebell is essential a cannonball with a handle. They come in all different sizes and weights. Kettlebells allow you to bring your workout routine outdoors. Unlike traditional machines and free-weights, all you need for a kettlebell work out, is the kettlebell it self. You can do many standard workouts with a kettlebell as well as many faster, compound workouts. Kettlebell workouts improve strength as well as cardio, core agility, balance and endurance. If you’re training for a sport, kettlebells are a great way to maintain power and speed in the off- season. Overall, a kettlebell workout will not only improve strength, but also improve cardio and flexibility. If you are interested, a simple Google search for kettlebells will reveal the plethora of kettlebell work out routine possibilites. A local company, Canadian Kettlebells sells them and delivers for free within Metro Vancouver. So, if you’ re looking to maintain your weight routine through the wonderful summer months, I suggest picking up a kettlebell. You can get outside and stay in shape at the same time.